Utilities Focused Asset Management

& Mapping for Parks

By: David G. Lautenschleger, P.S., GISP Surveying and Facilities

GIS Coordinator

Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) Background

Largest watershed in Ohio (8,000 sq. miles / 20% of state)Spanning five counties and portions of 22 othersEstablished in 1933 for flood control after the Great Flood of 1913, Ohio's greatest natural disaster with nearly 500 deathsSystem of 16 dams and reservoirs (all dry dams planned prior to Dust Bowl era)Provided Public's Works projects during depression$8 Billion in flood damage preventedPark system started in 1960's

Atwood Lake ParkCharles Mill Lake ParkPleasant Hill Lake ParkSeneca Lake ParkTappan Lake Park

What is the problem?

Parks are over 50 years old and have endured a variety of modificationsInconsistent record keeping - Information in variety of formats and locationsUnknown utility locationsExcavations can lead to “surprises”Unsafe conditions for construction crews Interruption of utility serviceUnhappy campers

IMAGE: http://donkeystocollege.blogspot.com/2012_03_01_archive.html

Avoid Expensive ExcavationSimple projects turn into BIG

problems!

Lack of utility knowledge creates additional expenses for future projects

Employee safety and Utility interruption

http://blog.level3.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/landownerfibercut.jpg http://hamptonroads.com/2011/04/incidents-gas-line-power-pole-tangle-va-beach-traffic

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Bayonne-Water-Main-Break-Avenue-E-52-Street-208420521.html

Current Location Methods

MEMORY?

Current Location MethodsPrints and historical documentsOhio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) Not for private utilities

Utility Locator (metal only)Utility Camera

Sewer Cam!

Existing Data TypesHistorical data: hand drawings on linens and mylar (1960's-1980's)

CAD design files from expansions (1980's- present)

Misc. field survey data from in-house survey (2001)

Existing in-house CAD engineering drawings

Institutional knowledge - MEMORY

Scanned historical documents

Existing CAD documents

Where is the data?MWCD Engineering Department has majority of plans at Main Office in New Philadelphia, OhioConservation Department has limited amount of plans from easements and projects not directly affecting parksParks keep miscellaneous maps and notes in Maintenance buildings

Additional data stored in off-site location

http://www.newsgroupdirect.com/blog/2011/01/20/binary-retention-reaches-810-days/raiders_of_the_lost_ark_government_warehouse_new/

Goals

Develop a system in which multiple departments can easily access utility dataMaintain data in one location and make available to all staff via the InternetIncrease the amount of sharing of data district-wideIncrease efficiency for Utilities and Construction CrewsMake the information not typically available to field staff by implementing tablets/handheld GPS units, allowing problems to be resolved faster and generating a self- sufficient environmentUncover potential problems

CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

What is a Geographic Information System or GIS?

GIS combines graphic (maps/CAD data) and non-graphic (dbase/tabular)data

A picture is worth a thousand words…right?!

GIS

How to get data into GIS?

Scan historical drawings and aerials

Georeference & digitize historical data

Georeference past projects and surveys created during construction projects

NEW SURVEY!

Horizontal and Vertical Survey Control

Use standardized local system

Ohio State Plane System – North Zone (NAD83 US Survey Feet-FIPS 3401)

Elevation Datum (NGVD29)

Well monumented for future use

A CORDINATE SYSTEM IS NECCESSARY!!

Permanent MonumentationAll future surveys to utilize new control monuments on

Ohio State Plane Coordinate System

10” Diameter by 42” deep with aluminum cap and

witness post. 10 placed throughout campground

Field survey of the current conditions

Locate ALL utility componentsManholes

Culverts

Water valves/boxes

Electrical boxes

Power Poles

Structures

Field survey environment

4 Day work week: 10 hr. days: Monday-Thursday to minimize disruption to visitors

Signage and safety gear (vests, cones)

Communication with Park Manager & Park Rangers

Field survey - QC/QA

Walk-through of entire project by surveyor with field collected data

Walk-through of first set of deliverables by MWCD staff

Video of area provided for additional checks from office

Contour Video

Contour Video (similar to GoPro) linked to Google Earth

Develop Database Standards and Schema

Review with end-users

Engineering

Water/Waste-water maintenance

Park Managers

Park Maintenance staff

Recreation Management

Database Standards and domains for consistency

Database also to include method of data collection for each entity to determine level of “trust” for each actual location. i.e. Survey Grade, Aerial, CAD, Handheld GPS, Scanned Document, etc.

Database consistency

Create forms for field staff to populate. Use with tablet. Internet service not required for entire duration of task.

IMAGES: www.doforms.com

Merge historical plans by using the new survey data

End Users - Field Staff

Smart Phone (Android or iOS)Mobile options for quick reference of utility locationsHandheld GPS (Trimble GeoExplorer or Juno) with ArcPAD for improved accuracy IMAGE: http://www.trimble.com/mappingGIS/geo-7-series.aspx

Survey crew to stake-out locations prior to excavation similar to Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS)

End Users - Office StaffArcGIS Desktop for Survey / GIS staff for updates and maintenanceArcGIS ONLINE for non-technical staff in Recreation and Conservation DepartmentsEmbed in MWCD website for construction updatesCreate web applications for MWCD staff as needed

Public – MWCD Website

GIS Desktop & Tablet Demo

Future Maintenance

Future projects and utility installs documentedWork-flow document be createdUtility planning (Project Engineer)Construction (Const. & Utility Crews)As-built survey (Survey Technician)GIS updates (GIS Specialist)MWCD Engineering Dept. consists of Survey and GIS staff to fulfill this need

Benefits of GIS in Park Management

Limit duplication of data capture and maintenance

Consistency with multiple parks

Education/transfer of knowledge

Managing Facilities with current information

Discover or verify suspected problems (I&I)

Simplified Cost Analysis based around

Inflow and Infiltration (I&I)

IMAGE: http://www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/page.aspx?deptID=48&id=84

Simplified Cost Analysis ofInflow and Infiltration (I&I) at

Tappan Lake Park

Project Timeline

Chippewa GPS/GIS2009-2010

Equipment

Fieldwork

Data Collected

Approximately 1800 features

Tile DrainsCulvertsMisc. UtilitiesUndocumented DrainsEncroachmentsChannel Maintenance

How do I get started?Data Inventory

Who are the stake-holders?Engineering

Maintenance

End-users?

In-house or Consultant?

Software?ESRIOpen Source –OpenGEO/QGIS, GRASS (Geographic

Resources Analysis Support System)

Lessons LearnedConsultant Communication: Survey staff needs to have understanding of final product

Internal Communication: Maintain constant communication with end-users (primarily park staff)

Project Schedule: Perform fieldwork in off season with less traffic and obstructions

Marathon, not a sprint

IMAGE: http://honeyyyimhome.tumblr.com/post/6290342248/its-a-marathon-not-a-sprint-its-the-journey

Acknowledgements

Boris Slogar, P.E., M.P.M., MWCD Chief Engineer

Joseph Bishop, PhD, PSU Advisor

Jeremy Hoffer, MWCD Tappan Lake Park Manager

Michael Kobilarcsik, MWCD Survey Technician

Gary Taylor & the MWCD Utilities Staff

Bodo & Associates, Inc., Surveying & Mapping

Questions?

Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District

1319 Third St. NW PO Box 349

New Philadelphia, OH 44663

Ph: (330) 343-6647

www.mwcd.org

davidl@mwcd.org