VertiGIS, a global leader in geospatial solutions, has deployed VertiGIS Studio and VertiGIS Networks for Houston Public Works, the largest accredited public works organisation in the city. VertiGIS’ solutions are central to a major enterprise GIS modernisation programme, with VertiGIS Studio enhancing Houston Public Works’ enterprise GIS environment, streamlining GIS capabilities and workflows across the organisation. VertiGIS Networks will allow utilities to map, manage and maintain their physical infrastructure with ease.
The City of Houston is home to over 2.3 million people, with Houston Public Works managing an extensive network of water, wastewater, transportation, drainage and other critical infrastructure. This necessitates accurate and accessible geographic data to deliver effective public services.
Overcoming infrastructure complexity and evolving systems
As Houston Public Works’ GIS environment expands, growing adoption across an increasingly mobile workforce and greater cloud complexity creates a clear need for a scalable approach.
The City of Houston is formalising an enterprise governance model that balances business-unit GIS expertise with consistent IT oversight. GIS specialists will retain responsibility for core operational data and have the flexibility to develop and test new ideas, with successful concepts moving through a formal process into production where IT can manage hosting, security, and performance.
With VertiGIS, Houston Public Works can build an enterprise GIS environment around standardised applications, improved workflows and stronger governance, with VertiGIS Studio helping to make sophisticated GIS capabilities more accessible across the organisation.
Creating a foundation for enterprise growth
Previously, citizen service requests could involve multiple emails and phone calls as enquiries were passed between siloed teams. With VertiGIS Studio Forms, citizens will have the ability to submit requests through a single platform and provide relevant geographic information directly through an interactive map.
For Houston’s sidewalk programme, this will enable citizens to pinpoint exactly where a sidewalk is required and send it to the appropriate team – rather than emailing and calling council members where key information can quickly get lost.
This gives the Houston Public Works team more complete and accurate information from the outset, helping to streamline processes and provide a more efficient response.
Building the next phase of utility network intelligence
Houston Public Works is also upgrading its utility network environment to establish VertiGIS Networks alongside Esri Utility Network. In Houston’s largely flat, pressurised water system, this will provide water planners and managers with easier access to isolation and tracing capabilities, helping them investigate leaks and other issues without relying exclusively on specialist desktop users. This is due to be completed by the end of Houston Public Works’ 2026-27 fiscal year.
“Our migration to VertiGIS Studio is making sophisticated GIS capabilities more accessible by connecting people, data and workflows across the entire organisation,” said Anthony Powell, IT Assistant Director at City of Houston Public Works. “By simplifying citizen requests and putting advanced network capabilities into managers’ hands, we can respond more efficiently, strengthen governance and make better-informed decisions about the infrastructure our city relies on.”
