This project objective was to GPS locate, inspect, and re-map the City’s storm water system so that the City of Topeka could begin to separate their combined sanitary sewer and storm water features.
SAM (formerly Midland GIS Solutions) was selected based on qualifications to conduct a large-scale GPS collection and inspection project in the City’s three (3) largest drainage districts. Utilizing RTK (survey grade) GPS methods, we located the City’s storm water system and collected attribute data for manholes, inlets, junctions, boxes and outfalls. GPS field staff also collected combined sewer utility features and provided various condition assessment ratings for the sewer manholes.
Our technical staff created a utility geodatabase, integrated aerial photography and county GIS data, and inserted new GIS data into Cityworks®, the City’s asset management system. We utilized a “Facility ID” to link back to the Cityworks® program upon completion of each storm water basin. Our team developed the workflow for this aspect of the project to ensure a smooth transition between using the existing data and the newly collected data in the work order program to ensure valuable historical records remained intact.
In 2015, we were awarded a second contract to GPS locate and map storm water and sewer features in the remaining eight (8) drainage basins. Our professional field staff accurately GPS located more than 22,000 storm water and sanitary sewer features for this project.
