Field GIS in Environment Section A local solution set to become a national standard

Transcription

1 Field GIS in Environment Section A local solution set to become a national standard

2 Background 2014 amalgamation of Waterford City, County and Dungarvan Town Council Circa 900 staff affected (400+ Technical and Administrative Grades) Workforce plan sees reduction in staffing numbers and the rearrangement of services / functions between two locations Waterford Dungarvan ESRI s ArsGIS web platform implemented as part of a suite of integrated information technologies

3 The Project As part of ongoing efforts to monitor the success of antilitter awareness and cleanup activities, Local Authorities participate in the Department of Communications, Climate, Action & Environment (DCCAE) National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS). Following the amalgamation, senior staff within Environment section spot the need for increased efficiency, uniformity of method and oversight when carrying out time consuming visual inspection surveys such as the NLPMS Litter Quantity Survey (90+ questions). Objectives Standardise the method by which surveys are carried out Replace paper-based survey Remove the need for administrative support Where possible use existing smart phones Ability to record surveys offline, where no 3G Remove manual completion of NLPMS databases Create a template / process that can be used for other national and local surveys Prove to sections that we have a GIS solution in place that can meet their mobile working needs

4 Old Process Surveyor Clipboard survey Camera Map Submit Survey form Download photographs Admin Input results into LQS spreadsheet Submit spreadsheets and files to DCCAE consultants Create paper based survey files Scan survey form Print pictures Print map

5 New Process

6 New Process Hosting ArcGIS Online Back Office FME Desktop Surveyor s ArcGIS Collector App

7 The Solution Steps Engineer allocates survey areas FME writes blank surveys to ArcGIS Online, with default values Surveyors use ArcGIS Collector to complete survey and attach photographs Engineer monitors survey progress using a Web App

8 The Solution Steps continued... FGDB Once completed, surveys downloaded from ArcGIS Online FME used to validate data, generate LQS spreadsheets and tag photographs Once data checked, FME workspace run to refresh online surveys ready for the next round Output checked and digital files sent to consultants

9 Objectives Achieved The use of the Collector app, AGOL and FME has enabled us to standardise processes across the three former, separate local authorities and significantly improve internal efficiency. Duplication of effort has been removed and time savings, to complete the annual multiple surveys and compile results, have been estimated at 80% To date we have carried out 200 surveys using the new solution. Project was developed, configured and implemented by 1 member of staff over a 10 week period. Administrative staff support has been removed from the whole process Existing mix of Android and ios smart phones used to carry out survey Surveys can be carried out online and offline Same process was quickly reused to create the Litter Pollution Survey We have proved to all sections that we have a GIS solution in place that can meet their mobile working requirements

10 Unplanned Results Existing paper-based system has been completely replaced Data has become a reusable resource Public awareness has been raised Quality of information has been significantly improved Potential to remove MS Access Database and the need for template spreadsheets Costs 35% less per annum than a SAS product that had been previously considered for the survey element

11 National Solution The potential benefits of this solution to other LAs and the DCCAE was quickly recognised. We are now working with DCCAE and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (DHPCLG) to roll the solution out nationally. DCCAE The use of AGOL means that we are looking to extend the solution using existing centralized licensing at departmental level rather than local implementations, which could incur significant setup costs and challenges. It has also been noted that a centralised national solution could provide significant additional efficiencies at departmental level too. Working with DHPCLG to look at how the template could be reused for other national surveys LA 1 LA 2 LA 3

12 Thank you