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City of Rapid City

Pennington County and Rapid City, South Dakota, have joined forces to reduce duplication of efforts and provide improved customer service to city and county residents by implementing a geographic information system.

Business Problem

Rapid City and Pennington County have been jointly building a Geographic Information System (GIS), a computerized mapping and analysis tool. When the system is mature, it is expected to hold approximately one hundred map layers.

City and County staff will be able to use the system to quickly produce maps rather than search paper map files. The GIS can also index other data sets, such as tax assessment information, various district boundaries, and road centerline information. Staff will be able to access information directly through the GIS rather than through other offices. The system also allows for complex analysis using multiple map layers. Recently, the Rapid City Fire and Emergency Services Department compared response times for new fire stations, analyzing numerous combinations of station locations to determine the best fire protection coverage for area residents and businesses.

The public also benefits. Construction project maps and bus routes are available online. Interactive internet maps are being developed for better public data access. Self-service kiosks for property information access are also planned for the County Courthouse and City Hall.

In addition to eliminating local and county government duplication of services and staff effort, the GIS implementation will provide improved service to the citizens of Rapid City and Pennington County with better quality and more accessible information.

Technology Implemented

The Pennington County-Rapid City GIS Division began work three years ago after completing a master plan. The system now includes orthophotography for the City and County, tax parcels, road centerlines, and numerous other map layers covering the entire County. Assets include 50 copies of ArcView, 7 Arc/Info licenses, and an ArcIMS installation, along with two dedicated GIS servers and several NT workstations, plotters and printers. The GIS Division employs four individuals: a coordinator, two analysts, and an intern. Approximately 40 other City and County employees have received formal GIS training, and two other City and County employees work nearly full time with GIS.

Development Team

Patsy Horton, Don Jarvinen, Bimende Malik and Michelle Perkins

Development Team Biography

Patsy Horton, GIS Coordinator, MBA, University of South Dakota

Don Jarvinen, GIS Analyst, MA in Geography, University of Maryland College Park

Bimende Malik, GIS Analyst, MS in Agricultural Engineering, South Dakota State University

Michelle Perkins, GIS Intern, BS in Geological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology