Farallon Geographics Builds Web Based GIS Redevelopment Project Tracking Portal for Boston Redevelopment Authority
Media Contact: Joe Metro Farallon Geographics, Inc. Tel.: 415-227-1140 x128 E-mail: jmetro (at) fargeo.com
March 22, 2007, San Francisco, CA - Farallon Geographics has completed an online 2D / 3D mapping project for the City of Boston’s economic development agency, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, to more effectively manage the review process for new City development projects. Farallon implemented a web application to integrate the City’s permitting system with an enterprise databases using GIS. Fast and simple access to 2D & 3D maps, City GIS data, and project specific redevelopment information, was developed using web services that dynamically overlay GIS results onto Virtual Earth. This was a pioneering enterprise mashup.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is responsible for managing many facets of the City’s major construction projects, land use planning, and economic development. A core mission of BRA is to manage the review process of City redevelopment projects. Development was being managed in one large and unwieldy Access database without any spatial relationships or context. This made it difficult to bring together the data necessary to complete a formal redevelopment project review.
Farallon recognized that the primary success metrics for BRA staff were fast and simple access to maps, City GIS data, and project specific redevelopment information. To achieve this integration and simplicity, Farallon first replaced BRA’s original Access database with a web-based GIS application integrated with a new SQL database. This approach allows BRA staff to enter redevelopment project data into an enterprise database, making it available to all City staff with appropriate access privileges.
Farallon then developed a web application that integrates BRA’s new SQL database with additional BRA and enterprise databases using GIS. Microsoft’s Virtual Earth web mapping platform is used as the foundation of the BRA’s Redevelopment Project Tracking portal. Geospatial analysis, such as the proximity of a project to City infrastructure, is accomplished using the BRA’s ArcSDE/SQL Server and ArcGIS Server 9.2 technologies. Farallon developed web services (using .NET and ArcGIS technology) to dynamically overlay these GIS results onto Virtual Earth.
“This application greatly enhances our ability to get at critical information and see it in context of other GIS data so we can make informed planning decisions” said Boston Redevelopment Authority GIS Manager, Carolyn Bennett.
The result is that now the City of Boston has access to development data and the capability to map 3D models in a real world environment, resulting in a greatly enhanced ability for the City’s personnel to efficiently manage the review process of City redevelopment projects. To see images of this application, please visit: http://www.fargeo.com/index.php/casestudies/detail/city-of-boston-redevelopment-authority/
About Farallon Geographics
Farallon Geographics (www.fargeo.com), based in San Francisco, is a leader in the planning, implementation, and integration of geospatial data and GIS systems to support mission critical business functions. As systems integrators focused on geographical data, Farallon provides unique and unbiased strategic and technical implementation services for enterprise-scale GIS.
