Abstract

Creating a Surface Water Asset Inventory for Municipalities
Track: Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater
Authors: Scott Reese, Brad Bryan, Holli Brandt

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) owns and maintains nearly 120,000 surface water assets within the City limits. These assets which include catchbasins, ditches, and culverts make up a large part of the City's drainage backbone. With the issuance of the NPDES Stormwater Permit in 2007, SPU was required to have an accurate GIS inventory of these assets. In response to the Permit, the Surface Water Asset Mapping Project (SWAMP) was initiated to address the mapping requirements. Using a combination of ArcGIS, Trimble GPS and Maximo Asset Management software, the SWAMP project began in 2010. With 30% of the City surveyed as of the end of 2011, the project has been a shining example of the integration of cutting-edge GPS and GIS technologies at a low cost.