{"id":770406,"date":"2026-01-11T19:59:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T03:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=arcnews&#038;p=770406"},"modified":"2026-01-09T15:52:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T23:52:22","slug":"arcgis-pro-transforms-flood-management-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"arcnews","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcnews\/arcgis-pro-transforms-flood-management-in-texas","title":{"rendered":"ArcGIS Pro Transforms Flood Management in Texas"},"author":5752,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10412,401,13602],"tags":[23402,8022,921,8012,271],"arcnews_issues":[493311],"class_list":["post-770406","arcnews","type-arcnews","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arcgis-pro","category-government","category-natural-disasters","tag-automation","tag-disaster-preparedness","tag-disaster-response","tag-flooding","tag-mapping","arcnews_issues-winter-2026","arcnews_sections-your-work"],"acf":{"short_description":"When every second counts, having the most powerful tools before, during, and after flooding is integral to community safety.","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"In 1929 and 1935, two catastrophic storms submerged downtown Houston and damaged infrastructure throughout surrounding Harris County, Texas. Shortly thereafter, in 1937, the special-purpose Harris County Flood Control District was established to help reduce flood risks for more than 2.7 million residents across 1,777 square miles, including Houston. The region\u2019s flat terrain and clay soils, coupled with increasing rainfall rates, make it especially vulnerable to flooding.\r\n\r\nWith a mission rooted in keeping people safe and infrastructure strong, the Flood Control District maintains and implements flood damage reduction projects on more than 2,500 miles of channels. That\u2019s nearly the distance from Los Angeles to New York. As Matthew Barr, the GIS section manager at the Flood Control District, said, \u201cEvery second counts in our world.\u201d Which means having the most powerful tools before, during, and after flooding is integral to the safety of the community."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":770407,"image_position":"right","orientation":"vertical","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2>Managing Flood Risk at Scale<\/h2>\r\nThe Flood Control District has long been a GIS-forward organization, with over two decades of experience using ArcGIS technology. However, as the county\u2019s population and infrastructure demands grew, so did the complexity of the data and visualizations needed for managing current and future floods. Barr and his team historically leveraged ArcMap for their mapping work\u2014but the need for an even more powerful mapping and analysis tool became increasingly apparent.\r\n\r\nIn the past, GIS work at the Flood Control District was decentralized, with each technician creating maps independently, often using different styles and standards. This was sufficient when most work was internal, but as the organization\u2019s operations became more public-facing, consistency and speed became critical.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe\u2019re not just making maps for an engineer anymore,\u201d said Barr.\r\n\r\nMap requests were increasing in volume and complexity, and the team needed to deliver polished, consistent products, often within hours.\r\n\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s very common to get a call saying, \u2018We need a map in two hours for a meeting with an elected official,\u2019\u201d Barr explained. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t keep up with that pace using ArcMap.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe inability to automate workflows and the manual effort needed to create each map were preventing the team from keeping up with demands. During an emergency event, the geoprocessing tools in ArcMap often required more processing time than the team could spare. The design capabilities of ArcMap also made it difficult for the team to produce clear, polished visuals under tight deadlines and for public-facing materials. Staff often relied on external tools such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop to achieve the level of clarity and visual consistency they wanted, adding hours of extra work and complexity."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":770408,"image_position":"left","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"These constraints slowed down production and made it harder to communicate critical information during emergencies."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2>More Powerful Software<\/h2>\r\nTo meet growing demands, the Flood Control District migrated from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro. The modern desktop software seamlessly integrated with the organization\u2019s existing ArcGIS implementations and offered a powerful, unified platform where the team could create high-quality maps and processes that would boost collaboration.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe used to pass around [.mxd files] on the network. Now we share layout files and templates in [ArcGIS] Pro,\u201d said Barr. \u201cIt\u2019s a game changer.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe ability to create and share standardized layout templates helped the Flood Control District establish a unified visual language. Now, staff use consistent fonts, colors, and other design elements across all communications. The templates helped the team overcome the inconsistencies of its old, decentralized workflow.\r\n\r\nAnd the transition was smooth\u2014thanks in part to strong organizational support for GIS and a team culture that embraces innovation. Team members appreciate the intuitive and extensive design, customization, and automation options in ArcGIS Pro, as well as its direct integration with well-known scripting languages. While the ribbon interface took a few days to adjust to, the benefits of using ArcGIS Pro quickly became clear as staff adapted to it and the quality and quantity of their outputs rapidly improved.\r\n\r\n\u201cIt was just really easy for us to make the change,\u201d said Barr.\r\n\r\nAs a result, ArcGIS Pro swiftly became central to the inner workings of the Flood Control District."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2>Smarter, Faster Maps Delivered Across Operations<\/h2>\r\nThe migration to ArcGIS Pro delivered immediate and transformative results, starting with a dramatic increase in speed and performance. ArcGIS Pro enabled the Flood Control District to respond more effectively during flooding emergencies. Tasks that previously took 30 minutes to complete were reduced to just three minutes. Full map production cycles dropped from two days to as little as two hours.\r\n\r\nThese efficiency gains allowed the organization\u2019s four-person GIS team to produce more than 1,000 maps in a single year\u2014an exponential increase that supported everything from internal planning to public communication."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":770409,"image_position":"right","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"\u201cI would have to have a bigger team if it wasn\u2019t for [ArcGIS] Pro\u2019s performance alone,\u201d Barr said.\r\n\r\nFor large-scale mapping efforts, the team now uses map series functionality to create and export up to 100 cohesive maps in just days.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe had probably a dozen map books made, and I think they varied between 40 [and] 100 pages in each one,\u201d Barr said. \u201cJust hitting export and going to make a coffee, and it\u2019s done when you get back\u2014I just saved two weeks\u2019 worth of work.\u201d\r\n\r\nArcGIS Pro has also improved the consistency and quality of the team\u2019s outputs. Its design flexibility has transformed how complex data is communicated. Features such as label halos, inset maps, multilevel symbology, and layout geometry are now easy to implement. Even small touches\u2014like switching from square to circular inset maps\u2014enhance a map\u2019s readability and professionalism. What\u2019s more, the wide range of cartographic tools available in ArcGIS Pro empowers the team to create maps that are not only technically accurate but also visually compelling.\r\n\r\n\u201cYou do this, and it\u2019s like, wow, everyone thinks you\u2019re a magician,\u201d said Barr. \u201cIt\u2019s just there in [ArcGIS] Pro!\u201d\r\n\r\nThe Flood Control District\u2019s new combination of speed and quality has elevated the team\u2019s impact across the organization. For example, using the Python integration to implement custom scripts, the team built a web app that allows users to generate maps and reports nearly on demand during critical moments. The team has employed ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript to automate monthly construction reports and update interactive dashboards, simplifying how progress and performance are communicating. All this enables the Flood Control District to better plan flood mitigation projects and infrastructure maintenance operations."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":770410,"image_position":"left","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"As team members have settled into their new workflows, they\u2019ve found that ArcGIS Pro has every tool they need to meet the wide array of mapping requests they receive, from making graphics for social media posts to producing maps for court documents."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2>A Model for Modern Flood Management<\/h2>\r\nBy integrating ArcGIS Pro into its flood risk management workflows, the Flood Control District has transformed how it engages with the public, showcases complex projects and concepts, and responds to flooding emergencies. The GIS team now delivers consistent, high-quality maps at scale, enabling faster decision-making and clearer public communication. With standardized templates, advanced spatial analysis, and automation capabilities, the district has built a resilient system that supports both daily operations and critical response efforts.\r\n\r\nAs the team prepares to train others in how to use ArcGIS Pro, its story is a powerful example of how GIS can help communities stay safe and informed in the face of growing challenges.\r\n\r\n\u201cEverything starts in [ArcGIS] Pro\u2014whether it\u2019s a static map, a web app, or a field data collection project,\u201d said Barr. \u201cIt\u2019s the foundation of everything we do.\u201d"}],"references":null},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.9 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>ArcGIS Pro Transforms Flood Management in Texas | Winter 2026 | ArcNews<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When every second counts, having the most powerful tools before, during, and after flooding is integral to 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