Integrating GIS with utility information management systems

The Broward County, Florida, Office of Environmental Services (OES) is developing a water and wastewater master plan. As part of the master planning effort, OES is implementing a geographic information system to automate mapping and data management operations and to develop automated links between the GIS, an existing infrastructure database, and hydraulic models. The GIS implementation and system integration required a carefully planned database design, custom application development, and significant organizational changes. A pilot implementation was performed to test the results, and the GIS design, applications, and procedures are being updated accordingly. This paper discusses the challenges of linking independent information systems with the newly-formed GIS.