About the Data
Metadata, commonly referred to as “data about data,” provides a GIS user with information about the data’s characteristics. Such characteristics include data content, update cycle, when it was created, etc. The following sections below contain brief metadata regarding the GIS layers present on the Cecil County online GIS application.
Address Points & Buildings
Address Points – this layer depicts all known addresses that have been assigned in the County. This data is updated on a monthly basis.
Buildings – The outlines of all primary structures existing as of Spring 2005 are shown in green. All primary structures constructed after Spring 2005, the date the orthophotos were taken, are represented by green triangles. This data is updated on a monthly basis.
Outbuildings – The outlines of all secondary structures (i.e. sheds, pole barns, etc) existing as of Spring 2005 are shown in orange. All outbuildings constructed after Spring 2005, the date the orthophotos were taken, are not shown. This data set is not updated.
Road Centerlines
All existing, named roads for which addresses have been assigned are shown in the road centerline layer. This data is updated on a monthly basis.
Topography (3 feet)
Contours – Contours (lines of similar elevation) are shown at three foot intervals. This data set is not updated.
Spot Elevations - Interpolated from aerials, the spot elevations are not survey verified. They are usually found at road intersections or along road centerlines. This data set is not updated.
Environmental Features
Critical Area – This layer shows the 1000 ft from mean high water Critical Area line. Also shown are the Critical Area’s sub-designations – RCA, LDA, and IDA. This layer has not been matched to the new lot line layer, but has been matched to the tax map layer from Maryland Property View 2007. This data set is updated only when a change to the Critical Area is approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
100 Year Floodplain – As taken from the Maryland Department of the Environment, this shows the locations of the 100 year floodplain in Cecil County. This layer has not been matched to the lot line layer. This data set is not updated.
Hydrography (lines) – This layer depicts the locations of all linear water features (i.e. streams, ditches, etc) in the County. This data set is not updated.
Hydrography (polygons) - This layer depicts the locations of all polygonal water features (i.e. ponds, lakes, etc) in the County. This data set is not updated.
Tree Line – Taken from the 2005 orthophotos, this layer shows the extent of tree cover as of Spring 2005. This data set is not updated.
Wetlands (DNR) – This data, obtained from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, is the digital version of the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps. This data set is not updated.
Emergency Services
Dry Hydrants – Dry Hydrants are apparatuses installed in standing water (i.e. lakes and ponds) that ensure emergency responders’ access to an existing water supply. This data set is currently not being updated.
ESN Boundaries – Used in dispatch situations by the Department of Emergency Services, these polygonal areas are sometimes known as firebox boundaries. The dataset includes a given area’s ESN number as well as its firebox number. This data set is updated on an as needed basis.
Route 40, 301, and I-95 Mile Markers – This layer shows the GPS locations of all integer mile markers along Routes 40, 301, and I-95. This data set is currently not being updated.
Police Patrol Districts – As obtained from the Department of Emergency Services, this layer is used to dispatch the appropriate personnel to a situation. This data set is currently not being updated.
Planning & Zoning
Parcel files – Similar to the “Account Number” layer in the cadastral subset, this layer contains centroids of all parcels in the County. New centroids are added to this layer on a monthly basis, and this layer enables hyperlinking between the online GIS site and the SDAT “Real Property Search” website.
Enterprise Zones – Established by the Economic Development Office, an enterprise zone designation provides certain tax credits to businesses locating within them. This data is updated on an as needed basis.
Forest Conservation Plans – This layer shows the locations of all forest conservation plans and forest stand delineations submitted to the Office of Planning & Zoning. This layer is updated on a bi-monthly basis.
Historic Properties – Obtained from the Maryland Historic Trust, this layer shows the locations of all sites on the historic register. This data layer is not updated.
Proposed Subdivisions – This layer shows the locations of all proposed major subdivision plans submitted to the Office of Planning & Zoning. This layer is updated on a bi-monthly basis.
Protected Lands – The many layers contained under this subheading show Cecil County properties that have had their development rights preserved or restricted through various preservation programs active in the County. This layer is updated on an as needed basis.
Rezonings – This layer shows the locations of all rezoning appplications submitted to the Office of Planning & Zoning between 1993 and the present This layer is updated on a bi-monthly basis.
Survey Monuments – Based on data from the National Geodetic survey, this layer shows the locations of all NGS blue booked survey monuments within the County. This layer is not updated.
Public Works
Bridges – This layer shows the locations of all major bridges, and a few XCE (smaller structures that do not meet the technical definition of a bridge) structures, in the County. This layer is not being updated currently.
Clean Outs, Manholes, Sanitary Sewer, Pump Stations, Force Mains, and Treatment Plants – Taken from the sanitary sewer GIS inventory conducted by the Department of Public Works, these layers work together to depict the sanitary sewer infrastructure in the Meadowview, Cherry Hill, Carpenters Point, and North East sanitary subdistricts. This layer is updated on an as needed basis.
Cadastral
Lot dimensions – Obtained from recorded subdivision plats having five or more lots, parcels or lots having dimensions were added to the vector parcel layer through coordinate geometry (“cogo”). This dataset is still under construction and is not complete.
Account Number – Using parcel centroids, this layer depicts the account identifier of all parcels in the County. This dataset is still under construction and is not complete.
Lot Lines – This layer depicts lot boundaries within the County. This data cannot be used to supplant a traditional survey, nor can it be used as proof of ownership. This dataset is still under construction and is not complete.
Property Lines – This layer is used when two or more adjacent lots are under the same ownership. Much like the lot lines layer, this data cannot be used to supplant a traditional survey, nor can it be used as proof of ownership. This dataset is still under construction and is not complete.
Town Boundaries
Taken from Department of Assessment & Taxation records, this layer depicts the boundaries of the eight incorporated towns in the County. This layer is updated on an as needed basis, such as when a town annexes additional land.
County Boundary
This layer shows the boundary of Cecil County. This layer is not updated.
Ortho200
This layer contains the 200 scale aerial orthophotos that were flown in the spring of 2005.