Abstract

CAD to GIS-Based Campus Facilities Map in 3 Months
Track: Facilities
Authors: David Mispagel, Kevin Stewart

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has a history of an effective CAD-centric facilities management strategy, but recognized that GIS could help take that strategy to the next level. Over the course of 3-months, Caltech was able to essentially start a GIS program from scratch and establish a demonstrable strategy to integrate CAD-based floor plans with information from disparate systems (i.e., work order management, project management, etc.) into a series of web applications. The concept established the hardware and software infrastructure and the core data structure (based on the Esri Local Government Information Model) that provided the foundation for an intuitive and powerful set of applications (customized Esri Flex Viewer and Local Government Templates) that underlie an updated strategy for campus facility management. The story demonstrates the potential of GIS as an integrating technology to transform existing process without requiring an organization to abandon legacy systems.