Case Studies

In January 2014, the transportation department created the SSRSB Catchment Area Web Map, giving school administrators, parents and real estate agents immediate access to school district information online. Created using ArcGIS for Desktop, ArcGIS Online and an Esri Web application template, the Web application lets users quickly locate or search for information related to catchment areas, schools and regional board offices. Hosted using Esri's ArcGIS Online infrastructure, the Web app features an intuitive, user-friendly design that runs directly in a standard Web browser. The transportation department used ArcGIS for Desktop with Network Analyst to automate the way it performs bus route analysis scenarios. With Network Analyst, the department switched from paper maps and manual calculations to an application that conducts network-based spatial analysis to model accurate and realistic bus routes. Now, a transportation analyst can run scenarios with greater accuracy using ArcGIS on a desktop. To assess new bus stops, a transportation analyst visits a location and uses Collector for ArcGIS on a smartphone or tablet to record observations and take pictures for safety standards assessment. This information is shared through ArcGIS Online, which lessens errors and saves time by reducing the amount of information manually entered into a database. The "Offline Mode" in Collector for ArcGIS allows the analyst to collect data in rural areas without an Internet connection. Data is automatically synchronized with the SSRSB's enterprise GIS once the analyst is back online. Benefits The SSRSB Catchment Area Web Map has improved the way school district information is communicated to residents. The new Web-based, self-service method provides on-demand access to school-related information. In the fall of 2014, the transportation department experienced approximately a 90% drop in calls from parents, real estate agents and school administrators enquiring about catchment areas. Also, the SSRSB Catchment Area Web Map was configured in-house using an Esri Web application template, eliminating the need to invest significant time and money in development costs. Adopting ArcGIS for Desktop with Network Analyst to optimize school bus routes improves accuracy and reduces the time a transportation analyst needs to create and test scenarios. In fact, Network Analyst now allows a transportation analyst to test 10 bus routes in less than five minutes. Additionally, the SSRSB has expedited school bus stop assessments by using Collector for ArcGIS to automate data collection and share information on an enterprise-wide Web map. The SSRSB plans to integrate bus route information to the Catchment Area Web Map so parents can easily view bus routes, locate bus stops and check pick-up and drop-off times. The SSRSB anticipates this will reduce call volumes even further —by as much as 70%—freeing up valuable time for staff to complete other tasks. School board achieves greater productivity and improves bus route planning with ArcGIS | Esri Canada 2 The South Shore Regional School Board's Catchment Area Map gives Nova Scotia residents self-service, on-demand access to information about schools through the Board's Web site. SSRSB transportation analysts use Collector for ArcGIS on smartphones to collect and share information while investigating proposed bus stops. "The SSRSB Catchment Area Map has helped to improve decision-making by giving staff the ability to quickly determine which schools students should attend. This saves time during school registration and expedites school transfer requests." Denise Crouse South Shore Regional School Board Solution

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