Why municipalities increasingly use mapping
A municipality manages extensive information relating to its area. Mapping is a natural way to organize, retrieve and share this information between departments.
- Municipal roads.
- Public buildings and assets.
- Water, lighting and wastewater networks.
- Cemeteries and burial rights.
- Green spaces.
- Field work.
- Requests from residents.
- Sensitive or recurring locations.
Viewing this information on a map helps staff, elected officials and the secretariat understand the area better and make faster decisions.
What is a GIS?
A GIS, or geographic information system, is designed to manage, structure, analyse and display geographic data. Solutions such as ArcGIS and QGIS are used by many local authorities.
- Produce and update maps.
- Manage multiple geographic layers.
- Analyse and cross-reference geographic data.
- Prepare technical or regulatory plans.
- Build a municipal mapping reference database.
A GIS is powerful. It often requires skills development: understanding data, projections, layers and analysis tools.
What is an interactive map?
An interactive map is generally simpler for the end user. It is designed for viewing and everyday use, rather than advanced geographic analysis.
- View information on a base map.
- Click a point or area.
- Search for a specific item.
- View associated information.
- Make information easier to read in the field.
An interactive map can use data produced in a GIS, but aims to be accessible to all staff without extensive training.
What is operational software?
Operational software does more than display a map. It helps manage a practical process or tracking workflow, step by step.
- A work request.
- Progress status.
- A comment or photo.
- An associated document.
- Action history.
- A burial-right record.
- An action to complete or approval.
Operational software focuses on everyday use: what staff need to do, rather than only what they need to see.
Example 1: municipal public works
A public works department needs more than a map. Above all, it needs to know where requests and jobs stand.
- Which request arrived.
- Where it is located.
- Who needs to carry out the work.
- What its priority is.
- What its status is.
- What has already been done.
- Which assets are involved.
For more information, see OPUS Services Techniques, along with the articles Tracking field activities and Centralizing public works requests.
Example 2: municipal cemetery management
A cemetery has an obvious mapping dimension, but municipal management extends well beyond the map.
- Burial rights and holders.
- Deceased persons and families.
- Administrative documents.
- Plot statuses.
- Searches using multiple criteria.
- Administrative history.
See OPUS Cimetière and the article Which features are useful for a municipality?.
GIS or operational software: do we have to choose?
The two approaches serve different needs and can complement each other.
A GIS is suited to:
- Producing and managing geographic data.
- Working with layers.
- Conducting spatial analysis.
- Building a municipal mapping database.
Operational software is suited to:
- Making information accessible to staff.
- Tracking actions and statuses.
- Centralizing documents.
- Making everyday work easier.
- Avoiding reliance on one GIS expert.
The risk of a tool that is too technical for staff
A powerful tool can be underused if it is too complex. For a small municipality, adoption is often the main challenge, rather than the number of features.
- A simple interface.
- Adoption by staff.
- Quick access to information.
- Little training required.
- Clarity in everyday use.
- Regular use without depending on an expert.
What OPUS aims to provide for municipalities
OPUS develops online software for local authorities, with an operational and mapping approach where useful. The aim is simple tools for municipalities: cemetery management, public works, municipal administration and operational tracking.
OPUS does not replace a full GIS in every case. Our approach is complementary: make specific operational tasks simpler for staff, using mapping where it provides practical value.
OPUS supports local authorities in New Caledonia, in Mainland France and in French Polynesia. Find other resources published by OPUS or contact us for a demonstration.