AWWA IMTECH51438

While geographic information systems (GIS) are still considered somewhat innovative, they are now in place in a number of water utilities and are under development in many others. As such technology becomes integrated into the working fabric of water utilities, new issues and questions emerge regarding the ability to apply the full benefits of GIS in the workplace. One particular issue that must be addressed is the extent to which GIS data developed by other agencies in the same geographic area may tie in with digital information developed by the water utility. This paper discusses both the technical and business issues involved in using GIS data from outside agencies.