GIS User Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan

Nashville International Airport has proposed GIS technology to support its business processes and daily operations.

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) owns and operates the Nashville International Airport, which is located on over 4,460 acres and serves over four million passengers annually. In an effort to identify the potential for using geographic information systems (GIS) technology within the business processes and everyday operation of the airport, the MNAA selected PBS&J to conduct a GIS user needs assessment study and pre­pare a GIS implementation plan. Among the objectives of the study were identifying GIS data automation needs and associated costs, quantifying the effort of migrating to the MicroStation CADD platform, identifying computer hardware and software needs, identifying specific GIS custom applications, and evaluating potential funding reimbursement opportunities available for GIS development.

A series of focus group meet­ings was held with each department at MNAA to identify user needs and familiarize the stakeholders with GIS technology and the advantages to be gained from its implementation. PBS&J researched and evaluated the primary hardware and software options available, and investigated funding sources, including federal grants, for GIS development and implementation. A comprehensive report was prepared detailing the research findings and recommendations for GIS implementation. The study was completed within an aggressive time frame of slightly over two months, for presentation during budget deliberations for the approaching fiscal year.