tion, housing, employment, income, and educa
tion The office also maintains a computerized
system that geographically references data on the
physical and cultural attributes of the State
Planning Data Sen ices helps maintain the
State's 2,800 automated property maps and their
linkage via x,y reference points to the two million
parcel database of the State Department of Assess
ments and Taxation
This information is accessible to government
agencies and the private sector on CD ROM as
MdProperty Vtew for use with off the shelf viewing
software and standard personal computers
Planning Data Services oversees three units
Geograplnc Information Systems, the Research and
State Data Center, and Systems Support

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Thomas S Nasuta, Manager
(410) 767 4450

Geographic Information Systems was organized in
1989 to provide technical assistance to State and local
governments m the use of Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) Assistance relates to socio economic
information, as well as natural resources and land use
This unit maintains an up to date electronic base map of
roads and related features with street names, address
ranges, and point locations of every property in the State

RESEARCH &STATF DATA CENTER
Robert F Dadd, Manager
(410) 767 4450

Formed m 1980, the Research and State Data
Center provides tor the development of data bases to
assist m planning for the overall growth and develop
ment of the State The Center provides information
from decennial censuses and is concerned with histon
cal and projected data on population, housmg, cm
ployment, personal income, business establishments,
parcels, and school enrollment The Center works to
improve access to and use of statistical data from the
U S Census Bureau, the U S Bureau of Fconomic
Anal) sis, and other federal and State sources

SYSTEMS SUPPORT
John M Garber, Manager
(410) 767 4450

Created in 1989, Systems Support provides in
depth hardware, software. Internet, imaging and da
tabase management support The unit typically
provides specialized microcomputer, mainframe and
networking skills to support projects such as the
development of a World Wide Web connection to
distribute census information and socio economic
projections via the Internet 1-ile transfer support
services also are provided S} stems Support provides
leadership for the Data Standards Subcommittee of
the Maryland State Government Geographic Infor

mation Coordinating Committee and data aggre
gallons and analysis for a vanetv of projects

STATE & I. OC AI PLANNING
Ronald N Young Deputy Director
(410) 767 4500

State and Local Planning oversees Comprehen
sive Planning, and Planning Assistance and Review

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
Mary J Abrams, Chief
(410) 767 4562

Comprehensive Planning prepares studies and
plans for the State's development Special attention is
accorded land use and growth, transportation and
public infrastructure, agriculture and forest preserva
tion, restoration and protection of the Chcsapeake
Bay, open space and recreation planning, and imple
mentation of the Patuxent River Polic} Plan

PLANNING ASSISTANCE & REVIEW
Scnbner H Sheafor, Chief
(410) 767 4550

Planning Assistance and Review began in 1989
as Local Planning Assistance and received its pre
sent name in 1994 This office is responsible for
two units Local Planning Assistance, and Plan and
Project Review

LOCAL PLANNING ASSISTANCE

Larry F Duket, Manages
(410)7674550

Local Planning Assistance helps local govern
ments to articulate critical problems, identify op
portunities and resources, develop long range
comprehensive plans, and implement programs for
economic growth and resource protection This
office provides technical sen ices mandated by State
laws, especially the Economic Growth, Resource
Protection, and Planning Act and the Chesapeake
Bay Critical Areas Act
To help counties and municipalities comply with
the requirements of the Planning Act, Local Plan
mng Assistance prepares technical models and
guidelines It administers technical assistance grants
from the Appalachian Regional Commission for
studies that ensure compliance with the Act and
help communities realize economic development
opportunities and meet objectives To manage
growth and solve problems, it offers education and
outreach programs Circuit rider staff assists Eastern
Shore municipalities in implementing ( hesapeake Bay
Critical Area Protection programs Local Planning
Assistance consults with, guides, and ad\ises count)
and municipal staff, citizen planning commissions, and
elected officials through tour regional offices at An
napolis, Centreville, Cumberland, and Salisbury