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City of Houston Launches Major GIS-Based Facilities Management Initiative
The Infrastructure Management System will be built upon the established ArcInfo-based Geographic Information Management System (GIMS) that is already serving the mapping and information needs of several departments. "This system, when installed and integrated with the existing GIMS, will dramatically improve in many ways the manner in which the City conducts its Business," says Wayne Dessens, chief engineer, City of Houston. It will allow the City to better utilize and track its resources, resulting in reduced costs to the taxpayers. At the same time, it will provide significantly better service. The Infrastructure Management System will be built on the premise that customer calls, inventory data, current work activities, and historical information can be best integrated geographically, providing the best possible tool for improved customer service. This new enterprisewide system will feature Esri's Spatial Database Engine (SDE) technology with Oracle Enterprise Server as the DBMS. The main database server will be a clustered pair of DEC AlphaServer 4100 computers serving upwards of 150 client connections. In addition, the system will feature the Azteca Systems, Inc. "Pipeworks" ArcView GIS and MapObjects-based software suite to support call taking, service request investigation, work order generation, dispatching, and physical inspection activities. This project will also incorporate mobile computing to provide improved use of information and efficiency of operations throughout the department. Esri's principle subcontractors for this project are Azteca Systems, Inc., Berger & Co., EMA Services, Inc., Digital Consulting Software Services, Inc., and ESOR Consulting Engineers. Berger & Co. will be providing Infrastructure Management System integration extensions to the existing GIMS modules and critical interfaces to department employee, materials, and equipment databases. In addition to being subcontractors, Azteca Systems, Inc., Berger & Co., and EMA Services, Inc., are Esri Business Partners as well. For more information, contact Brian Hoefer, Esri (tel.: 909-793-2853, ext. 1-1626; E-mail: bhoefer@esri.com). |
The City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering (PW&E) has selected Esri to undertake a $3.6 million, two-year project to design, develop, and support a turnkey Infrastructure Management System for water distribution, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer facilities management.