Local governments are taking advantage of two existing resources to save on budgets and reduce field service resources; GIS and BlackBerry smartphones. IT and GIS departments are starting to combine these two platforms for a wide variety of field uses.
South San Francisco California is focusing on GIS access for public works employees who reference both utility maps and database records, and do not have laptops in the field.
Simcoe County Ontario has initial plans for the following groups; Government executives to access easy-to-use GIS on their existing BlackBerry smartphones. Forestry field workers that map trees and other assets. Tracking live location of first responders during emergency events.
Richland County South Carolina is looking to test the use of BlackBerry smartphones to show AVL vehicles locations on in-house GIS maps. And opening County GIS map data to the public on the BlackBerry is also being reviewed for future use.
Richmond British Columbia has approximately 100 BlackBerry smartphones used by government employees. The IT and GIS departments are looking to help increase productivity for utility workers who access GIS system maps in the field.
These and many other government agencies are using Freeance Mobile Basic, an in-house application that pushes live ESRI GIS map services on BlackBerry smartphones. Freeance Mobile Basic is priced so that agencies can model and pilot live GIS on BlackBerry applications with in-house staff control and operational field users.
For more information please visit www.Freeance.com/mobile