AWWA ACE56304

When the City of Stevens Point Water Utility set out to implement a digital mapping and records system, the Utility Commission was concerned about creating a "GIS (geographic information system) Black Hole". There have been many horror stories about communities investing enormous amounts of money into a records system, records conversion, and data management, only to see limited payback. This paper presents a winning approach to developing a GIS system for a medium sized utility. The keys to success included focusing on how to realize immediate improvements in work process performance by integrating the GIS with day-to-day utility operations. Decisions regarding the accuracy requirements, scope of data conversion, and "bells and whistles" features to be incorporated were driven by careful analysis of the costs and potential benefits. The initial GIS implementation was targeted to address key work processes that would achieve immediate benefits such as responding to customer needs for data, digger's hotline locate responses, work order and inventory management. The information presented will help similarly sized utilities make cost-effective decisions on how to implement a successful GIS, and avoid the pitfalls of the "GIS Black Hole". Includes table, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

06/16/2002

Number of Pages:

7

File Size:

1 file , 380 KB