Implementing GISImplementing GIS

in the in the

Town of Peacock, OntarioTown of Peacock, Ontario

By Andrew TrollopeBy Andrew Trollope

Benefits of a Geographic Benefits of a Geographic Information System (GIS)Information System (GIS)

Enhances people’s ability to do their jobs;Enhances people’s ability to do their jobs;

Increases efficiency;Increases efficiency;

Provides better customer service;Provides better customer service;

Strengthens partnerships with data and service Strengthens partnerships with data and service

providers;providers;

Generates more revenue.Generates more revenue.

Why is GIS NeededWhy is GIS Neededin the Town of Peacock?in the Town of Peacock?

Within the next decade, rapid population growth is Within the next decade, rapid population growth is

expected, which must be carefully managed;expected, which must be carefully managed;

The Town must work to retain existing business and The Town must work to retain existing business and

attract new business;attract new business;

The Town must increase its public profile to lure more The Town must increase its public profile to lure more

tourists and the revenue they generate;tourists and the revenue they generate;

Information about municipal services, such as recreation, Information about municipal services, such as recreation,

must be distributed more efficiently to town residents.must be distributed more efficiently to town residents.

Potential Applications of a GISPotential Applications of a GIS

1.1. Building Permit SystemsBuilding Permit Systems

2.2. School Enrollment Projection SystemsSchool Enrollment Projection Systems

3.3. Development Application Tracking SystemsDevelopment Application Tracking Systems

4.4. Asset Management and Work Order SystemsAsset Management and Work Order Systems

5.5. Emergency Response and Dispatch SystemsEmergency Response and Dispatch Systems

1. Building Permit Systems1. Building Permit Systems

Municipal governments issue building permits for Municipal governments issue building permits for

new construction, additions, and home improvement new construction, additions, and home improvement

projects.projects.

Building permits can be tracked by property or Building permits can be tracked by property or

address.address.

The link to GIS is simple, using a unique property The link to GIS is simple, using a unique property

identifier stored in the database.identifier stored in the database.

2. School Enrollment Projection 2. School Enrollment Projection SystemsSystems

School planning uses several data sets, including School planning uses several data sets, including

Census data, birth rates, and enrollment.Census data, birth rates, and enrollment.

This demographic data needs the geographic link of a This demographic data needs the geographic link of a

GIS, in order to match the location of children to the GIS, in order to match the location of children to the

location of schools.location of schools.

3. Development Application 3. Development Application Tracking SystemsTracking Systems

Tracking new development is important when Tracking new development is important when

planning for services like water, roads, schools, planning for services like water, roads, schools,

transit, and emergency services.transit, and emergency services.

Since a parcel of land is the basis for new Since a parcel of land is the basis for new

development, a tracking system should be based on development, a tracking system should be based on

land parcels, using a roll number as an identifier.land parcels, using a roll number as an identifier.

With a GIS, the new development can be located on With a GIS, the new development can be located on

a map, and related to other geographic features.a map, and related to other geographic features.

4. Asset Management and 4. Asset Management and Work Order SystemsWork Order Systems

Managing assets is vital to ensure adequate services.Managing assets is vital to ensure adequate services.

In a GIS, asset management means maintaining all In a GIS, asset management means maintaining all

property that has a geographic location on the map: property that has a geographic location on the map:

land, buildings, roads, fences, signs, and so on.land, buildings, roads, fences, signs, and so on.

Maintaining a database of these assets, with a link to Maintaining a database of these assets, with a link to

the GIS, assists in asset management.the GIS, assists in asset management.

5. Emergency Response and 5. Emergency Response and Dispatch SystemsDispatch Systems

The ability of fire, ambulance, and police to respond to The ability of fire, ambulance, and police to respond to

emergencies is essential.emergencies is essential.

The key to effective emergency response is an accurate The key to effective emergency response is an accurate

and up-to-date and up-to-date single line street network filesingle line street network file..

When an address is entered into the dispatch system, a When an address is entered into the dispatch system, a

direct search is triggered on the street network file.direct search is triggered on the street network file.

The address is located with the GIS, and crews are The address is located with the GIS, and crews are

dispatched to the scene. dispatched to the scene.

Distributing GIS DataDistributing GIS Data

Many municipalities provide packages of digital data to Many municipalities provide packages of digital data to

the public as a one-time purchase or as a subscription.the public as a one-time purchase or as a subscription.

Pre-packaging data is more efficient than dealing with Pre-packaging data is more efficient than dealing with

many requests individually.many requests individually.

With a GIS, The Town of Peacock could produce and With a GIS, The Town of Peacock could produce and

distribute street maps, topographic maps, parcel maps, distribute street maps, topographic maps, parcel maps,

and ortho-photo maps.and ortho-photo maps.

Evaluating and Selecting a GISEvaluating and Selecting a GIS

The following criteria were considered in our selection of a The following criteria were considered in our selection of a

Geographic Information System:Geographic Information System:

Conformance to standards

Computing speed / performance

Data conversion

GIS functionality

Ease of use – menu interface, on-line help, map

generation.

Ease of customization for non-standard functions

Scalability

Licensing and maintenance costs

The GIS Solution for PeacockThe GIS Solution for Peacock

The recommended software is:The recommended software is:

Arc / InfoArc / Info and and Map Objects, Map Objects, at a cost of U.S. $3000 and at a cost of U.S. $3000 and

$5000, respectively.$5000, respectively.

The recommended hardware includes:The recommended hardware includes:

A GIS file server;A GIS file server;

A GIS Database Management (DBMS) server;A GIS Database Management (DBMS) server;

GIS workstations, with digitizing tables;GIS workstations, with digitizing tables;

Printers, colour plotter, and scanner.Printers, colour plotter, and scanner.

ConclusionConclusion

Many municipalities across North America have Many municipalities across North America have

experienced the benefits of a GIS.experienced the benefits of a GIS.

The Town of Peacock has important challenges that must The Town of Peacock has important challenges that must

be addressed: population growth, the economy, tourism, be addressed: population growth, the economy, tourism,

and recreation. GIS will contribute to a solution.and recreation. GIS will contribute to a solution.

There are many potential applications of a GIS, and the There are many potential applications of a GIS, and the

benefits are great.benefits are great.

Training, financial assistance, and geospatial data are all Training, financial assistance, and geospatial data are all

readily available.readily available.

THE ENDTHE END