Location: Harris County, Texas

Services include:

• Document management
• GIS applications development
• Systems development
• GIS and CADD standards development
• Data integration

The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) relies heavily on ridership and tolls, along with roadway information, to strategically plan for the future. The agency hired Baker to help the agency establish the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) foundation to support the Authority in decision making for the future.

The agency uses its Toll Road Information Management System (TRIMS) to access critical information. As part of this project, Baker indexed and scanned 60,000 drawings and made this electronic library available through web and GIS interfaces, with key drawings georeferenced and digitized to create the core GIS layers to be used in various roadway and toll applications. Baker also helped the agency integrate CADD and regional data sets from city, county, and state agencies.

The engineering drawing library is accessible using the GIS- and web-based interface, which also allows HCTRA staff to use search features and database browsing to locate and display the engineering drawings. GPS technology is used to bring the GIS and drawing management system alive in the field using one-click access to display the drawing required. Baker also performed a sign inventory and condition assessment with photos linked to 7,500 GIS signing features. GIS and CADD standards were developed and implemented to sustain the system using electronic document submittals.