Label-EZ Helps Sarasota County Meet E-911 Mapping Demands

Plainsboro, New Jersey - January 12, 2004

The Geomatics division of Sarasota County was able to generate its map book atlas using MapText, Inc.'s Label-EZ™ and Label-Edit™ software in record time, helping to keep the E-911 map roll-out for the county on schedule. Using the high-quality automated text placement capabilities of Label-EZ, 640 maps were created, passed through quality control, and sent to the printer in less than 6 weeks of total time. The project involved creating / editing over 20 layers of information and ensuring that every street was labeled with its name and the address ranges - millions of text elements.

The E-911 communications center at the county is implementing a new 911 tracking grid system in January 2004. Call takers require new maps showing the grid maps to support 911 activities. The Geomatics division was given the responsibility of creating the new map book atlas in the 8-week time period. Generating this atlas with existing techniques and people would have taken over 16 weeks at best to complete the work and outsourcing to a map book firm was ruled out as the mapping firm could not meet the timeline constraint. Missing the deadline was not an option because doing so would set back the 911 grid roll-out by 1 year. After brainstorming and discussing different approaches, Geomatics approached MapText, Inc. about its automated text placement products. MapText, Inc. organized an online Label-EZ product information session and demonstrated the feasibility of using their products to meet the deadline.

The MapText, Inc. support staff worked hand in hand with the Geomatics staff in getting the product installed, setting up the rule sets for achieving high quality placement, implementing the production workflow and training the team members to make most use of the products. “The $20,000 investment turned into gold. Geomatics staff was able to produce the maps faster and to a higher quality than external companies could do. The last map book (outsourced) cost $134,000 and took 8 months - and our Geomatics team managed to do this one in 6 weeks and for a fraction of the cost”, says John Jackson, Manager of GIS and Geomatics Services for Sarasota County. “Our return on investment in Label-EZ was realized after the first project and we have two more projects in the queue.”