Public Works Utilities

Improved reporting, visualization, modelling and asset replacement planning.

The City of Meridian was able to save money, reduce repetetive work, improve warranty tracking, and dial in asset replacement planning through:

• Asset Management GIS integration
• Automated assignment of nearest asset addresses
• Extraction of Utility Billing water usage for modelling
• Capital Project planning software integration
• Custom Windows applications for verified asset import and data entry

Want to integrate with your next Public Works GIS project?

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Atomated Data Analysis and Exchange

Automation brings consistency, efficiency and freedom.

Ada County Address Compilation

Addresses are added or changed daily. Thanks to automation, they are also compiled daily. The City of Meridian contributes to one compiled set of address location data, with the City of Boise and others managed by Ada County Assessor’s office. This data allows the agencies to provide timely location information for Emergency 911 Response as well many other government operations.

Digline Utility Location Export

Digline provides underground utility location services for the State of Idaho. State law requires any underground utility to be located by its operators within 2 ft. of accuracy upon request. Digline receives the locate requests and notifies the locating agency of the request. There is a fee charged by Digline for each request. Also, each request takes staff time to research and respond, even if there are no utilities in proximity to the locate request. By automating the export and delivery of GIS information to Digline monthly, the City of Meridian was able to greatly reduce the number of requests they received. Now, when they do get a request, they know that they have buried assets within 50 ft of the request and that it’s worth their time to head out to the site and mark their utilities.

Python Scripting

With multiple Enterprise Geodatabase environments and workflows that depend on data being packaged for use in the field, much of the GIS work at the City of Meridian is done after-hours through automated Python scripts. Through enhanced error checking, many critical scripts send email alerts or create helpdesk tickets when something goes wrong. Detailed logging also shortens the troubleshooting time. These scripts ensure data flows execute consistently and on a predictable schedule.

Microsoft SQL-Server ETL

Some Database applications contain information that is not fully comprehended when viewed in charts and tables. When this information can be linked to location and viewed spatially, the data begins to speak to us more clearly. SQL Views and Stored Procedures have enabled the City of Meridian’s databases to speak to users through regular data extraction, transformation, and loading into mapping databases and applications. These integrations enhance the ability to visualize and analyze all varieties of the City’s operational information.

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GIS Design and Admin

As the City of Meridian grew from a small city of 65K to reach the threshold of 100K, their needs and uses of geographic data changed drastically. The city transitioned from internal use only, with a single Enterprise Geodatabase, to separate editing and publishing environments for internal staff. It also increased the level of service dramatically for the general public, enabling the public to access maps and information previously only available to internal staff. This reduced the demand on planning and land development staff. It also increases transparency. These improvements were realized through:

• Enterprise Geodatabase Design, Implementation, and Maintenance in SQL Server
• ArcGIS Enterprise Portal and Server Installation and Administration
• Workflow/Dataflow Process Design and Improvement

Is your GIS environment keeping up with growth?

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Automatic Vehicle Location

See what's happening with your fleet.

Custom AVL solutions provided the specific functionality the City of Meridian required without the pricetag or complexity of the off-the-shelf options. Due to the focus on what was really needed, these systems were able to provide vehicle locations every 2 seconds for Police, Fire, Public Works and Building Inspections. History can be replayed for up to 2 months. A huge cost savings for small fleets and simple needs while still providing rapidly updating, real-time location information.

Have ideas about how you’d like to see your fleet?

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Boise Trails Challenge

Outdoor Recreation Event

In 2017, a good friend asked me if I knew how to set up a website where anyone who wanted to ride all the trails in the foothills could submit their GPS file and have it mark off their progress. I couldn’t have accomplished it alone, but with the help of a web developer friend and a great team, we were able to create a local trail community event called the Boise Trails Challenge which has been a real joy to be a part of. Integrations with Strava and some SQL Server Spatial logic, magic came together to host over 1,100 participants in 2020 giving it all they had to watch the trails turn green as they passed them off.

Have your own cool idea?

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Building and Planning

Reduce duplicate data entry through integration. Improve efficiency.

Planning and Land Development is a very map-centric function. The City of Meridian has kept up with rapid growth rates with the help of:

• Automated Analysis and Data Exchange
• Integration of application and permitting database with GIS
• Geospatial logic workflows in permitting system

Want to enable spatial logic on your permitting system?

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