In 2008, the Robertson County Appraisal District, Texas, (RCAD) came to the realization that its digital mapping efforts could not provide the kinds of data and services necessary to serve its users in County offices or the citizens of the county. In fact, the existing CAD-based software was so out of date that the vendor no longer supported the version being used by RCAD. The digital parcel base also did not contain many fundamental cadastral features common to modern local government GIS schemas, such as roads or parcel dimensions.  In addition, RCAD had also determined that they needed to integrate their GIS data with their Tax administration and CAMA databases, and to deploy that integrated data via web services.

RCAD selected The Sidwell Company to provide the professional GIS services required to achieve these goals.  Three primary needs were put into the scope of work, with an eight month completion schedule to accomplish these tasks. The first was migration of the existing CAD parcel data into an ESRI® geodatabase, which would be further enhanced by structuring the geodatabase with the Sidwell Tagged Parcel Data model. The next was the development of a front end website providing access to Tax and CAMA data, and an integrated GIS website based on ESRI ArcGIS® Server technology. Finally, Sidwell’s team of professionals would work with RCAD staff on review, analysis, and implementation an improved land records workflow.

These efforts are supported by Sidwell’s industry acclaimed Parcel Builder® software suite, which feature a series of mapping productivity tools that are compliant with ArcGIS 9.3.1®. Work began on the project in December 2008, at which time the frontend website was the first task undertaken, at the request of RCAD. The site went live in early March 2009. Simultaneous with the web development was the complete remapping of all 35,000 parcels in Robertson County. Although the original intent was to make use of RCAD’s existing CAD-based parcel data, Sidwell recommended, and RCAD agreed, that they would achieve a more spatially accurate and robust data set by redrawing the cadastral data. This work was performed at no additional cost to the county.  The completed geodatabase was delivered to the county in May, 2009. At the same time, training of RCAD staff to maintain the cadastral geodatabase using ArcGIS and Parcel Builder took place. The entire project was completed both on time, and within budget. Robertson CAD Mapper Dee-Dee Ferrell indicates that she is “very happy with our new Parcel Builder software, and can see ways that it will help tremendously with our ongoing mapping needs.” Ferrell adds “We’ve also found multiple properties we didn’t even know were missing from the tax roll, and we’re getting a lot of compliments on the quality of the data and the ease of sharing it through the website.”

By virtue of their partnership and successful working relationship with The Sidwell Company, the Robertson County Appraisal District has achieved their GIS objectives and now has the tools, and data, to provide the level of GIS and mapping services it has long desired to serve the needs of its entire user community. Visit Robertson CAD on the web:  http://robertsontx.mygisonline.com.