HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.a. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) BackgroundCity of Rosemount
Executive Summary for Action
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 3, 1992
Agenda Item: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
AGENDA SECTION:
Background
NEW BUSINESS
Prepared By: Lisa Freese
AGENDA
' �C'y' # 6A
Director of Planning
ATTACHMENTS: Memo.. � � � �
APP O B
The 1990 Capital Improvement Program has $15,000 budgeted for the
acquisition of computer hardware and software for a Geographic Information
System (GIS). This will enable the City of Rosemount to utilize the
automated mapping system that Dakota County is developing with the City's
financial assistance. The attached memo provides a background regarding
the City's involvement in the development of the Dakota County GIS and the
status of the data available to the City.
The City had intended to purchase the software for GIS over a year ago,
but the change over in staff involved with the project has delayed the
acquisition. The delay, however, has worked out to our benefit because
the technology has improved and the costs have declined.
We have arranged an on-site demonstration of the GIS software. On
November 4, 1992, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)
representatives will be conducting a demonstration of the product to City
staff at 3:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. At 5:00 p.m., they will
be demonstrating the product for City Council and all Commission members.
On Tuesday, I will overview what GIS can do for the City and what our
initial capabilities will consist of.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: A MOTION to authorize staff to proceed with the
selection of GIS software/hardware and obtain quotes from vendors.
(COUNCIL ACTION:
eity of (Rosemount
PHONE (612) 423.4411
2875 . 145th Street West, Rosemount, Minnesota
MAYOR
FAX (612) 4235203
Mailing Address:
Edward B. McMenomy
P.O. Box 510, Rosemount, Minnesota 55068-0510
COUNCILMEMBERS
Sheila Kiassen
TO:
Mayor E.B. McMenomy
James
me (Red) sleets
City Council Members Klassen, Staats, Willcox, and Wippermann
Harry Willcox
Dennis Wippermann
FROM:
•
Lisa Freese, Director of Planning
ADMINISTRATOR
Stephan Stephan Jilk
DATE:
October 2, 1992
SUBJ:
Geographic Information Systems
WHAT IS A GIS?
A Geographic Information System is a computer mapping system with a geographic database
management system integrated with the map. Simply described it allows you to associate data
with physical features on a map (ie. property owner, lot size, land use etc. of a parcel; size,
depth, year installed, maintenance record, etc. of a sewer pipe segment; location of a fire
hydrant). I have attached a booklet entitled "GIS in the 1990's" that does a good job of
overviewing GIS and the advantage of this type of system.
WHAT STEPS HAS THE CITY MADE TOWARDS GIS?
Since 1990, the City Engineering and Planning staff have been working with Dakota County
towards the development of a Geographic Information System for the City. In 1990, Dakota
County, Dakota Electric and the City entered into a cost sharing agreement of aerial
photography and stereo digitizing. Through this arrangement the City was able to have very
outdated aerial photography updated and the physical land features digitized into a computer
digital file. The City's cost was $44,725 or 44 percent of the total cost.
The aerial photography provides location and sizes of all existing buildings, houses and small
structures. The stereo digitizing enabled the development of data regarding physical land
features utilizing elevations, contour lines, water bodies, wooded areas, street locations, etc.
The County has also digitized the parcel boundaries and has integrated with this topographic
map. The City has been provided hard copy maps of this data in the half section, 200 scale
maps and the aerial photography. The County would like to provide the City a digital copy
(Computer file) of the data, but presently the City has no software that can utilize the data.
The County has developed its database on the ULTD4AP GIS software. If you are at all
familiar with GIS software, you may know that ULTIMAP was developed by Hennepin
County staff and then the product was sold by the County to ULTRA". It is a good system
but its major drawbacks are that it must operate on a Unix workstation (vs Personal Computer)
and that ULTIMAP has been slow to develop applications. The Company reorganized under
Chapter 11 in 1991, but has not been able to get its feet back on the ground. Earlier this
summer, the Dakota County Surveyor's office announced that they will be switching to a
different software --ARC INFO developed by Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
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Geographic Information Systems
October 2, 1992
Page Two
This switch has simplified the City's selection of a GIS software. The LTLTIMAP workstation
would have cost the City at least $45,000 initially, so Planning and Public Works staff had
been exploring lower cost alternatives. In 1990, the City Engineer was considering purchasing
a personal computer based software called DIGICAD. In 1991, the company developing that
software quit supporting that product. Since that time we have been exploring several
personal computer based software and were seriously considering PC ARC INFO when the
County decided to purchase an ARC INFO license.
WHAT Is REcommENDED?
We are fortunate to have a head start with the development of a GIS system with the joint
database development effort of the County. The staff has attempted to put together a system
that will provide immediate paybacks to the City and its citizens. Those paybacks will come
in two ways 1) more efficient retrieval of information and 2) enhanced and more accurate
information. Ultimately, this should help all of us make more informed decisions. It is
important to note, however, that just like purchasing a house, a GIS system will require
ongoing maintenance and enhancements to keep it up to date.
Staff is recommending that the development of this system will occur in three phases. In the
first phase we will acquire the GIS software and needed computer hardware in order to utilize
the data base that has been developed by Dakota County. This will enable the City to start to
customize and develop our own maps using this base information. We will also be obtain a
computer file of the Dakota County Property data base. This will enable us to automate such
functions as public hearing mailing notices.
In phase two, the City will be enhancing the database by adding all of the City utility
information. With a system selected, we will be able to take steps immediately by requiring
compatible digital files for all new plats in the City. Existing utility lines and facilities can be
added to the system as time and resources permit. Our goal would be to accomplish this over
the next two to three years. Most likely this work would contracted out because it is usually
more cost effective and accurate to go to a service bureau that specializes in this work. The
cost of this task depends greatly on the level of detail and accuracy required. Initial estimates
suggest that the task may cost up to $20,000.
The third phase, would involve enhancing the software, and networking the system to make it
available to more users. The will open up opportunities for developing specialized
applications just for the City of Rosemount. Such applications could include engineering and
design, integrating facility management systems with GIS, land use and environmental
analysis, economic development, and performance zoning applications. Implementation of this
third phase will probably begin in 1994 or 1995, depending on the status of the utility database
development.
Geographic Information Systems
October 2, 1992
Page Three
WHAT WILL NEED TO BE PURCHASED IN 1992?
Staff is recommending that a vendor be hired to provide the City with a turnkey GIS system.
The software combination that we are recommending includes the purchase of PC ARC CAD,
AUTOCAD, and ARC VIEW. The ARC CAD software is a GIS software that uses the
AUTOCAD (computer drafting program) as an engine. This combination will provide our
engineering, parks and planning staff with computer drafting, database and GIS capabilities.
The ARC VIEW product works with the ARC CAD product. It runs in a windows
environment and it is very user friendly. This will enable staff that will incidently use GIS
accessibility to the system without intensive training. With limited training of about an hour,
any one will be able to view GIS information. ARC VIEW does not allow modifications to
the data or graphic information, so this will enable more employees to use the GIS without
worrying about the security of the data.
The software and database requirements of the _basic GIS system will require the purchase of a
486 computer with ample storage capacity. To insure hardware and software compatibility,
we have decided that it would be advantageous to purchase the hardware and software from
the same vendor. We will also be asking that the vendor install the software and obtain and
load the data files available from the county. There are three licensed ARC INFO dealers in
the Twin Cities area and we will be receiving quotes from all three vendors.
The City has some existing equipment that can be utilized with the proposed system: an11" x
17" digitizer and a D sized 4 pen plotter. The 1993 budget includes training for one staff
person and a color ink jet printer.
ARC INFO (SSRI) also has a local support office in Eagan. They do not sell the personal
computer based software directly, but they are willing to provide on-site demonstrations of
these products. I am in the process of arranging a demonstration of the GIS system during the
month of October for the Council members and all of the City Commission members. On
Tuesday, I will provide the details of those arrangements.
If the City Council endorses and authorizes this project to proceed, I would anticipate that the
system specifications can be developed by the end of October. If a vendor is awarded the
project at the first meeting in November, the City's GIS could be in service by the first of the
year.