Track: Application Development
Using ArcView GIS for Visualization and Analysis of Large-Scale Water Distribution Systems: A Case Study in Application Development
Robert M. NguyenPeter C. G. Veenstra
There is a need for better information management to help better assess where resources will be allocated to manage improvements to an aging municipal water distribution system. Armed with a large tiled database of the water distribution system, geographic and engineering analyses were conducted to create an agenda for capital improvements. Large GIS data sets (1,000+ tiles) are often inaccessible to the average user due to the sheer volume of data and complexity of the tools used to access them. To view these geographic data in a meaningful manner and to support ongoing engineering efforts, an application was written to facilitate analysis and visualization of the integrity of the water distribution system. This application has a user interface that allows a non-GIS technician to access and map these geographic data. The application is used to create predefined (yet customizable) maps in a batch mode to facilitate capital improvements project planning and completion. This presentation will discuss data structure and output requirements for an ArcView GIS application used to work with large GIS data sets and meet mapping output requirements. The application includes 1. A menu interface that will allow the user to choose one of a series of default map templates for printing: Water Distribution System Maps, System Integrity Problem Identification Maps, Hydrant Spacing Analysis Maps, Capital Improvement Maps for the Rehabilitation/Replacement Water Distribution System, and Location Project Maps 2. User specification of map output scale of the map products 3. User selection of the tiles for plotting using a variety of tools 4. Options to save selected map tiles into a selection file for later use 5. A menu interface to allow the user to create, edit, and delete rehabilitation/replacement projects The modular approach to the interface and application design will also be discussed.
Robert M. Nguyen
M.J. Harden & Associates, Inc.
1019 Admiral Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64106
USA
Telephone: 816-889-1188
Fax: 816-471-1599
E-mail: bnguyen@mjharden.com