Utilities Focused Asset
Management &
Mapping for Parks
Penn State University - Masters in GIS Capstone Project
By: David G. Lautenschleger, P.S., GISP
Surveying and Facilities GIS Coordinator
Advisor: Joseph A. Bishop, PhD
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy
District (MWCD) Background
Largest watershed in Ohio (8,000 sq. miles / 20% of state)
Established in 1933 for flood control after the Great Flood
of 1913, Ohio's greatest natural disaster with nearly 500
deaths
System of 16 dams and reservoirs
Provided Public's Works projects during depression
$8 Billion in flood damage prevented
Park system started in 1960's
Atwood Lake Park
Charles Mill Lake Park
Pleasant Hill Lake Park
Seneca Lake Park
Tappan Lake Park
What is the problem?
Parks are over 50 years old and have endured a variety
of modifications
Unknown utility locations
Excavations can lead to “surprises”
Poor record keeping - Information in variety of formats
and locations
Interruption of utility service
Unhappy campers
Unsafe conditions to construction crews
NEW SYSTEM NEEDED!
Avoid Expensive Excavation
Simple projects turn into BIG problems!
Lack of utility knowledge creates additional
expenses for future projects
Employee safety and Utility interruption
http://blog.level3.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/landownerfibercut.jpg
http://hamptonroads.com/2011/04/incidents-gas-line-power-pole-tangle-va-beach-traffic
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Bayonne-Water-Main-Break-Avenue-E-52-Street-208420521.html
Goals
Develop a system in which multiple departments can
easily access utility data
Maintain data in one location and make available to all
staff via the Internet
Increase the amount of sharing of data district-wide
Once the advantages of GIS are realized, a more sharing
and open philosophy will be adopted
Increase efficiency for Utilities and Construction Crews
Make the information not typically available to field staff
by implementing tablets/handheld GPS units, allowing
problems to be resolved faster and generating a selfsufficient environment
Current Location Methods
Utility Locator (metal only)
Utility Camera
Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) Not for private
utilities
Walk project – compare and measure to existing
structures
Existing Data
Historical data: hand drawings on linens and mylar
(1960's-1980's)
CAD design files from expansions (1980's- present)
Misc. field survey data from in-house survey (2001)
Existing in-house CAD engineering drawings
Institutional knowledge - MEMORY
Where is the data?
MWCD Engineering Department has majority of plans at
Main Office in New Philadelphia, Ohio
Conservation Department has limited amount of plans
from easements and projects not directly affecting
parks
Parks keep miscellaneous maps and notes in
Maintenance buildings
Additional data stored
in off-site location
http://www.newsgroupdirect.com/blog/2011/01/20/binary-retention-reaches-810-days/raiders_of_the_lost_ark_government_warehouse_new/
How to get into GIS?
Scan historical drawings and aerials
Georeference & digitize historical data
Georeference past projects and surveys created during
construction projects
NEW SURVEY!
Scanned historical documents
Existing CAD documents
Field survey of the current conditions
Locate ALL utility components
Manholes
Culverts
Water valves/boxes
Electrical boxes
Power Poles
Structures
Field survey environment
4 Day work week: 10 hr. days: Monday-Thursday to
minimize disruption to visitors
Signage and safety gear (vests, cones)
Communication with Park Manager & Park Rangers
Field survey - QC/QA
Walk-through of entire project
by surveyor with field
collected data
Walk-through of first set of
deliverables by MWCD staff
Video of area provided for
additional checks from office
A CORDINATE SYSTEM IS
NECCESSARY!!
Horizontal and Vertical Survey Control
Use standardized local system
Ohio State Plane System – North Zone (NAD83 US
Survey Feet-FIPS 3401)
Elevation Datum (NGVD29)
Well monumented for future use
Permanent Monumentation
All future surveys to utilize new control monuments on
Ohio State Plane Coordinate System
10” Diameter by 42” deep with
aluminum cap and witness post.
12 placed throughout
campground
Develop Database Standards and
Schema
Review with end-users
Engineering
Water/Waste-water maintenance
Park Managers
Park Maintenance staff
Recreation Management
Database Standards and domains for
consistency
Database also to
include method of data
collection for each
entity to determine
level of “trust” for each
actual location. i.e.
Survey Grade, Aerial,
CAD, Handheld GPS,
Scanned Document,
etc.
Merge historical plans by using the new
survey data
End Users - Office Staff
ArcGIS Desktop for Survey / GIS staff
for updates and maintenance
ArcGIS ONLINE for non-technical staff
in Recreation and Conservation
Departments
Embed in MWCD website for
construction updates
Create web applications for MWCD
staff as needed
End Users - Field Staff
Smart Phone (Android or iOS)
Mobile options for quick reference of
utility locations
Handheld GPS (Trimble GeoExplorer
or Juno) with ArcPAD
IMAGE: http://www.trimble.com/mappingGIS/geo-7-series.aspx
Survey crew to stake-out locations
prior to excavation similar to Ohio
Utilities Protection Service (OUPS)
Future Maintenance
Future projects and utility installs documented
Work-flow document be created
Utility planning (Project Engineer)
Construction (Const. & Utility Crews)
As-built survey (Survey Technician)
GIS updates (GIS Specialist)
MWCD Engineering Dept. consists of Survey and GIS
staff to fulfill this need
Benefits of GIS in Park Management
Limit duplication of data capture and maintenance
Consistency with multiple parks
Education/transfer of knowledge
Managing Facilities with current information
Lessons Learned
Consultant Communication: Survey staff needs to have
understanding of final product
Internal Communication: Maintain constant
communication with end-users (primarily park staff)
Project Schedule: Perform fieldwork in off season with
less traffic and obstructions
Project Time-line
Presentation Information
2014 Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA)
Conference and Trade Show
Kalahari Conference Center
Sandusky, Ohio
February 2-5, 2014
www.opraonline.org
References
Publications
Buckley, A. (2012 Summer) Designing Great Web Maps. ArcUser, vol. 15, p.50
Jenkins, H. (1976) A Valley Renewed, The History of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. The Kent State University Press
Saine, A. (2012, Fall) Town Sharpens Proactive Sewer System Management. ArcNews, vol. 34, p. 37
Internal MWCD documents
Burke, T. (2000) Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study for Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Peak Geo-Design, Inc.
Schreiner, B. 1997-2004 GIS Group files, former Docks and Marinas Coordinator – MWCD, Retired 2011.
Websites
Diethorn,
B. (2005) Coordinating National Park Management with GIS. Retrieved Sept. 2, 2013 from http://www.nps.gov/gis/odyssey/2006/thursday.html
Turner, T. (2008-9) Mapping and Managing Potable Water Infrastructure Assets. ArcNews Retrieved Oct. 15, 2013 from
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0809articles/mapping-and-managing.html
Minami, M. (2011) ARCGIS ONLINES VS ARCGIS EXPLORER ONLINE, ArcGIS Resources Retrieved Nov. 18, 2013 from
http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/36353-ARCGIS-ONLINES-VS-ARCGIS-EXPLORER-ONLINE
Mayo, M. (n.d.) Enhancing Water Department Efficiency - Using GIS and GPS to produce quality maps of rural water system features. ArcUser
Retrieved Oct. 15, 2013 from http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0408/bamah2o.html
Hamil, D. (n.d.) Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It: Project Management Excellence. GeoCommunity Retrieved Oct. 15, 2013 from
http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/features/mesa1/
Projects 2009 - GPS/GIS Asset Inventory Chippewa Subdistrict – Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Retrieved Oct. 10, 2013 from
http://chippewa.mwcd.org/html/at_work/2009_cap_inv_GIS.htm
GIS Program – Role & Function. National Park Service – U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved Oct. 10, 2013 from
http://www.nps.gov/gis/gis_program/role.html
Acknowledgements
Joseph Bishop, PhD, PSU Advisor
Beth King, PSU Assistant Program Manager
Boris Slogar, P.E., M.P.M., MWCD Chief Engineer
Doug Little, P.E., Project Engineer
Michael Kobilarcsik, MWCD Survey Technician
Jeremy Hoffer, MWCD Tappan Lake Park Manager
Mary Burley, MWCD Human Resources
Bodo & Associates, Inc., Surveying & Mapping
and of course, an extremely patient family
Questions?