Crews with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District (GTPDD) have begun a comprehensive digital mapping project across Attala County that officials say will improve emergency response and ensure accuracy in voting districts, school zones and other public service boundaries.
The Attala County Board of Supervisors approved the GIS (Geographic Information Systems) contract with GTPDD in May. Work began this week using the district’s Trimble MX50 mobile mapping system, a vehicle-mounted unit that uses LiDAR (light detection and ranging) and panoramic cameras to collect highly precise geographic data.
“This will enhance 911 response as well as provide accurate district lines for elections, supervisor beats, school district lines, legislative districts, and many other applications,” said Attala County Emergency Management Director Danny Townsend. “If the public sees this truck, it is for legitimate purposes, so don’t be alarmed.”
According to GTPDD GIS Director Toby Sanford, the Trimble MX50 collects more than 2 million data points per second, even at highway speeds, and produces 360-degree images with centimeter-level precision. The technology will allow the county to map every road, identify the exact location of every structure, assess pavement conditions, and generate detailed ground models.
“This project will give Attala County engineering-grade profiles and data that can be used for everything from utility planning to emergency dispatch,” Sanford said. “It’s a big step forward in modernizing how the county manages information.”
While crews will begin driving county and city roads immediately, the full data processing will take several months. Sanford said initial usable data should be available within 30 days, with the complete street centerline update expected in about six months.
County officials say the end result will be a more efficient and accurate system for addressing, infrastructure management and public safety response.
