City of Orlando Selects SSMC to Update its Stormwater GIS

On December 5, 2016 the Orlando City Commission voted to authorize Southeastern Surveying & Mapping Corporation (SSMC) to provide professional Stormwater Inventory and Asset Management services to update the City’s Stormwater GIS database.  Between 2009 and 2015, SSMC performed a city-wide stormwater inventory over five phases where SSMC inventoried, located and inspected over 55,000 drainage structures for the City. 

The 2016-2017 inventory update will identify, locate, photograph and inspect stormwater inlets, manholes, outlets, open channels and ponds conveying stormwater runoff from all publicly maintained and named private roadways within and adjacent to the incorporated Orlando City limits including roadways maintained by the City of Orlando, Orange County, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Orange County Expressway Authority. As directed by City personnel, this maintenance update will collect new and updated stormwater facilities which were constructed or modified, after the initial inventory was performed by SSMC between 2009 and 2015.

According to SSMC’s GIS Division Manager Brian R. Garvey, PE, GISP, “SSMC is extremely grateful to continue serving the City of Orlando by maintaining this valuable asset. Building and maintaining the City’s stormwater GIS database has utilized the perfect blend of our Surveying, Geographic Information Systems and Sub-surface Utility Engineering expertise. It’s a great fit for the services that SSMC offers, and we are proud that the City recognized us for this important project.”

In addition to providing horizontal and vertical location services, GIS databases, and inspection photos and videos, SSMC will be integrating the collected data with the City’s existing ArcGIS and CarteGraph Asset Management Systems.

 

JACKSONVILLE RELOCATION

SSMC Participates in SHRUG Conference

Southeastern Surveying and Mapping Corporation (SSMC) was well represented this week at the 2016 Seven Hills Regional User Group (SHRUG) GIS Conference held at the Florida State University Conference Center in Tallahassee, FL. The conference which ran from November 16 – 17, 2016 provided a forum for sharing the latest GIS related technology, research and development activities. The SHRUG Conference brought engaging industry leaders from all around the southeastern United States, into a format which combined thought provoking talks, informative demonstrations, and lively, hands-on labs. This workshop also showcased ongoing GIS efforts in both government and private sector organizations.

SSMC was a sponsor of the event, and SSMC GIS staff attending included Thomas Felsmaier (pictured at the SSMC display booth below) and Anthony Biondella from our Chipley office, and Brian R. Garvey, PE, GISP from our Orlando Office.

Brian Garvey, SSMC’s GIS Division Manager (pictured below), also gave one of the 43 presentations at the Conference. Brian’s 45 minute presentation showcased SSMC’s work for Orange County, Florida supporting the development of the County’s American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan.  The presentation, titled “Development of a GIS Database for Orange County's ADA Transition Plan” showcased SSMC’s development of a GIS data model for ADA Facilities, Movement Barriers, Obstacles and Hazards and the inventory and inspections performed by SSMC along approximately 130 lane miles of roadway.

The presentation also discussed how SSMC used our Mobile Imaging Camera Vehicle on the Orange County project to collect georeferenced spherical panoramic imagery along the project roadways and use the collected imagery to inspect ADA facilities such as sidewalks, curb ramps, and handrails, and to identify existing mobility barriers along the pedestrian routes such as trip hazards, obstacles and gaps in the sidewalk network.

SSMC's James Mazurak Participates in STEM Teach In

Over the last 3 years, SSMC's James Mazurak has participated in multiple “Florida Engineers in the Classroom” presentations. This is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) related program that visits local schools. November 15th and 16th, 2016, James participated in "Teach In's" at Lyman and Edgewater High Schools. James discussed careers in Surveying to the Engineering Magnet classes per videos, slides and personal experiences. James says "Hopefully I have educated and possibly planted a seed in some of the students to further explore a career in Surveying and Mapping."

SSMC Presents at Crooms Academy of Information Technology "Teach-In" Day

On Tuesday, November 15th, Crooms Academy of Information Technology in Sanford, Florida held their “Teach-in” Day.  Volunteers working in industry, government and academia helped in making the event a success.  One of those volunteers was Southeastern Surveying & Mapping Corporation’s own Patrick J. Phillips, GISP.

Patrick is Southeastern Surveying & Mapping Corporation’s senior GIS Analyst and Programmer and has been with the company for 13 years.  Teach-ins are very rewarding experiences for the participants and students.  Patrick has been volunteering at the Crooms Academy Teach-ins since 2013.