Where things or events are on the surface of the earth (geography) can be very important. The military has always understood the value of knowing where things are and the value of pre-planning events. For many years the hardware and software needed for GIS was very expensive but in recent years it has become affordable for use by cities such as Polk City.

Polk City is one of the leaders in GIS use by small communities in Iowa and in the US. Recently, representatives from Polk City were invited to an annual GIS Conference for Rural America at the University of Pennsylvania to share their experiences with using GIS.

GIS Day is celebrated each year around the world to raise awareness to the fact that geography plays a very important part in an individual’s daily life as well as in the life of a city, a county, a state, or a nation.

The Polk City Public Works Department has located all of the city’s fire hydrants
on a map of the city. In addition, information is entered in a computer program about each fire hydrant: who manufactured it, when it was installed, when it was
last checked, how much water it can put out, and a host of other facts about it. A public works employee can query the computer program to find out which fire hydrants need to be checked. The resulting query not only gives information about those hydrants but also puts dots on a map showing where they are located. So, the city worker prints the map and drives directly to the hydrants that need to be checked saving time and taxpayer money.
 
The Polk City Fire Department also uses GIS to know which fire truck can safely pump water from which fire hydrant without damaging the hydrant and where the appropriate hydrants are by checking the color coded dots on a map. They can
use GIS to pre-plan scenarios for hazardous spills, for daycare evacuations, for rescues on the bike trail or on the lake, as well as for positioning equipment at a residential or a business fire. GIS can also be used to determine the fastest route from the fire house to a burning building.
 
The Polk City Police Department uses GIS to locate roads that need to be
blocked for an annual parade or event and can give printed maps with those locations for barricades to the Public Works Department. The police department can also use GIS for public safety and pre-plan security details for events like R.A.G.B.R.A.I. or the Seniors Golf Tournament. They can create a map showing locations of deer crashes so drivers can be especially alert when traveling in
those areas.

The Polk City Administration can use GIS for zoning, for annexations, for planning future road expansion before anyone even turns over a shovel of dirt, once again saving the taxpayer money. They can also use GIS to study the distance a warning siren can be heard and determine if another siren is needed and where it should be placed.
So, on November 19th, look out your window and think about all the ways GIS can make your life better: from the city services currently provided by Polk City using GIS, to those services that are yet to be implemented. And, while you are looking out your window in Polk City, remember that people around the world are looking
at their communities and seeing the benefits of GIS for their lives as well.
 
Robert Schultz
Polk City, Iowa