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CITRUS HEIGHTS WATER DISTRICT (CHWD) |
| Planning, Selection & Implementation of an Enterprise, Integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) | |
| CHWD supplies retail water to a rapidly growing suburb of Sacramento, California |
Issue
In 2002, CHWD developed an Information Technology Master Plan (ITMP) in
collaboration with Westin. The ITMP focused on improving operational efficiency
and effectiveness and technology’s role in that improvement. Among
other business improvements, the plan identified Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) as the critical focal point for future integration of CHWD
business systems (FIS, CIS and CMMS). GIS capability was acknowledged
as the key enabling technology required to integrate CHWD’s evolving
technology infrastructure. 
Solution
Westin assisted CHWD in developing and documenting reporting, management
and operational requirements for spatial functions, processes and data
that resulted in selection of ESRI’s ArcGIS software.
As the initial step of GIS implementation, Westin facilitated enterprise-wide business process reviews – the foundation for design and development of CHWD’s utility-centric ArcSDE geodatabase. GIS was designed as the core of the technology and information infrastructure.
The GIS implementation, including the utility-centric geodatabase, data conversion, and integration between GIS and other applications, was completed within 12 months. Westin also developed a facilities map book, a customized editing approach, and a secure VPN interface to GIS data for CHWD staff. Field maintenance crews access appropriate GIS layers from laptop PCs mounted in their trucks. This interface also allows them to receive and complete work orders and access information about customers and locations with a single log-in (both provided through integration with other systems).
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Outcome The GIS provides CHWD the ability to view and report on assets and customers from a spatial perspective resulting in:
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