District Programs

Choose a Program... Biosolids Chesapeake Bay Conservation Programs Dirt & Gravel Road Program District Bulletin Board Education and Outreach --- Homeowner's Guide Erosion & Sediment Control Farmland Preservation GIS Grant Resources Gypsy Moth Nutrient Management Ombudsman REAP Stormwater --- Flooding --- MS4 ---Stormwater Best Management Practices Watersheds --- ACT 220

Geographic Information Systems

A map is the greatest of all epic poems. Its lines and colors show the realization of great dreams."
Gilbert H. Grosvenor, Editor of National Geographic (1903- 1954)

What is GIS?    Orthophotography       Blair County Parcel Project    Examples of Maps Created

PA MAP    Historical Photo Library

    ARC Reader Download    

What is GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a powerful tool that helps visualize and analyze the natural, physical, and cultural landscape. GIS helps decision makers compare planning alternatives, identify conservation priorities, and support resource management. Maps created using GIS are a collection of individual layers that each contain detailed information

Blair County Orthophotography (Aerial Photography)

Photography covering Blair County was taken in the spring of 2001.  Detailed photography was taken in urban areas to assist in planning and future development.

The photos below of the Blair County Ball Park show the differences between the two resolutions.

Urban Orthophotography (1ft pixel resolution)                 Rural Orthophotography (2ft pixel resolution)

Blair County 2001 Black and White Orthophotography is now available for purchase.

    All orthophotos are in NAD 83, State Plane, PA South projection. The Urban areas are covered with one foot pixel resolution (low level) and the entire County is covered with two foot pixel resolution (high level).  Layers are available through the Blair Conservation District Office.  Additional information included with the orhophotos are the Blair County Digital Parcel Geodatabase and associated tax information tables, Street Centerlines generated from the Orthophotography, Stream Hydrography generated from the Orthophotography Shapefile with orthophotography tile labels and locations, Blair County Sid. with high level coverage and a Digital Terrain Model.  The data is available at governmental and non-governmental rates and on a per tile basis.  For additional information please review our  Orthophotography Brochure or contact the District office at 814-696-0877 x 5.

 For a map of othophotogaphy coverage areas for Blair County click here    

 Numbered Tile Coverage Map - Rural Coverages

 Numbered Tile Coverage Map - Urban Coverages

Blair County Parcel Project

Blair County Conservation District is sponsoring an Americorps position to further digital parcel development.  Current parcel digitization includes Hollidaysburg, City of Altoona and the Williamsburg Areas. 

    Highlighted areas represent parcel data already created and in the process of    

                 being geo-referenced to the County 2001 photography.

Once digital parcels are created, they can be linked to tables containing tax information specific to each parcel.

        To see a section of the completed parcels for the Williamsburg area click on the map.  The map was created using updated parcel data over the 2001 orthophotography at 50% tranperancy.

Examples of Maps Created for Conservation Planning by the District

   Blair County Areas of Prime Farmland

  Blair County Farm Represented in 3D

PA Map

"The future of mapping is just around the corner and Pennsylvania doesn’t want to be left behind.  PAMAP is one of eight pilot programs of the USGS National Map project.  PAMAP is the proposed digital, seamless, statewide map that will be available to everyone.  Created at a scale of 1:2400, and utilizing digitally rectified orthophotography at 2-foot pixel resolution, it is 10 times more accurate than existing geographic base information.  High-resolution mapping is essential for users (federal and state agencies, local governments, planning and economic development organizations and private enterprise) to make valid and timely decisions."

-Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey.

PA MAP is providing finical assistance to Blair County for the creation of digital base layers such as Road Centerlines, Edge of Roadway, Hydrography, DEM & Political Boundaries, Building footprints, Parcels, and Orthophotography which will be available in the future.

In return, Blair County will provide PA MAP with available parcel updates and future changes.  

ARC Reader

ArcReader is a free, easy-to-use mapping application that allows users to view, explore, and print maps.

ArcReader is a great way to deliver interactive mapping capabilities that access a wide variety of dynamic geographic information. Using ArcReader, anyone can view high-quality maps created using the ArcGIS Publisher extension. ArcReader is freely distributable and can be delivered with your data for CD–ROM-based publishing of geographic data.

To download ArcReader from the ESRI website click here:  

(if you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader click here)