ARTICLE

What is GIS, and how can it help me?

How do I keep track of the number and sizes of pipe that make up the City’s water system? Or the number of manholes or water meters? How do I get started? Where do I begin?

Maybe you’ve heard of the term GIS? If you haven’t, you’re not alone.

Geographic Information System, more commonly known as GIS, is a way to visually represent feature points or “locations,” lines, or shapes and their corresponding data. If you can assign a physical location to the data, it can be represented in GIS.

The data is collected and stored in a database, which can be viewed in both map and spreadsheet format for easy reference. In addition to the data stored in the database (such as size, material, inspection date, or pressure rating), outside data can be linked to the maps. This data can include typed maintenance schedules, repair schedules, and/or record data along with plan sheets, photographs, sketches, or videos, in a number of electronic formats. Because GIS can store multiple features and multiple aspects of data per feature, users can view as much or as little as they want depending on the current need.

Who can benefit from it?

GIS is a useful tool for multiple users and platforms. It can be useful to municipalities, counties, DOTs, parks, hospitals, and private companies (such as construction companies, retailers, factories, and many more). For example, the County assessor can collect data and color code land parcels to show zoning type, owner, address, location within a floodplain, homes with basements, and so on. Or, the public works director in your municipality may want to map out a pipe network, gathering data on pipe type, size, material, slope, connecting structures, condition, and install date. 

A retailer that wishes to build a new store can use features such as streets, neighborhoods, and parcels to analyze which parcels for sale are best to consider. The GIS data can show proximity to major roadways, what other retailers are nearby, and which parcels are within walking distance of residential neighborhoods.

How we can help.

Origin Design has worked with GIS data on many projects, including zoning map updates, pipe network system mapping and assessment, and watershed system modeling. We are able to quickly tell a client how many hydrants are connected to substandard 4” mains, how many miles of trails allow horses, how many hospitals in the state have Level 1 Trauma Centers, or which factory locations produce which products. In addition to managing the data, we have the ability to collect the data with anywhere from meter precision to sub-inch precision.

GIS applications can be used for more than just viewing and sorting data. We have delivered project specific tables and aesthetically pleasing graphics to our clients for internal reporting, publications, presentations, marketing, or fundraising purposes. In addition, having access to this type of data can help make our clients’ jobs easier when scheduling maintenance, ordering supplies, analyzing current and future potential, providing services to their clients, and much more.

WORKING ON TOMORROW
CONTACT US

Do you want to learn more about GIS?

Follow our journey.

Throughout the month of March, we're highlighting one of our core values and sharing what it means to our employee owners. Human Resources Manager, Troy Wright, shares about how he views service in his role at Origin Design.

#origindesign #workingontomorrow #service #corevalues


Happy International Women's Day! We're lucky to have so many talented women at Origin Design! Join us in celebrating them not just today but every day!

#workingontomorrow #womeninstem #origindesign #itstartshere

Happy Engineer's Week! We wouldn't be able to do the work that we do without the individuals pictured here! Thank you all for being apart of the #origincrew!

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow #engineersweek

At Origin Design, we are committed to our core values: Ownership Mindset, Continuous Improvement, Community, Excellence and Service. Our employee recognition program is tied to them—if someone is representing a core value, employees can recognize their fellow co-workers by awarding an “Impression." The person that receives the most Impressions throughout the year is recognized. Morgan Johnson was recently named the recipient of our 1st Annual Impressions Award for the impressions she received in 2023. Congrats, Morgan!

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow #itstartshere

We're coming to a location near you! Check out where else we're headed this spring and while you're at it, check out our careers page to see our open positions!

#origindesign #yourfuturestartshere #hiring

Congratulations, Emily Crowe, on being named the 2023 Waugh Award Recipient. The Waugh Award, created in honor of our co-founder, Dennis Waugh, recognizes an Origin employee that supports and furthers the company’s Mission-Vision-Values. We're so proud to have you on our #origincrew!

Hey College Students, check out the list below to see if we're stopping by your college soon! And while you're at it, check out our careers page to see which positions we are hiring for!

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow #yourfuturestartshere

Happy Origin Design Day! Origin Design's offices will be closed today to honor the day we were founded, February 1, 1982.

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow #42years

Will Bierman recently joined Origin Design as an Engineering Designer on our Structural Team! Welcome to the #origincrew, Will!

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow #yourfuturestartshere

Andy Goedken is celebrating 10 years at Origin Design! We're so lucky to have you on our #origincrew! Happy Anniversary, Andy!

#origindesign #workingontomorrow #itstartshere

Join us in welcoming, Jonathon Kline to Origin Design! Jonathon will serve as a Civil Engineer on our Land Development team. Welcome to the #origincrew, Jonathon! #origindesign #yourfuturestartshere #workingontomorrow

Happy 15th Anniversary, Nick Schneider! We're so lucky to have you on our #origincrew! Join us in congratulating Nick on reaching this milestone!#origindesign #workingontomorrow #itstartshere

See all posts