Self-Service Apps Drive Smarter Operations
Open Data and Apps Deliver Value for Residents
Pinellas County encompasses 24 cities and towns in the state of Florida. With nearly half of its 950,000 citizens living in unincorporated areas, Pinellas represents a unique demographic as the most densely populated county in the state and the 6th most populous county in the US. To serve such a complex and diverse region, Pinellas turned to technological initiatives and innovations to deliver smarter, faster, sustainable services that meet the needs of county staff, municipalities, and the public.
The county focused its efforts on transforming its fragmented data and mapping system into a hub of ready-to use insights, apps, and maps that support the enterprise's strategic plan. With limited resources, the county assembled the Pinellas County Enterprise GIS Steering Committee to prioritize where and how to fund projects that ultimately deliver better services and cost savings to the public.
Now, departments and municipalities access the real-time data, analytics, and read-to-use engagement tools they need to drive efficiency and innovation. In one example, the county's use of GIS led to a better community rating from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that's expected to save residents more than $5 million annually in flood insurance premiums.
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Data Sharing and Collaboration
Pinellas stood up an open data portal and made 126 data layers available to all 24 municipalities—from flood zone information to aerial imagery.
Explore the open data portal
The Solution: Prioritizing Community Needs
Forming the county's Enterprise GIS Steering Committee was a critical step in building an information mapping hub that addressed the county's needs. The county took advantage of Esri's commercial-off-the-shelf technology to easily integrate with other enterprise systems and enable access to data by anyone, on any device. Pinellas' hub operates on a scalable data architecture, making it easy to deploy apps and maps like The Recycle Finder web app, which helps citizens locate recycling facilities and get info about recycling options in their community.
Esri's online-based approach to GIS fosters collaboration and innovation
With the right process, people, and technology, any community can become smarter. From the smallest towns to entire nations, location technology helps organizations share information to drive initiatives and improve services. Connect with Esri for a wealth of resources that elevate the essential characteristics of progressive, smart communities.
System of record
Create an authoritative, digital twin of your community by connecting disparate systems through location.
Data-driven decision-making
Stakeholders source reliable data to develop ideas and to intelligently assess and accomplish goals.
Collaboration across departments
People connect to information via web apps and data portals to work together and drive solutions.
Civic engagement
Impartial and forthright data helps governments gain the trust necessary to build consensus in their priorities.
Real-time awareness
Monitor live events as they occur to afford managers the insight to react swiftly and intelligently.
