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Project Goal

The City of Walla Walla, Washington has implemented an enterprise GIS system, using ArcGIS, ArcSDE, ArcIMS, and ArcPad software. The goal was to provide the City with spatially accurate mapping, departmental editing capabilities, mobile mapping capabilities, and links to other centrally stored databases and business systems.

Business Problem Solved

Conversion and Database Development:
The City of Walla Walla’s GIS team began a massive conversion process from CAD to GIS. Nearly all of the City maps and layers were CAD based, including roughly 25,000 Utility features. Database development, relationships, and topology were planned, developed and created prior to the conversion process. Utilization of ESRI’s Water Utility Data Model was used as the palette, which was then customized to the City’s unique Water, Sewer, and Storm Utility objects, feature classes, and attribute needs.

GIS Distribution:
Prior to implementing of an Enterprise GIS system, the City’s GIS was only accessible to the GIS staff via AutoCAD software and single use ArcView 3.x licenses, while paper maps were provided to staff and map books used by field crews. File formats were primarily CAD, some shape files were created.
Because the City had varied audience of GIS users and expertise, the GIS development team chose ESRI’s ArcGIS desktop family of software for the more advanced users, ArcPad for the field crews, and ArcIMS for the general audience and less advanced GIS users. A GIS User Group was established and in-house training sessions continue to improve as users become more knowledgeable and savvy.

GIS Links to Business Systems and E911:
The City Technology Services staff and GIS staff work closely together to provide data access solutions to City staff. GIS layers and data are used to spatially locate Permitting and Utility Billing activity via the Parcel Manager module in Eden Business System. GIS and E911 databases communicate via data dumps and ODBC connects.

Technology Implemented

ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView and extensions
ArcSDE
MS/SQL Server – Windows 2000
ArcIMS
ArcPad
Rugged Laptops
Handheld GPS, sub-meter accuracy
RTK/GPS with Portable Base Station

Development Team Biography

GIS is centrally located in the Technology Services Department. There are two staff members and one temporary employee dedicated to GIS development. The GIS Team is a combination of old and new.

Christopher Owen, GIS Supervisor
A “Jack of All Trades”, highly knowledgeable in ArcSDE, ArcIMS, ArcInfo, GIS mobile solutions, and GIS enterprise development and integration. Go UW Huskies!

Walter Keyes, GIS Specialist
A 27 year veteran City employee, specializing in City utilities and operations.