Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, Selects Keck & Wood, Inc., to Create and Implement GIS

The City of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, has selected Keck & Wood, Inc., to assist them in creating and implementing a citywide geographic information system (GIS). The new GIS will be used to help the city more easily comply with the increasing number of state and federal requirements such as national pollutant discharge elimination system storm water permitting; capacity, management, operation, and maintenance program; and GASB 34. All of these regulations strongly recommend the use of GIS as a tool to verify compliance.

Chris Rader, P.E., the city engineer and person in charge of overseeing the city’s new GIS, said, "Keck & Wood was selected based on a combination of technical competence and best value for the city. We are excited about getting started on the project. GIS has been talked about at the city for years, but now we are finally doing it. The city will benefit greatly from the ability to finally keep track of so much information in one place, and we realize the possibilities are endless."

During this project, Keck & Wood will develop a GIS database; locate the city’s water, wastewater, and storm water structures with GPS; create a GIS basemap; and provide GIS software along with support and training. In addition to creating the GIS data, Keck & Wood will also create print layouts that will allow the city to print both color composite wall maps and 11 x 17 inch map booklets.

The GIS basemap will consist of many layers including city limits, land lots, natural water, county limits, parcels, street centerlines, and building footprints. These new layers will be created using aerial photography recently obtained by Catoosa County. Using the county’s aerial photography will allow the city and county to share data more easily and reduce duplication of work, thus saving taxpayer dollars. Once the basemap is completed, Keck & Wood will begin locating the city’s utility structures using mapping-grade GPS and integrating the field data into the new GIS database.

The city has selected ESRI’s ArcGIS software platform for the new GIS. ESRI is the world’s recognized leader in GIS software development. Chris Rader has completed the Introduction to ArcGIS I training class taught by Tripp Corbin, an ESRI Authorized Instructor and the director of Keck & Wood’s GIS department. According to Corbin, "Chris was able to learn the software very quickly. His engineering background was certainly a help. With this class, Chris will be able to start using the new GIS data as quickly as it is delivered, ensuring the city gets a fast return on their investment."

About Keck & Wood, Inc.
Founded in 1954, Keck & Wood, Inc., is a multidiscipline consulting firm engaged in providing a diverse range of professional services in the areas of civil engineering, environmental engineering, natural gas engineering, surveying, community planning, mapping, GIS, and related technical disciplines. Keck & Wood currently employs a staff of more than 80 loyal employees and maintains offices in Duluth and Carrollton, Georgia, and Rock Hill, South Carolina.

As an ESRI Authorized Business Partner, Keck & Wood is an authorized consultant, value-added reseller, and developer of ESRI products.

###

For more information, contact

Tripp Corbin, MCP, GISP
Associate Vice President, GIS/Mapping
ESRI Authorized Instructor

Keck & Wood, Inc.
Phone: 678-417-4013
Fax: 678-417-8785
Web: www.keckwood.com

Keck & Wood offers instructor-led and virtual training for ESRI’s ArcGIS and ArcView software. Please visit www.keckwood.com for more information including a schedule of upcoming classes.

ESRI, ArcView, and ArcGIS are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions.