ABSTRACT
The learning objective of this chapter is to understand GIS applications in inspection and maintenance of water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.
MAJOR TOPICS
LIST OF CHAPTER ACRONYMS
AVI Audio Video Interleaved (digital movie format) CCTV Closed-Circuit Television CD Compact Disc CMMS Computerized Maintenance Management System DVD Digital Versatile Disc GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GASB Government Accounting Standards Board HTML Hyper Text Markup Language (a file extension) MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group (digital movievideo format) O&M Operation and Maintenance PDA Personal Digital Assistant (electronic handheld information device) PDF Portable Document Format (Adobe Acrobat) ROM Read Only Memory VCR Video Cassette Recorder VHS Video Home System (video cassette format)
To fully appreciate the benefits of GIS-based inspections, consider the following hypothetical scenario. On March 10, 2004, following a heavy storm event, a sewer
customer calls the Clearwater Sewer Authority to report a minor basement flooding event without any property damage. An Authority operator immediately starts the GIS and enters the customer address. The GIS zooms to the resident property and shows all the sewers and manholes in the area. The operator queries the inspection data for a sewer segment adjacent to the customer property and finds that a mini movie of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection dated July 10, 1998, is available. The operator plays the movie and sees light root growth in the segment. A query of the maintenance history for that segment shows that it has not been cleaned since April 5, 1997. This information indicates that the roots were never cleaned and have probably grown to “heavy” status. The operator highlights the sewer segment, launches the work-order module, and completes a work-order form for CCTV inspection and root removal, if necessary. The export button saves the work-order form and a map of the property and adjacent sewers in a PDF file. The operator immediately sends the PDF file by e-mail to the Authority’s sewer cleaning contractor. The entire session from the time the customer called the Authority office took about 30 min. The operator does not forget to call the customer to tell him that a work order has been issued to investigate the problem.
