Interactive mapping app allows citizens to report exact locations where they feel unsafe, helping the City to develop a more targeted urban safety action plan
QUÉBEC, Esri Canada User Conference – April 27, 2016 – Ville de Longueuil’s vision is to create a friendly and safe environment for all its citizens. To introduce a new, innovative way of conducting public consultations, the City turned to Esri’s geographic information system (GIS) technology. They created Web mapping apps that enabled them to efficiently and effectively collect, monitor and analyze 400 submissions from citizens who participated in the online consultation from September 8-27, 2015 via the City’s Web site:longueuil.quebec. For this outstanding use of GIS technology, Esri Canada today presented Ville de Longueuil with an Award of Excellence.
The City received positive feedback from citizens throughout the public consultation. The interactive app was deemed easy to use.During the map-based consultation, the City collected valuable information that allowed them to identify six areas to direct their first Action Plan for improving urban safety. Citizen consultation was the starting point for the development of this three-year action plan. The plan includes the implementation of a geolocation system in large parks and traffic areas (walking and cycling paths) that will eventually be integrated into the City’s 911 emergency system. The system will allow citizens to report safety issues on the trails and in the parks by calling 911 and providing the number of the closest GPS terminal, which would allow for even more effective emergency response.
“We commend Ville de Longueuil for taking an innovative approach to public consultations,” said Alex Miller, president, Esri Canada. “Through their interactive mapping app, they’ve established an efficient system for collaborating with citizens on community issues. Ultimately, they’re improving participatory governance and citizen engagement, which are hallmarks of a good government.”
“This award highlights the quality of projects that we can develop with GIS,” notes Dominic Ouellet, head of mapping division and CAD, Ville de Longueuil. “While geomatics is already applied to a number of municipal projects, the success of this public consultations app paves the way for us to incorporate ‘high-tech mapping’ in all municipal processes and deliver better services to our citizens.”
To create the interactive mapping app, the City leveraged Citizen Service Request, a ready-to-use app template available in Esri’s ArcGIS system. On the Web map, citizens can specify the exact location in the city where they feel improvements on signage, maintenance, lighting and surveillance can be made. The app allows citizens to include text, photos and related documents in their submission.
The City monitors and analyzes citizen submissions through two apps. The first app, built with Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS, provides municipal staff with quick and easy access to the data submitted through the public interactive app. It includes several widgets with data analytics. The second app is an online dashboard with a Web map that was created using Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS. It enables further analysis of the data using widgets as well as integrated map filters.
The interactive mapping app project was so successful that the City will now be conducting public consultations twice a year using the same technology. The City is also looking into integrating the public Web app with their internal request system so that municipal staff can automatically query data from public consultations. As well, they will add a functionality that will generate automated confirmation receipt and request numbers to citizens who submit feedback, increasing the efficiency of their monitoring process.
To learn more about ArcGIS, visit: esri.ca/arcgis.
About Esri Canada
Founded in 1984, Esri Canada provides enterprise geographic information system (GIS) solutions that empower businesses, governments and educational institutions to make timely, informed and mission-critical decisions by leveraging the power of geography. The company distributes the world’s leading GIS software from Esri, Schneider Electric, Cityworks–Azteca Systems, Inc. and other technology partners. Headquartered in Toronto, the company serves over 10,000 customers from 16 regional offices across Canada. Esri Canada joined the elite rank of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2012 and became a Gold Standard winner in 2015. The company has also been named to the Branham300. More information can be found at esri.ca. Follow Esri Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeand LinkedIn.