City Notes: Mapping system makes it easier to track city utilities
By Jake Johnson, GIS/Planning Coordinator Charles City
In the spring of 2016, the decision was made to change our GIS Software. Since then, you may have seen trucks around town from a company called, Midland GIS Solutions.
Midland GIS Solutions is the company that we have switched to from our previous GIS company, Beehive. Midland GIS Solutions is a company that provides comprehensive GIS design and implementation services based out of Maryville, Missouri.
They use a web-based platform which is much more user friendly and is able to be accessed on mobile devices. Our previous software was an Excel- based platform that was limited to desktops and laptops. Throughout 2016, Midland designed a website for the city of Charles City. This website includes aerial photography and all parcel data that is available from the county assessors. Eventually, the website will show all water, sanitary and storm sewer information.
The first department to be set up was the water department.
In the fall of 2016, Midland sent a survey crew to Charles City to begin locating water valves and fire hydrants. All of the valves and hydrants in town were located and shot-in using survey grade GPS equipment.
The use of the survey grade equipment allows for our water features to be located with extremely high accuracy.
Once all of the valves and hydrants were located the data was used, along with other information, to create an interactive map of Charles City’s water system. This interactive map shows the location of water valves, fire hydrants, water main locations and water main size.
The water department is also able to go in and add locations of curb stops and other features as they see fit. They are able to log when hydrants are flushed, when a water main breaks and is also repaired.
Generally, they are able to keep track of all information in one place and are able to access it at any time. They can obtain this on any type of device capable of connecting to the internet.
Midland was also working on designing building features for our Code Enforcement Department. Building permits and nuisances are now able to be tied to an address in order to keep track of them.
Midland was here again this summer locating the sanitary sewer system. While doing locates, they also inspected and inventoried the sanitary sewer manholes. This information is in the process of being mapped like the water system is.
When this is completed, the sanitary sewer mains will be mapped out and the city will be able to access the information. This will tell city officials what material the sewer main is made of and what size of pipe a particular main is.
It will also give locations and conditions of sanitary sewer manholes. Once the sanitary system is completed, the storm water system will be located and mapped. This will come at a later date. Hopefully in the future, we will be able to include our zoning map as well.
In other news from the Engineering Department, we have recently completed a sidewalk project in the 1900 block of Clark Street.
The DeBoest Concrete crew did a great job installing a beautiful new sidewalk. They will also be starting on a sidewalk project along 1st Avenue in the near future. This project will add a sidewalk along the north side of 1st Avenue connecting it to the existing sidewalk.
It will be located approximately at the Rolfing Street and 1st Avenue intersection and continuing onto the 1st Avenue Bridge over the Charley Western Trail.
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