GIS Utility Infrastructure Integration (UI2) Project

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

In 2015, Hennepin County identified an opportunity to partner with public agencies and utility providers to provide better coordination of roadway construction activities. The vision behind this opportunity was that greater collaboration will lessen the disruption to the public in terms of traffic congestion and right-of-way impacts, and potentially also reduce construction costs. In response, Hennepin County Public Works Transportation Operations and Project Delivery Departments led an effort to improve collaboration between public agencies and utility providers. Two “Utility Summits” were held in December 2015 and April 2016, bringing together 90 representatives from government agencies and utility companies to develop ideas for improve coordination and project planning. One decision that arose from the summits was to create an online project collaboration tool accessible to all partners. This tool would greatly enhance the ability of all parties to coordinate programming and construction efforts. The Hennepin County GIS Office gathered business requirements for the tool and developed a web-based interactive mapping application—enabling government agency and utility company partners to visualize project locations and share information about major construction projects. The interactive web-based application successfully: • Improves collaboration between utility partners and managers of the public right-of-way by improving communications, developing relationships and educating partners. • Improves efficiencies of construction events and lessens the overall impact on the transportation network and the traveling public. The UI2 Project achievements: • Developed methods to aid coordination and information sharing between utility partners and right-of-way authorities. • Developed the processes, tools, committees and communications to achieve the desired improvements. Ultimately, some of the overall benefits accrued as a result of the project include: • Less disturbance of public right-of-ways • Less frequent redirection of traffic flow • Increased cost savings from sharing construction costs and eliminating utility cuts to new roadways.