Municipality modernises asset management, improves data quality and enables smarter decision-making by leveraging VertiGIS Studio.
VertiGIS, a global leader in geospatial solutions, has helped the City of Windsor, Ontario, to transform its asset management capabilities through a practical, cost-effective digital modernisation strategy. The municipality achieved 80% of the benefits of a large-scale infrastructure overhaul in a fraction of the time and the investment typically required.
Rather than adopting a lengthy and costly replacement or an extensive Esri Utility Network migration, the City of Windsor adopted a pragmatic ‘fit over flash’ approach. Utilising VertiGIS Studio – a configurable suite of web-based applications and workflow automation tools – it has streamlined processes, improved data accessibility and built geospatial workflows without extensive custom development.
Like many municipalities, Windsor is under pressure to modernise asset management processes while balancing limited resources and growing operational demands. Legacy databases, disconnected workflows, paper-based processes and restricted access to information were creating challenges for efficient infrastructure management and decision-making.
“The reality was that our legacy asset database and disjointed data maintenance workflows were making it difficult to manage assets efficiently and effectively,” said Carter Day, GIS Supervisor, City of Windsor. “Instead of trying to chase the latest technology model, we focused on solving the real problems we had with the tools already available to us.”
The City implemented several VertiGIS Studio applications as part of its transformation:
VertiGIS Studio Web enabled the rapid creation of intuitive, department-specific web applications.
VertiGIS Studio Workflow automated data maintenance processes and guided staff through key operational tasks.
VertiGIS Studio Reporting improved access to information and helped eliminate organisational data silos.
One of the most innovative aspects of the project was the development of a lightweight ‘pseudo utility network’, created in partnership with VertiGIS. The approach introduced business rules and connectivity for linear assets such as roads and sewers within Windsor’s existing data models, delivering many of the benefits of a GIS utility network without the cost and complexity of a full deployment.
“It’s a very practical, rules-based approach that defines how everything connects while still working within existing legacy data models,” said Day. “This allowed us to reach a meaningful level of capability and deliver value to the City much faster, without taking on the hefty cost and time investment of a more complex solution.”
The project has delivered significant benefits across the organisation, including improved decision-making, increased confidence in data quality and a shift in how departments approach Digital Transformation initiatives.
With geo-enabled information available through targeted web applications, stakeholders can now make more informed decisions based on trusted data.
At the same time, controlled editing workflows have improved data integrity and established stronger connections between previously disconnected datasets, giving City leaders greater confidence in the information used for planning and operations.
“Success comes from delivering tangible value quickly, getting effective solutions into people’s hands rather than spending two years pursuing perfection at the expense of momentum,” said Day.
Windsor’s Geomatics team plans to expand the successful proof of concept beyond its initial linear asset pilot in the future. This applies the same approach to additional infrastructure assets across the City, whilst continuing to maximise the value of its GIS investments.
“The City of Windsor’s success highlights how organisations can achieve meaningful transformation by focusing on practical outcomes and delivering value quickly,” said Drew Millen, CTO, VertiGIS. “By combining ArcGIS Enterprise with VertiGIS Studio, Windsor has created a modern, scalable foundation for smarter asset management and data-driven decision-making.”
