The city will contract with Etch LTD for the project. The project will cost no more than $94,000 and is scheduled to be finished by summer 2021.
Software company Etch is based in Columbus.
"The GIS implementation plan will greatly improve the efficiency, accuracy and availability of data for our employees, residents and local contractors," said Xenia Assistant City Manager Jared Holloway. "It is the next step in modernizing our mapping and workflow systems. The city is looking forward to working with Etch LTD to continue to build out our GIS data."
Holloway said a more comprehensive mapping platform will give Xenia residents more timely and accurate utility mapping, like when they call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) to locate underground utilities. It will also improve repair times and make repairing water main breaks and other emergency situations more efficient because the more accurate and reliable mapping data will allow city employees to isolate and correct issues faster.
The city is also planning to hire a GIS analyst position in the future to manage this system.
City officials say the new mapping system will help the city's engineering department and maintenance division identify water and sewer main sizes and locations as well as reference work order histories and pertinent data affiliated with those mains.
Xenia's engineering department solicited bids from design firms and got eight responses. The city selected Etch. Etch has done numerous projects for other Ohio cities, such as Columbus, Newark and Dublin.
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