These "*.dwg" files (layers) of AutoCAD were converted into "*.dxf"files and then subsequently these "*.dxf" files were converted into ArcINFO coverage's as House coverage, Pole coverage, and Road coverage. The addresses or ID's were assigned with different codes to each and every location in House, Pole, and Road coverage's corresponding to the actual field observations. Outmost care was taken while editing because there was a possibility of error in assigning ID's for each and every location on the coverage working. These coverage's in ArcINFO store information in layers as polygon, annotation, and label point depending on the nature of the coverage. Then finally these coverage's were imported into Arcview GIS (Fig.3). The nonspatial data (attribute data) was collected during field survey in the form of a survey sheet, and stored as a data base file. These "*.dbf" files were joined to themes attribute table of respective coverage's. For example Houses data (both Lower Income Group and Middle Income Group) in DBF format was joined to themes attribute table of House coverage. Similarly, Electric pole data and Road network data in DBF format was joined to themes attribute table of Road coverage and Pole coverage. A query builder was prepared in Arcview GIS (Fig.4) with the available data to support the MMC and its allies for various analyses. Finally, the digital database and resource maps for the colony were prepared in Arcview GIS to create an integrated information source that would provide the MMC with necessary tools to develop a comprehensive and appropriate framework to guide the planning and development of the city.  Fig 3 Map showing house coverage in Arcview GIS Results and Discussion The prepared digital database will give complete information about the local housing board colony in a more flexible way, by conveying the technical concepts of GIS study subjects to non-scientists. The resource map of the colony prepared shows where things are, lets one to find the places that have the features one was looking for and to see where to take necessary action. Currently, the entire routine works of various departments under MMC are done manually. However; some of the departments have stand-alone computers for their activities. The level of computerization is insignificant in these departments. Data for different reports, registers are generated manually and the operations in different departments are carried out manually. The GIS system will be useful for the MMC in the following ways:
 Fig 4 Map showing query builder in Arcview GIS  Fig 5 Bar chart showing cost variation among 10 houses |