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Project Goal

The city of Mesa, Arizona, population of more than 450,000, recently decided on an organizational strategy that would move GIS functionality away from desktop software and onto the Web. This move makes the lifecycle management of the system easier and allows more people within city government to take advantage of GIS-based applications. To meet this goal, the city has developed an enterprise GIS (EGIS) that utilizes the power of ArcGIS Server software. Thus far, the Utilities and Development Services Departments are using the system.

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Business Problem Solved

To improve workflow in the Utilities and Development Services Departments, the city has developed four GIS applications: Inspector Activity List, Gas Valve Maintenance, Web-based Utility Output Map Generator, and Mailing Address Report. The first two give field staff access to property and utility data, respectively. The map generator creates real-time maps of utility assets, and the Mailing Address Report is used to notify residents in a selected area of upcoming construction.

The ArcGIS Server implementation eases the lifecycle management of the system because, for example, updating the GIS through ArcGIS Server requires one adjustment as opposed to updating many workstations that have GIS desktop software installed on them. It also allows more people within the city government to use GIS-based applications because with ArcGIS Server, they don't need to have GIS desktop software installed on their computers; they simply need an Internet connection.

There are three additional reasons the City of Mesa chose ArcGIS Server software. First, the city uses C# and Microsoft Visual Studio for Web development, and ArcGIS Server allowed the agencies to integrate current Web practices into the GIS. Second, city leaders wanted access to the ArcObjects library because it allows them to create a customized GIS that solves the city's unique business problems. Those solutions include allowing code compliance inspectors to "grab" their regions on maps and create activity lists from spatial queries. Third, they want to be able to manage map layouts so they can control and manipulate maps effectively.

Technology Implemented

The new applications make it easier for employees in the office and field, to access the spatial data they need to do their jobs efficiently and make sound decisions.

With the new EGIS, which integrates with Tidemark Advantage and an Oracle database, field employees now have access to maps that are customized for their workflow. On a Panasonic Toughbook notebook PC, employees in the field can search on-screen maps of the areas where they are working with detailed information about, for example, the utility assets they are working on. Also in the field, code compliance inspectors are able to access historical records about properties. Updates to data can be made daily and immediately reflected on the maps.

"From an Information Services standpoint, it's given us much better leverage of GIS data because it can be utilized within the enterprise without any specialized skills—we find that we have users now using GIS without realizing it," says Jason Bell, IT Services Leader, City of Mesa. "The GIS is transparent and that is one of our goals, to continue to get GIS enveloped in our workflow while remaining transparent to the end user; it provides unique value to our enterprise system."

Development Team Biography