Widespread collection of water assets has traditionally been difficult and dangerous, with unreliable results. The newest generation of mobile mapping is changing that. Monroe County (MI, USA) Drain Commissioner David Thompson has managed a number of water asset collection projects in his 20 years of experience in the Drain Commissioner’s Office. One aspect that has always bothered him is safety; many water assets are located in or near busy roadways, making field workers vulnerable.
“A typical project requires multiple crews working near vehicle traffic for extended periods of time,” says David Thompson “It’s dangerous and expensive.” In 2013, the county embarked on a project to create a GIS base map of the entire South County Water System, which consists of approximately 220 miles of water mains. The project would be handled by Spicer Group Inc., the county’s engineering services firm based in Michigan.
Read the full story here.