GIS Improvements Lead to Operational Success: GTG’s Work with the North Carolina Railroad
The North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) is a vital transportation corridor spanning 317 miles across the state, connecting Charlotte to the Port of Morehead City. With a rich history dating back to 1849, NCRR supports freight, passenger rail services, and economic development, and it serves as a critical link for North Carolina’s businesses, facilitating trade and contributing to regional growth.
NCRR’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enable the efficient management of its rail assets, right-of-way data, and property holdings. GIS tools integrate various datasets, including infrastructure maps, environmental overlays, and operational data, to support decision-making. The railroad uses GIS to streamline asset tracking, improve planning, and enhance communication with stakeholders but staff understood that GIS could further help improve efficiencies.
GTG’s Involvement
NCRR hired Geographic Technologies Group (GTG) to evaluate its existing GIS capabilities and identify opportunities for improvement. This resulting needs assessment involved engaging with key stakeholders, analyzing data workflows, and reviewing existing software and infrastructure. GTG identified gaps in data integration, user accessibility, and outdated processes that impeded operational efficiency. The needs assessment provided a clear understanding of NCRR’s GIS requirements as well as a foundation for an actionable plan.
Based on the findings, GTG developed an implementation plan to upgrade NCRR’s GIS. The plan included integrating disparate datasets into a centralized platform, deploying modern GIS software, and enhancing data visualization capabilities. GTG provided recommendations for streamlining workflows, improving data accuracy, and introducing user-friendly tools to support various departments. This strategic approach ensured that the implementation addressed NCRR’s immediate needs while allowing for future scalability.
GTG managed GIS functionality for NCRR, ensuring a seamless transition to the new platform and fostering rapid adoption among its staff. These improvements included the replacement of NCRR’s Geocortex application with a prototype built in ArcGIS Portal’s Experience Builder platform, and GTG configured web maps to display GIS data similar to NCRR’s old application. This updated Experience Builder solution adjusted layer lists, views, search bar configurations, and mobile layouts, and it allowed for the installation of ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 on NCRR’s Azure virtual environment. This represented a substantial upgrade for NCRR’s GIS capabilities.
GTG transferred GIS web services from NCRR’s previous server structure to the new server, and GTG configured NCRR’s Site Exhibit print template. GTG also added externally sourced services to the NCRR Portal, and these services included NC OneMap data for parcels, roads, addresses, aerial imagery, and environmental references. The updated and centralized GIS improved NCRR’s asset management, enhanced their analytical capabilities, and provided real-time insights to support decision-making. GTG’s comprehensive training programs empowered NCRR staff to effectively use their new tools, ensuring long-term sustainability, and GTG offered follow-up opportunities to discuss training feedback. GTG’s proactive support and expertise enabled NCRR to maximize the value of its GIS and achieve operational excellence.
The Impact
GTG’s work for NCRR transformed its GIS, delivering a tailored solution that addressed critical challenges and positioned the railroad for future growth. By combining expert needs assessment, strategic implementation, and ongoing management, GTG provided NCRR with the tools and knowledge to optimize its operations. The partnership underscored the importance of leveraging GIS to enhance infrastructure management and operational efficiency, ensuring NCRR remains a vital economic asset for North Carolina.
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To learn more about GIS Services from Geographic Technologies Group, please feel free to reach out. You can speak to our team by calling 888.757.4222 or emailing moreinfo@geotg.com.
