This document describes the development of a field assessment program in Pierce County, Washington using asset management, ArcExplorer, and Python programming. An interdisciplinary team created a paperless mobile workflow to plan inspection routes, process drainage requests, and transfer work orders and spatial data between the main computer and tablets. This new process eliminated duplicated effort, improved efficiency by saving over 1,500 work hours per year, and ensured compliance with stormwater permitting requirements in a sustainable way.

1. Developing a Field Assessment Program using
Asset Management, ArcExplorer & Python
Programming

2. Interdisciplinary ‘A Team’
Justin Officer- Business Analyst
Public Works and Utilities, Support Services
joffice@co.pierce.wa.us
Chuck Buzzard- IT GIS Supervisor,
Information Technology, Third Party Applications and GIS
cbuzzar@co.pierce.wa.us
Renee Quenneville- GIS Specialist
Public Works and Utilities, Surface Water Management
rquenne@co.pierce.wa.us

3. Program Background:
Intro
Pierce County Public Works and Utilities,
Surface Water Management
- Under Phase 1 National Pollution Detection and Elimination
System Permit (NPDES)
-Inspections of Private and Public Storm Water Systems
-Ensure Proper Maintenance of these facilities
-Maintain Enterprise GIS database of public and private
drainage information

4. Asset Management System
Intro
Assets: 1400 inspection sites
Work Orders: 1800 inspections/yr
Assignments: 5 inspectors
Schedules: 35 inspection schedules

5. Pre-Mobile Workflow

6. Mobile Integration with GIS
Intro
Why integrate with GIS?
PROBLEM 1: Inspection Route Planning
PROBLEM 2: GIS Drainage Request Process
SOLUTION: Leverage Python to automate WO
mapping and streamline GIS mapping requests
- Multiple Attempts at going Mobile
2004 - Using Compaq- ipaq/ArcPad
2010 - Tried cellular connection via wireless air card
2011 - Utilized Blackberry’s in 2011. Very limited data
collection.
2013 - Successfully Implemented Tablet Hybrid!!!

7. GPS Inventory of Storm Drainage for NPDES Permit
Compliance -Old Work Order Request Process:

8. New GPS Team Work Order Process:

9. Benefits
Sustainability:
Paperless process
*many reams of paper
saved per year
Efficiency:
Elimination of Duplicated
Effort
*1500 work hrs/year
*Leveraged python scripting
for access to work orders and
spatial data.

10. Data Transfer Process
MC
SDE
FileGDB
Python
Python
Bat
Arc
Explorer
Sync

11. Python Scripting- Spatial Data Transfer
Setup
Environment
Recreate
FileGDB
Copy Sites
Clip Drainage
Features

12. Python Scripting- Work Order Transfer
Connect &
extract Work
Orders, Laborers
Join WO to
Sites Assign
Centroid to WO
Join Spatial
WO to Laborer
Extract Spatial
WO by Laborer

13. Base Map Service Selection:
ESRI’s ArcExplorer was selected to replace ArcPad:
ArcExplorer is Free!
ArcPad’s licensing 700$ upfront and 400$ annual maintenance fee
Simple software interface- closer to Windows
***easier for non-GIS users to operate
Data layers are easy to
develop
& link to daily
updated file geodatabase

14. ArcExplorer Demo: