Abstract

Using Mobile GIS Technology in the Working Environment
Track: Public Works
Authors: Andrew Mehos, Marion Storey

In 2010 the Philadelphia Streets Department became the first City agency to implement mobile GIS technology. This was achieved with deployment of handheld devices for its fleet of 45 uniformed sanitation officers to aid enforcement of rubbish collection, recycling and dumpster laws. In a later project the Streets Department deployed mobile devices to its Traffic Division, facilitating efforts to replace 70,000 incandescent stoplight bulbs with energy-saving LED's. The devices track and maintain the city's street pole inventory, using scanning technology to edit GIS Data in the field by work crews. Both projects utilize custom mobile applications set in a mapping environment integrated with ESRI software but with different synchronization methods. Mobile technology provided many advantages, including data standardization, GPS navigation; minimized paper use and the capture of photos and x/y coordinate locations with real-time accuracy. The session will describe and contrast the two processes, including a section on lessons learned.