Esri ArcNews: Good Parcel Data Builds Strong Communities

Land parcels are the foundational decision-making layer for governments and private companies alike. Not only do they serve as the basis for property taxation, determining who can build what where, and identifying infrastructure needs, but they are also crucial pieces of information when disaster strikes.

Maui County, Hawaii, has prioritized careful stewardship of parcel data for years. When a devastating wildfire ripped through the area in 2023, it underscored the value of land records and parcel data in ways no one could have imagined.

“When the wildfires hit, the critical nature of parcel data immediately became clear: Recovery would be impossible without it,” said Ellen Deleissegues, a GIS analyst in Maui County’s Real Property Assessment Division....