FAQ's
1. What is AIMS?
2. How does GIS help me?
3. Do I need a username and password to access Johnson County Online Mapping?
4. How do I become a data partner and how much does it cost to license data?
5. Do you offer any data for free?
6. Do you have a key to coded values, like zoning, land use, etc?
7. What are AIMS Coordinator’s Meetings and how do I get involved?
8. How do I order a map?
9. How do I obtain a plot plan?
10. How can I get the easements that are on my property?
11. I am building a new structure on my property, what do I need to get a permit?
12. Can I obtain property ownership information through Johnson County Online Mapping?
13. How do I obtain a custom map?
14. Do you sell paper maps of Johnson County?
15. How current is the map data on your website?
16. How accurate is the map data on your website?
17. Why can’t I get the property ID or other labels to show up on the map I print from the Johnson County Online Mapping application?
18. How can I get the X,Y (latitude, longitude) of my property?
19. Do you have old aerial photographs of Johnson County?
20. Can I reproduce your data/maps in my own documents?
21. Do you have information for areas other than Johnson County?
1. What is AIMS?
AIMS stands for Automated Information Mapping System and is a department within Johnson County government.
AIMS is a Geographic Information System, or GIS. A GIS is a computerized system for managing large amounts
of information that is geographically referenced or related to a location. In other words, a GIS is smart
maps. An integrated GIS is generally a "turnkey" system operating on a computer system in a client/server
environment. It often has plotter, digitizer, or color printer devices attached to the computer or on the network.
The GIS also includes software for graphic processing, database management, and spatial analysis and modeling. The
AIMS database integrates graphic and nongraphic data. Return to the top
2. How does GIS help me?
By combining locational information with tabular information, GIS provides users the ability to make very
informed decisions with improved efficiency at less cost. AIMS enhances this ability by making the county’s
maps and data available online. GIS is used in many arenas including emergency management and response, property
appraisal, public works, health services, and economic development. Return to the top
3. Do I need a username and password to access Johnson County Online Mapping?
No username and password is needed to access the online mapping application. Simply click the "Online Mapping" button in the upper left
of the homepage to be directed to the application.
If you subscribe to additional myAIMS services, you will need the username and password given to you at the time of subscription to
access your additional applications. Return to the top
4. How do I become a data partner and how much does it cost to license data?
Being an AIMS partner provides you with access to AIMS data, input on AIMS projects, and the opportunity to
participate in the AIMS Coordinator’s Meetings. Typically, AIMS data partners are composed of cities, utilities,
school districts, engineering firms, and miscellaneous organizations. If you are interested in becoming a data partner,
please contact AIMS at 913-715-1600 or go to the How to Become a Data Partner page. Return to the top
5. Do you offer any data for free?
Public domain data obtained and archived by AIMS, but of which AIMS
was not the originator, is available at no charge. All AIMS’ sourced data must be licensed. Please
contact the Mapper of the Day at 913-715-1600 or
to see what data we offer. Return to the top
6. Do you have a key to coded values, like zoning, land use, etc?
Yes, values for coded layers can be found at the Feature Code Lookup
page. Return to the top
7. What are AIMS Coordinator's Meetings and how do I get involved?
AIMS Coordinator Meetings are intended for anyone interested in GIS and becoming more familiar with GIS at
the county, city or business level in the Kansas City metropolitan area. AIMS Coordinator meetings are held
on the second Thursday of the month and are hosted at various locations throughout the area. The meetings
consist of data updates, product, software and application development, and collaborative GIS efforts throughout
the Kansas City Metropolitan area. View the AIMS Coordinator's Group page. Return to the top
8. How do I order a map?
AIMS offers three types of standard maps: planimetric, property, and aerials. Maps can be ordered either over
the phone by calling the Mapper of the Day at 913-715-1600 or by emailing your map order to
Return to the top
9. How do I obtain a plot plan?
Plot plans can be printed directly from the AIMS homepage under the "Quick Links" section. Enter a valid Johnson County address in the box under "Location Maps & Information", select Plot Plan from the drop down menu and click go. From this page, you can simply send the generated plot plan to your printer.
A plot plan can also be obtained by calling the Mapper of the Day at 913-715-1600 or by going online at
Johnson County Online Mapping and printing it free of charge. Return to the top
10. How can I get the easements that are on my property?
AIMS does not have easements in the GIS system. Plats, which are available online,
may contain some easements. Easements that are not associated with a plat but with a deed or other official document should be
researched at the Department of Records and Tax Administration. Return to the top
11. I am building a new structure on my property, what do I need to get a permit?
Each city within Johnson County has different requirements to issue building permits. It is best to check
with your city. A good place to start is to print off a plot plan (Question #9). Return to the top
12. Can I obtain property ownership information through Johnson County Online Mapping?
Ownership information is available through Johnson County Online Mapping on a per parcel basis using the "Search Owner" field on the left-hand side of the application or by entering
an owner name in the "Search for Location" box at the top of the screen. This information is also available through Location Services on the County's homepage.
For additional information, please contact the Records and Tax Administration office at 913-715-0775. Return to the top
13. How do I obtain a custom map?
If one of our standard maps does not meet your needs, AIMS will work with you to get exactly the information
you need. Contact
for more information and see our page regarding map requests. Return to the top
14. Do you sell paper maps of Johnson County?
Yes, AIMS offers several maps of the county with themes suchs a roads, school districts, and land use.
Visit the Maps page for a list of maps available for sale. Return to the top
15. How current is the map data on your website?
This question is most often related to planimetric, aerial, and property data. Planimetric data was collected
over the years of 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004. Some features (e.g. buildings, pavement edge, water features) have since been updated every two years
in coordination with aerial imagery capture. To inquire for specific dates for your area, please contact the
Aerial data is current for the year it was flown. Orthophotography is captured in the spring of even years and release in the late summer or fall of that year.
Property information is typically updated within two weeks of a change requested by the Department of Records and Tax Administration. Return to the top
16. How accurate is the map data on your website?
This question is most often related to planimetric, aerial, and property data. Planimetric data is accurate
depending on the year acquired (See Question #15) to within 2 feet. Aerial and orthophotography
accuracy is dependent on the year. Resolutions range from 2 feet pixel to .5 feet pixels. Property data is also
accurate to within 10 feet. Property data should be used for planning purposes only and a survey should be
conducted to locate the actual physical property lines. AIMS has no control over the accuracy, currency, or
completeness of publicly available basemaps provided by Google, Bing, and ESRI that we overlay our data with.
Please view the associated metadata for all accuracy information. Return to the top
17. Why can’t I get the property ID or other labels to show up on the map I print from the Johnson County Online Mapping application?
Property labels are only available at certain scales due to the complexity of sending large amounts of data
across the internet. Zoom in more to get the option to label the property. The property polygon must
also be checked for drawing. If you need a map of a larger area with labels contact the Mapper of the Day
(913-715-1600) to get an estimate. Return to the top
18. How can I get the X,Y (latitude, longitude) of my property?
You can receive the X, Y of the centroid of your property or of a corner of the property by going
to Johnson County Online Mapping and zooming to your parcel of interest. Then hover the cursor over the point of interest
and in the lower left corner of the browser status bar the stateplane coordinate will be displayed.
This unit is in feet. Using freeware off of the internet or commercial packages you can convert it to
Latitude and Longitude if necessary. Return to the top
19. Do you have old aerial photographs of Johnson County?
AIMS houses digital aerial photography dating back to 1991, along with historic imagery from 1941 and 1954.
Johnson County Public Works
has microfilm versions of the 1941 and 1954 imagery, as well as photos from 1973, 1986, and 1990. The
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the
Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), and the
U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center also
archive historical aerial photographs. Return to the top
20. Can I reproduce your data/maps in my own documents?
Yes, you may reproduce AIMS’ maps and data in your own documents. However, you must cite AIMS as the
source of your data. Please be sure to read the Terms of Use and the
Privacy Policy. Return to the top
21. Do you have information for areas other than Johnson County?
No, AIMS only houses information regarding Johnson County. If you are interested in surrounding counties, visit
Douglas County,
Miami County,
Wyandotte County,
the Kansas GIS Clearinghouse, the Data Access and Support Center (DASC),
or the Missouri GIS Clearinghouse, the Missouri Spatial Data Information Service. Return to the top