hen the Utilities Department was formed, asbuilt drawings were required. Asbuilt's were completed to provide us with the location of the utility that was built during recent construction. Asbuilt's were stored in large flat files as they are today.

To obtain information from these drawings, individuals need to visit the Department of Utilities Services and place a written request. A search of the files would then begin and the information would be provided sometime later when the drawings have been located. This searching method has been automated with the introduction of the Graphical Information System (GIS) by the Department of Utility Services.

What is GIS?
GIS is a computer system capable of holding and using data describing places and objects on the Earth’s surface. For the Department of Utility Services, these places and objects are the facilities we own and maintain. This is our Geographical Information System, or GIS.

What is IMS?
To support the operation and maintain of these facilities, the Department of Utility Services maintains a variety of maps and records. These include construction and asbuilt drawings, water and sewer base maps, customer complaints, work orders accounting records and much, much more. This is the Infrastructure Management System, or IMS.

As the Department of Utility Services addresses the challenges of a growing customer base, increased regulations and the task of accomplishing more with fewer resources, adding to the record keeping system became a high priority.

The Indian River County Government has implemented Graphical Information System Technology to automate the production and up-dating of maps. Indian River County parcel maps were completed by the County’s Tax Assessor’s office in late 1993. These maps provide a backdrop for our Department’s County Utility Facilities.

The GIS Mapping Division plays the major role of implementing the GIS and IMS system. Our staff performs reviews of all incoming data/asbuilt drawings received by the Department of Utility Service. The Division is also in charge of maintaining the database files, the creation of all water and wastewater maps, in-house utility engineering design support, and the SCADA mapping and GPS support. To find out more about the GIS Mapping Division, please stop by our office anytime Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.