Perry County Office builds its digital archive one land survey at a time

Ohio’s Perry County Engineer’s Office handles up to 8,000 requests a year for copies of land surveys. Replacing a costly photocopier with a Contex large format scanner cut time and costs, and every scan now builds a digital archive that protects aging maps from loss and damage.

“We didn’t anticipate the huge savings in time and resources we would get from a scanner.”

Jason Fulk, GIS Specialist, Perry County Engineer’s Office

Background

Land surveys play a vital role for a variety of parties, from landowners and buyers to architects and construction firms. Therefore, one of the top priorities for municipalities like Ohio’s Perry County Office is to fulfill requests for copies of land survey maps in a timely and cost-effective manner.

However, when the volume of requests increases, along with the cost per copy, so does the pressure for government staffers to find more efficient solutions.

Challenge

The cost of photocopying land surveys was taking a toll on Ohio’s Perry County Office. In one year, staffers would fulfill up to 8,000 requests for copies of surveys. But as the cost of leasing, servicing and using its photocopier continued to grow, the staff at the County Office wanted a better solution.

Solution

Digitally capturing the maps and drawings was an attractive option for the County Office. With each scanned document, the County Office could also build a digital archive. The County Office purchased a Contex large format scanner with Nextimage Repro. The scanner is connected to an existing HP large format printer for hard copies, a large format MFP solution.

Results

Since most customers prefer digital versions of land surveys at the Perry County Office, the Contex large format scanner is in constant use. The powerful scanner is fundamental in helping to build its digital archive of maps, while protecting aging documents from becoming lost or damaged.

Want to know more?

• Download the full case study (PDF)
• How the Texas General Land Office digitizes historic maps
• Standalone scanner vs MFP: which is right for you?
• Scanners for GIS and maps