For online PDF maps-click here.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that allows the storage, analysis, creation, and retrieval of maps and geographic data. The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission has used GIS technology for over 25 years and offers a variety of GIS Services within the region. While most of the services are for our member local governments, we can occasionally do other projects as time and resources permit. Some of these services include:

• custom Census maps showing
• site-selection assistance using Census data and traffic counts;
• digital photography
• technical assistance with projections, datum and file conversions
• 1962, 1965, 1970, 1986, 1995 aerial photos
• 2002, 2006 High resolution digital ortho-photos
• GIS analysis-overlays, viewsheds, slopes, etc.;
• CD and DVD Recording of digital data and Census data;
• paper map or photo scanning;
• sub-meter GPS capability;
• technical assistance, training, demonstrations, or troubleshooting;
• small or large full color maps for reports or plans; and
• other custom maps.

As a State Data Center Affiliate, the Commission also receives a wide variety of data on employment, education, and economics from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. Census Bureau. For more information please email us.

GPS Services

A Global Positioning System (GPS) tracks satellite movements to determine coordinates on the ground for surveying, mapping and navigation. This GPS receiver has the ability to track up to 12 satellites, and map points, lines or areas within a few feet of their actual ground location. Applications of this technology could include:

• manhole, hydrant, meter inventories;
• sign and bridge inventories;
• road centerline mapping;
• high water or burn area mapping;
• driveway or dwelling locations;
• well site mapping; and
• bus stop locations.

The technology also allows the recording of characteristics of the features in the field which can then be imported into a GIS. Trained staff are ready to meet your GPS needs. To learn more about how Planning Districts across the state are involved in GIS, click here. If you have an application in mind, please call at (540) 343-4417 or email us.

GIS Data Sources

Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
For layers not listed below, contact us at 540-343-4417 or email

Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN)
searchable state portal for GIS data
Virginia Digital Orthophotography (VBMP)
other VGIN products and services

Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Data Sets Available schools, fire/rescue facilities, major water and sewer lines, enterprise zones, available industrial sites and more.
USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quads (DOQQ) List of images in the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conservation Lands Database

Virginia Department of Forestry
Forestry related and other links to Virginia data

Radford University Geography Department
Geo Server -2002 VGIN Orthophotos, DRG's, DEMS, GPS base station

ESRI, Inc.
TIGER 2000 line files by county in shapefiles (roads, streams, county boundaries, railroads, census geography)

Census Bureau
Census Geography Page (background, metadata, raw files- see ESRI listing for TIGER files in shapefile format)
Urban Area/Cluster shapefiles

USGS
National Map Seamless Server-DEM's, Landcover etc.

USDA NRCS Soil Surveys
-Alleghany, Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke County, City of Roanoke, City of Salem

Universtity of Virginia
Gazetteer- searchable database of GIS data (DRG's, DEM's, DOQQ, NLCD)

VA Division of Legislative Services
Virginia House and Senate Districts-

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Wetlands Inventory-by quad sheet

Local Government Online Mapping

Alleghany County
Bedford County (Downloads Available)
Botetourt County
City of Covington
Western Virginia Water Authority
City of Roanoke (Downloads Available)
County of Roanoke/Town of Vinton
City of Salem

Virginia Department of Transportation including orthophotography
Virginia House and Senate Districts-VA Division of Legislative Services
Natural Resources Conservation Service-Soils
EnviroMapper-EPA related mapping
Virginia DEQ-online water quality assessments
US Census-Longitudinal Employment and Household Dynamics (LEHD)
EPA-Environmental Justice Geographic Assessment Tool
NationalAtlas.gov-general US/State mapping on a variety of topics
Federal Highway Administration various thematic maps by county
US Census Bureau Thematic maps based on an address. (Pick items and choose "GO". Then scroll down for products/map listings) Choosing "MAP IT" only gives geography, and no thematic maps.)

Job Listings

GIS Jobs Clearinghouse
Virginia GIS Jobs
Virginia Chapter APA Job Listings
American Planning Associaton Job Listings