City of Corvallis
Oregon
Alice A. Grucza
GIS Coordinator
alice.grucza@ci.corvallis.or.us
541.754.174
City of Corvallis
Oregon
 The City
 GIS – Background/History
 Key Decisions
 Software – what, where, why
 Grant Project – Playground Inventory
City of Corvallis
 Population:
52,540
 Area:
13.53 square miles
 Budget:
$61.3M Operating
$24.8M Capital
 GIS Staff:
3 FTE (Coordinator, 2 Techs)
0.5 FTE Manager
OSU Intern Program
Brief History
City of Corvallis - Geographic
Information
System
 1985 - Decision to do mapping digitally using AutoCAD.
 1989 - First GIS software applications purchased (GEO/SQL
and Oracle on OS2).
 1989-1993 - “Core elements” of the GIS developed parcels, water, sewer lines. Topographic and planimetrics
captured within UGB (AutoCAD).
 1993 - Benton County property database associated with
the parcel spatial data.
 1994-95 - Transition to ArcCAD and ArcView – ESRI
Software.
 July 1995 - First ArcView users outside GIS are trained.
 1995-98 - Development and refinement resulted in 121
themes and first orthophotos covering entire UGB.
Brief History
City of Corvallis - Geographic
Information
System
 1999 - Development of GISMO custom interface - ‘common
portal’ linking GIS/Data Warehouse/other data sources.
 1999 - Present - Data Steward responsibilities agreed on and
formalized. Experiments with field data collection methods.
 2000 - GISMO use extended to other city departments and
mobile installations.
 2002 - Field data collection using ArcPAD on an iPAQ for
Streets Division (street light and sign inventory).
 2003 – ICMA Grant - Playground Inventory and Maintenance
Management. Extend GIS field data collection to P & R.
 2003 – ArcIMS implementation - new platform for Inter/Intranet
map services.
Key Decisions
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City of Corvallis - Geographic
Information
System
Initial Software
Public Access to data. Never “marketed” GIS
Quality of data – accuracy builds confidence.
Build on small steps and successes. Recognize GIS is a
“long-term” investment.
New software – can be the needed key, or suicide.
Data stewardship concept. Users build and maintain the
system and retain responsibility for “their” data. Ownership.
Organizational focused GIS vs. departmental
Build a broad base of user support for the system.
Providing training and ongoing support are imperative.
Automation of routine processes is critical!
Software
City of Corvallis - Geographic
Information
System
 City of Corvallis uses ESRI software products. These
have become regional ‘de facto’ standard.
 Different software product for different needs and
purposes.
 ArcINFO - Professional GIS software for creation and maintenance of
GIS data. (Mapping & GIS staff)
 ArcView - User software for those requiring analysis and custom map
creation capabilities and/or data stewards.
 GISMO - Custom City of Corvallis interface software for viewing,
query, standard reports, mailing labels, simple maps.
 Arc Explorer - User software for those just needing to view data.
(Free from the web esri.com)
 ArcPAD – Field data entry and maintenance.
 ArcIMS – Intranet and Internet mapping services
Software
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
 ArcView: Data Stewards for GIS data creation and
maintenance. Custom solutions.
 Example: Custom ArcView data entry application for
site address maintenance.
Software GISMO
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
 GISMO - Custom Corvallis interface software.
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Developed by PW with consultant (GeoNorth) in 1999.
Visual Basic and Map Objects.
Currently over 150 users - desk and mobile installs.
Data entry point for PW’s maintenance management
software.
‘Common portal’ to information from many different
programs, departments, sources, etc.
Links many data types to their geographic location. Example:
scanned documents
License cost is minimal (less than $90 each install)
Easy to use. Requires minimal training to use effectively.
Software - GISMO
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
 Designed for PW - now used throughout the
organization, Planning, Development, Fire, Police,
Dispatch, City Managers Office, Park & Recreation, etc.
The City of Corvallis Public Works Department
uses GIS and Data Warehouse technologies on a daily
basis
Fire Department Mapping Prior to GIS
Current Mobile Mapping System
Fire Department
 Nine current laptop
computers on first
out apparatus
 4 engines
 1 truck
 1 command
vehicle
 3 ambulances
Software ArcPAD
 ArcPAD first used by Street
Division for sign inventory
 Project that had failed with three
prior software systems now
exceeded all expectations.
 Partial inventory was estimated to
take more than a year.
 Completed in less than 4 months
 Very successful – embraced by
field personnel.
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
Software ArcPAD
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
Why was this software/hardware combination successful?
 No keyboard required.
 Easy and simple to use.
 Flexible – if crews want changes most are
easy and quick to do.
 Portability – fits in a pocket.
 Links directly to GIS – direct shapefile editing
 Made the crew’s work easier and more
efficient.
 Vast array of add-on accessories for iPAQ
Software ArcPAD
 Field data collection
is a key component in
the Data Cycle
 Provides a “tool” for
crews to manage their
systems
 Faster turn around
time
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
Software ArcPAD
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
ICMA Grant Project – Playground Equipment Inventory and
Maintenance Management Program
 Expand technology to a low-tech department
 Streamline regular reporting and management efforts
 Add significant GIS features into the system
 Low (and getting lower) budget opportunities
 Eager staff looking for ways to improve service
 Partnership with Oregon State University CS 461-462 Team
Software ArcPAD
 Data schema developed
 Programming identified
 Process outlined
 Form creation
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
Future . . .
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
Why use GIS in Corvallis?
GIS - Geographic
Information
System
 Geographic or location base to most city information and
services (FGDC study says 80% of gov’t data is location
based)
 Better Information and Analysis tools for decision making
and communicating.
 Same information to everyone - not different versions,
dates.
 Public access to information (future - web access)
 Record retained of changes over time.
 Dynamic resource - information increasing.
 Data + Mapping - production of custom maps.
 -- Better Customer Service!
City of Corvallis - Geographic
Information
System
It’s simply ...
Smart Maps
provide
Smart Service
Delivery!
Geographic Information System
Citizens
Inventory
Geographic
Knowledge
The World
Decision Support
Geography matters to the City of Corvallis!
City of Corvallis
Oregon
City GIS data (including orthos) available at:
ftp.ci.corvallis.or.us/pw/gis
CDs also available at the Valley Library and
Corvallis Benton County Library or available for
purchase ($10 each) at PW.
PC Installation in Van
First installation
late 1999
Industrial PC case
Std. Keyboard
15” Flat Screen
Inverter mounted in cargo area
PC Installation - Meter Van
2nd installation,
done in early
2000.
Same PC case,
monitor and
keyboard (in a
slide-in tray).
Added a printer.
Inverter mounted
behind the
monitor.
Uses GISMO
and ArcPad.
PC Installation 1-ton Service Trucks
Most recent installations
DC-AC
Inverter
Dual 12v
Batteries
Infra-red
keyboard
PC is a slim-profile case, mounted behind the seat.
Has dual hard-drives w/additional cooling fans
Same flat-screen monitor
Keyboard is wireless (infra-red)
Has a wireless Ethernet network card