Last year, one of our department heads had the opportunity to present to more than 200 government officials at the 2024 Public Sector CIO Summit at Esri’s Headquarters in Redlands, CA. The presentation, titles “Pioneering Real-Time GIS,” focused on how the City of Syracuse has used Esri’s Velocity engine to capture crucial information from snowplow operations, enhancing resident communication and operational efficiency.
Throughout the years Esri provides the tools that the API team leverages to support some of the City’s digital products, including the Snowplow Map, Open Data Portal, and SYRCityline, primarily through Velocity and ArcGIS. And now, the Syracuse Common Council approved legislation to expand our GIS efforts.
In this blog post, we are hoping to cover the advantages of cities investing in their geographic intelligence and how we’ll continue to leverage these tools for improved city operations.
What is GIS?
Imagine it’s the middle of winter in Syracuse, and you’re trying to figure out whether your street has been plowed before heading to work. Or maybe you’re in the public works team and need to prioritize which roads to clear next. With the City’s Snowplow Map, that information is displayed in your computer and updated in real time.
But that is just one example of the uses of geographic data. GIS helps us solve real-world problems by layering multiple types of data like road networks, weather conditions, and residential zones onto a single map. It allows city staff to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently, and it gives residents better access to timely, reliable information. Whether it’s identifying flood zones, tracking service requests, or improving how we deliver public services, GIS is quietly powering smarter, more responsive government every day.
How is it used in Syracuse?
There are many ways that City of Syracuse staff use GIS, but they can be broadly categorized into three types:
Operational - To collect data in the field, sometimes with just a cellphone, and sometimes with special high-tech equipment when precise measurements are required.
Analytical - To examine trends over time and conduct spatial analysis such as quantifying the number of properties impacted by an infrastructure investment.
Communications - To share maps and define boundaries to constituents and stakeholders.
A few examples of projects we’ve covered before:
Last year, we worked with the Syracuse Fire Department to map fire hydrants across the city so that, if hydrants need to be dug out after a snowstorm, the shoveling progress can be tracked accurately and coordinated. This improves operational efficiency and helps lower the change of delays for firefighters when responding to emergencies.
We created an equity score for road reconstruction efforts in Syracuse to help ensure that roads in historically underserved communities are not neglected when roads get repaved. GIS enabled us to incorporate spatial data analysis into the concrete task of repaving roads.
As we rolled out new city-issued trash carts, GIS technology empowered us not only to digitally map out the trash collection routes but to conduct a phased rollout and to communicate the timing to city residents.
What’s Next in GIS for the City of Syracuse?
As we mentioned before, the Syracuse Common Council approved funding for a three-year agreement to expand the City’s usage of Esri’s software products. The decision to enter into this agreement was driven by the growing need for a more integrated scalable, and cost-effective approach to geospatial data management.
Previously, GIS tools were used in a more fragmented manner across departments, limiting their full potential. The API team played a crucial role in assessing these challenges, advocating for a citywide solution, and demonstrating the value of a centralized GIS platform in supporting critical city functions from infrastructure planning to real-time service tracking.
As a team, we see GIS not just as a mapping tool but as a foundational technology that enables data-driven decision-making, operational efficiency, and transparency while driving innovation in the city. This agreement reflects our commitment to expanding the role of GIS in Syracuse, ensuring that departments have the tools they need to innovate and improve service delivery for residents.
The City of Syracuse is making a major investment in its GIS infrastructure to modernize operations and expand geospatial capacity across departments. Through a new Small Government Enterprise Agreement, the City gains nearly unlimited GIS licenses and analysis credits enabling broader use among staff as well as enhanced cloud infrastructure for better performance, security, and reduced strain on internal IT resources.
In tandem, the Advantage Program connects City staff with top GIS experts to provide technical support for system integration with tools like Cityworks (asset mapping and work order management), while also building internal capacity through training, field data collection support, and organizational planning.
Together, these investments will help Syracuse equip more staff with tools to gather high-quality field data, scale up enterprise asset management, strengthen data governance, and integrate geospatial analysis into everyday decision-making.