Managing the Boom
All local governments struggle with managing information about their communities. Finding ways to analyze,
update and maintain data can be vital to fast-growing communities like Avon, Indiana. Incorporated in 1995,
the town is located in Hendricks County about 20 minutes from Indianapolis. Avon had limited data on the
infrastructure within their jurisdiction. The paper maps constantly needed to be updated due to accelerated
growth, and they had no maps of the drainage infrastructure. The Town needed a way to track and manage
its own growth.
Avon opted to start with a stormwater system inventory. Using GPS units, they collected locations for
pipes, ditches, inlets, and other components. At the same time, they were able to gather additional
information on things like pipe sizes, conditional assessments, and flow direction.
The Town then contracted for the development of a desktop Geographic Information System (GIS). They overlaid the
information from the stormwater
system inventory onto existing aerial photography and base maps provided by the County. Within six months, Avon had a
fully operational GIS.
Since then, Avon has improved operations by continuing to add data and software to their GIS. Planning and zoning
applications and a pavement management system have been developed. The Town is incorporating the GIS
system into its management of police, public works, parks and planning.
Results
- Town officials can see how proposed new developments will impact the existing drainage system - they
now know exactly what infrastructure they have and how much growth it can tolerate
- Avon took a first, substantial step toward a citywide GIS, which they are now leveraging for the
benefit of other municipal service providers
- Town and County were able to cooperate with each other to enable data
sharing with each other and the public
- The inventory made planning and prioritizing maintenance and repairs much faster and more efficient
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