Case Studies

When MRC de Coaticook undertook the task to create the "Land use and Development Plan" for the government – defining the planning of the territory over a period of 15 years – it saw an opportunity to modernize its geomatics division. With the help of Esri's advanced geographic information system (GIS) technology, this Québec regional municipality transitioned – from paper maps to interactive ones and data stored in individual systems to online portals. It leveraged ArcGIS Online, Esri's cloud- based mapping platform, to make the dream of open data a reality for its residents. Today, with more than a dozen web maps and apps posted, their interactive map section receives 5,000-plus annual visitors. ArcGIS Online helped MRC de Coaticook create more than a dozen apps – dramatically enhancing data accessibility for residents and employees. MRC de Coaticook is made up of 12 rural municipalities, with Coaticook as its chief town. Nestled in the Eastern Townships of Québec, it covers an area of 1,350 sq.km., counting around 19,000 inhabitants. The government requires land use and development plans from the regional municipalities. Many regional municipalities rely on paper maps to store or communicate their data, which becomes a roadblock in modernizing workflows for land use and development. Not only do the paper maps lack the structure to store multiple layers of data, but they are also incapable of responding to the growing expectations of government and residents alike. MRC de Coaticook manages voluminous, ever-increasing data – flooding areas, zoning plans, Internet coverage, forestry, mountain bike trails, cadastral information and so on. When faced with the requirement for land use and development planning, the regional municipality had many challenges: the data being collected had to be well-structured, updated in real time and easily accessible to everyone; moreover, it had to be available in a user- friendly format – easy to upload, maintain and access by all stakeholders; and remain affordable enough to fit a small regional municipality's budget. Since the concepts of digital transformation, open data and smart communities started gaining traction among public services, and residents are increasingly seeking information online, it only became imperative for MRC de Coaticook to embrace GIS and modernize its data management systems. 1 Esri Canada | Small Regional Municipality Dreams Big with ArcGIS Online Challenge Users can consult major land assignments as redefined in the context of the municipality's Planning and Sustainable Development Framework. The Cadastral Map app allows users to search for a lot in MRC de Coaticook by number, township and rank or area, or a property by address or registration number.

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