Street Department GIS Needs Assessment

The City of Vancouver, Washington with a population of over 190,000, is the fourth-largest city in Washington. The City is responsible for developing comprehensive transportation plans and strategies and maintaining over 600 miles of streets and 645 miles of sidewalks. With several departments jointly responsible for maintenance and planning, the City was interested in conducting an independent review of their use of GIS to identify opportunities to further optimize and integrate GIS within the City’s transportation-related departments. This meant that public works, asset management, grounds, and community and economic development would all benefit from the review.

FLO led a GIS needs assessment process, including staff interviews covering hardware, software, governance, personnel resources, and user requirements. A key part of the process involved ensuring all participants had the opportunity to ask questions, present their requirements and wish lists of outputs, GIS data, and applications, and raise any concerns. FLO then developed a comprehensive GIS strategy and roadmap document designed to meet the City’s goal of improving the use and delivery of GIS and strengthening its ability to integrate new technologies in the future.