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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
PROJECT
Utility Infrastructure Condition
Assessment Geographic
Information System
LOCATION
Cambridge, MA
YEARS
2008 - PRESENT
KEY CONTACT
Susy Bunanta
Engineering and Utilities
Harvard University
48 Blackstone Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617 496 1434
RELEVANCE TO NYSHPO
Project Features
• GIS information database
• Document management system
• Historical information database
Project Results
• Improved data accessibility
• Improved operational
efficiencies
• Enhanced data entry, retrieval,
and reporting functionality
• Increased staff accessibility
• Ease of integration with outside
data
• Accommodates future
expansion
The Harvard University Facilities and Operations department sought a
way to improve their facility management processes by centralizing and
consolidating a wide range of data collected from the engineering field
staff.
RMF Engineering was tasked with performing a Utility Infrastructure
Condition Assessment of the Cambridge campus that would result in
the creation of the field book that the facilities staff would use on a
daily basis for day-to-day operations. This was typically a manual task
that resulted in a static field book, which becomes quickly out of date.
The goal was to change the game and provide Harvard University a liv-
ing document system.
As a sub-contractor to RMF, Microdesk was tasked with developing an
integrated GIS that would enable facilities staff to inventory, document
and manage their chilled water, steam and condensate distribution
system assets throughout campus. The system, designed on a central-
ized spatial database using MapGuide Enterprise, provides the ability to
assemble, manage, and present key utility information through a web
browser. Common attributes, properties, associated diagrams, sche-
matics, and digital photos are all tied to the utility assets, unveiling the
key details to the facility staff. Microdesk also created web and desktop
tools to enable Harvard University staff to actively manage their utili-
ties assets going forward.
Now Harvard University has a system that always reflects the current
state of their infrastructure.