Modernizing Parcel Mapping at the City of Sarnia

The City of Sarnia has long invested in GIS technology to support planning, development and public services. As the city expanded its use of GIS-centric applications, including Cityworks PLL for permitting and licensing, it became clear that its existing parcel mapping processes could no longer keep pace with operational demands. Parcel updates were received only periodically, making it difficult to track development activity and process applications tied to newly approved parcels that had not yet been formally registered.  

To address these challenges, Sarnia partnered with Esri Canada to undertake a Parcel Mapping Discovery Project. Through a series of collaborative workshops, the team identified opportunities to streamline parcel maintenance, improve data consistency and create a more sustainable approach to managing parcel information. These recommendations were thenimplemented though a full Parcel Mapping Modernization Project. 

At the core of the solution was the implementation of an ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric based on Esri Canada's Canadian Parcel Data Model (CPDM). This approach included mapping the full parcel lifecycle and implementing attribute rules wherever possible to simplify parcel maintenance tasks and reduce manual effort, while ensuring that they could see all their parcel data in Cityworks PLL. 

The project also established a centralized hosted feature service that combines parcel geometry, ownership information and key land-related attributes into a single source of truth. Updated by an automated nightly process, changes from both their parcel mapping and ownership databases are accessible to staff the very next day, ensuring staff have access to current and consistent information across applications. Hosted feature layer views further tailor data to the needs of specific users and workflows without creating duplicate datasets.  

By modernizing its parcel mapping capabilities, the City of Sarnia has created a more efficient, scalable and connected land information environment which enhanced existing investments in permitting, licensing, planning and financial systems while improving service delivery for staff, residents and the development community. 

Check out the ArcGIS StoryMaps Story to learn more about Sarnia's modernization journey!