Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/41362
Enterprise GIS The system's sign data were populated through a data inventory contract with Transmap, which conducted a comprehensive video-van sign inventory, allowing the city to "jump start" the sign-management process through col- lection of each signs' location, type, condition and photo. The application allows traffic engineering staff to track the replacement of poles and signs through an intuitive, stepwise data-entry interface. Any asset changes are tracked in a historical layer, so questions of past condi- tion or sign status are easily reported. This feature ben- efits the legal department, among others, as current and past data are readily available for review and analysis. The Sign application allows attachment of docu- lThe Sidewalk GIS application shows the location of a service request, while communicating with the city's 311 system. Applications Signs Maintenance of the city's many-thousand street and directional signs requires a dedicated team of engineers and field staff. The paper-based process of tracking sign information was inherently limited, with no comprehensive list of signage and an inability for remote users to quickly access information. With the new Web-based Sign GIS application, engi- neers in City Hall and sign crews based out of the remote Sign Shop now share the same view of data and sign-replacement work steps. The application offers a comprehensive view of sign assets and the in-progress work to manage them. ments to specific features. Photos and reports are easily linked and viewed when reviewing a specific sign or pole feature, giving engineers a robust dataset to leverage for maintenance work. The application also serves as a work-order tool, generating a paper worksheet for field staff that details each task required. An engineer details the required maintenance for replacement tasks and gen- erates a PDF work order that mimics the previously hand-entered worksheets, minimizing change to the established fieldwork process while eliminating the need to type each work request. The work-order component tracks the chain of custody of a sign replacement, so engineering staff can certify each sign's proper installation with each phase of replacement "signed-off" by appropriate staff. Reports can be generated to view the count of work orders in the various steps of completion, ensuring that all work is completed in a timely manner. Striping Every year, DPW replaces the city's faded centerline striping, which is streamlined with a GIS-centric tool to track the type, location and cost of striping activi- ties. Striping and hatching features were digitized from the city's high-resolution aerial photos. With each line attributed with its type, install date and condi- tion, query functionality was developed to identify the streets requiring repainting. GIS tools include the tracking of striping updates and a cost calculator, which allows engineers to enter fixed costs for striping-material replacement. Sections of stripes are selected by users to generate a report of the estimated cost of replacement. The cost calculator allows the strip- ing supervisor to accurately budget restriping contracts, ensuring fair bids and savings to city taxpayers. Sidewalks Sidewalk repair and replacement is a common request lThe Signal application allows engineers to view important signal data, including linked photos, timing charts and formatted reports. 20 GEO W ORLD / AU G U ST 2O11 from city residents. DPW is using the GIS to help support its inspectors' timely response to citizen sidewalk con- cerns, and the Sidewalk application displays the location and attributes of each sidewalk-inspection request.