{"id":2965046,"date":"2026-05-07T10:52:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T17:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2965046"},"modified":"2026-05-07T14:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T21:28:39","slug":"a-geospatial-approach-to-modernizing-facility-management","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-enterprise\/water\/a-geospatial-approach-to-modernizing-facility-management","title":{"rendered":"A Geospatial Approach to Modernizing Facility Management"},"author":3621,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23051],"tags":[25891,712901,763722,385632,781092],"industry":[],"product":[36571],"class_list":["post-2965046","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-water","tag-arcgis","tag-facilities-management","tag-geospatial-strategy","tag-indoor-gis","tag-treatment-plant","product-arcgis-enterprise"],"acf":{"authors":[{"ID":3621,"user_firstname":"Christa","user_lastname":"Campbell","nickname":"Christa Campbell","user_nicename":"christacampbell09","display_name":"Christa Campbell","user_email":"CCampbell@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/industries\/water\/overview","user_registered":"2018-03-02 00:15:16","user_description":"Christa is a water industry professional with 20+ years of success using and promoting technology. She is a passionate GIS advocate, lifelong learner, and collaborator. As the Director of Esri\u2019s Water Industry team, she provides strategic direction, builds awareness of water industry challenges and trends, and inspires organizations to work smarter using GIS-based solutions. \r\nChrista is a certified GIS Professional and holds a graduate degree in Geography.","user_avatar":""}],"short_description":"Utilities are modernizing facility management by adopting geospatial technologies to create accurate, map-based views of facilities. ","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Modernization isn\u2019t just a buzzword; it\u2019s an inevitability.\u00a0Continuing with outdated paper maps, siloed spreadsheets, and disconnected information is no longer viable to ensure organizational resiliency and a sustainable future. The question is no longer\u00a0whether\u00a0we modernize, but\u00a0how quickly\u00a0we can do it.<\/p>\n

The Power of Geospatial Modernization<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The adoption of geographic information system (GIS) technology for facility management is driven by the need to break down data silos, preserve institutional knowledge, and empower utilities to proactively manage their most critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Modern geospatial technologies are transforming how utilities operate. By adopting GIS-based solutions, utilities can move from reactive, fragmented workflows to proactive, unified strategies. Imagine having a comprehensive, map-based view of every facility and asset. Having asset location, status, and relationships in real time at your fingertips. Having technology that preserves institutional knowledge, supports workforce transitions, and empowers every team member with the information they need.<\/p>\n

With modern geospatial solutions, utilities can have this and more. Water and wastewater utilities are using GIS to help identify and address potential issues before they become problems, reducing downtime and improving reliability. Resource allocation is optimized, and decisions are based on actual asset conditions, not outdated information or speculation. Geospatial solutions are making it easier for utilities to integrate data from sensors, SCADA, GIS, and CMMS, breaking down silos and enabling strategic, data-driven decisions.<\/p>\n

Real Results: Utilities Leading the Way<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Utilities across the country are already realizing the benefits of modernization. For example, the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources<\/a> faced the challenge of an aging workforce and the risk of losing decades of institutional knowledge. By piloting an ArcGIS software-based digital twin, they created a 3D, spatially accurate environment where staff could locate and monitor assets, access information 24\/7, and optimize maintenance workflows. Charlie Roberts, deputy director, shared that the digital twin was not just valuable to design engineers; frontline employees benefited greatly from the project as well.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2965051,"id":2965051,"title":"Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources vertical asset inventory.","filename":"Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-scaled.jpg","filesize":293368,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-enterprise\/water\/a-geospatial-approach-to-modernizing-facility-management\/gwinnett-county_vertical-asset-inventory","alt":"Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources vertical asset inventory.","author":"3621","description":"Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources vertical asset inventory.","caption":"Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources vertical asset inventory.","name":"gwinnett-county_vertical-asset-inventory","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2965046,"date":"2026-05-06 22:09:19","modified":"2026-05-06 22:10:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1437,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-scaled.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":431,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-scaled.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":1078,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-1536x862.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":862,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-2048x1150.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1150,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-826x465.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gwinnett-County_Vertical-Asset-Inventory-1920x1078.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1078}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/lg\/industry\/water\/gcdwr-case-study"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"Charlie Roberts","author_profession_organization":"Deputy Director, Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources","image":false,"text":"The model, as detailed and as complex as it is, can be made available in the field to frontline employees who benefit from it the most. "},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Other utilities, like Santa Clarita Valley Water<\/a> and Eastern Municipal Water District<\/a>, have unified their asset management practices, improved data accuracy, and enhanced collaboration by establishing GIS-centric systems of record. Raleigh Water<\/a> leveraged indoor mapping to connect asset inventories with real-world building spaces, supporting both preventive and reactive maintenance. Pennichuck Water Works<\/a> and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District<\/a> have embraced digital twins and BIM integration, streamlining project delivery and reducing rework.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2965161,"id":2965161,"title":"Facility management case studies","filename":"Case-Studies-2.jpg","filesize":171458,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-enterprise\/water\/a-geospatial-approach-to-modernizing-facility-management\/case-studies-2","alt":"Facility management case studies","author":"3621","description":"Facility management case studies","caption":"","name":"case-studies-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2965046,"date":"2026-05-07 20:18:48","modified":"2026-05-07 20:19:07","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":254,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":61,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":102,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":254,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2-1536x203.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":203,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":254,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2-826x109.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":109,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Case-Studies-2.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":254}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"Emily Champagn","author_profession_organization":"Geospatial Manager, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District ","image":false,"text":"Integrating BIM and GIS at MMSD helps drive smarter asset management of our Water Reclamation Facilities\u2014reducing project costs, improving emergency response, and proactively preparing our organization for a digital twin future.\u201d "},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Building the Foundation for Innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A geospatial approach to facility and vertical asset management begins with establishing a GIS-based system of record. By consolidating all asset data into a single, spatially accurate environment, you create a centralized source of truth that supports every operational and strategic decision, from the boardroom to the field.<\/p>\n

This approach lays the groundwork for innovation, scalability, and resilience. It ensures your investment in GIS continues to deliver value as technology and operational needs evolve.<\/p>\n

With a GIS foundation, you can<\/p>\n