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City of Bozeman GIS Department
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Project Background: Since 2000, the City of
Bozeman’s Water and Sewer Department has been
working on improving documentation for its
extensive operations, maintenance, and repair
activities. Prior to this effort, much of this data
used by crews and managers was buried away in
dusty boxes and penciled on hand drawn maps
stacked in offices. City staff found it increasing
difficult to manage and sift through the endless
mazes of information. An improved process was
needed to gain a better understanding of the extent, annual maintenance cost, and condition of the city’s
water and sewer systems. The City of Bozeman’s GIS Department began working with the Water and
Sewer Department in 2001 to find a solution to this issue. Through the mapping and inventory of features
like hydrants, valves, and pipes, along with the purchase of a new online based asset management
software called Cityworks, the process of change began. Today, crew members are outfitted with wireless
tablets as they work in the field constantly documenting the time spent on certain projects, the equipment
used, and the materials purchased. Once daily information is compiled and submitted, it is fed into a
massive database that produces reports, graphs, budget recommendations, and information used for
planning. The implementation of new technology and reduction of paper has greatly improved the Water
and Sewer Departments daily planning, overall productivity, and level of service.
Current Work: Late in 2013, Cityworks and local asset management took a big step forward! Feeding
off the success seen in the Water and Sewer department, the GIS Department expanded similar programs
into the Streets Department. The city is now tracking things like snow plow routes, street sweeping, and
road repairs, which is transforming daily operations, improving efficiency, and saving money.
Future Goals: Looking forward, the future of asset management is bright. Early in 2014, Bozeman’s
Elected Officials identified it as a top priority. Once the implementation in Streets is complete, similar
programs will be spread into other departments like Solid Waste, Facilities, Parks, and Planning.
Additional Resources:
Video displaying Bozeman’s program in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6619rn6dPQ
Contact Information:
Carrie Shockley
GIS Specialist
City of Bozeman
Cshockley@bozeman.net