THE PERSONAL GEODATABASE AS A BMP FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

NC State University implemented the use of GIS for urban forest inventory and management in 1997. Since that time other University departments have taken advantage of GIS as a tool to effectively manage operations for both the natural and built environment. As the scope and use of GIS technology progressed over the past 10 years, so has development of campus infrastructure. Due in part to a University bond package passed in 2000, NCSU has 40 major construction projects slated through 2009. These new buildings bring new sources of runoff and loss of green space; both requiring construction of additional stormwater management components to efficiently and effectively manage water quality impacts. State and Federal laws mandate water quality protection through stormwater management practices. In response to this mandate, NCSU has a MS4 permit encompassing 2,110 acres of intensively managed urban landscape. In 2005, NCSU Environmental Affairs began GIS development for the campus stormwater system. Base design for this system was the development of an ESRI geodatabase. Design guidelines included: 1 Use of personal geodatabase to simplify implementation but allow for multiple users. 2 Enable database connection to construction management system for immediate use in stormwater structure inventory, including links to ancillary documents. 3 Design for future uses such as modeling water movement through the system and pollutant removal within the network of treatment areas. 4 Ability to integrate spatial and tabular data with other campus departments and local agencies. If done correctly, the geodatabase becomes a BMP for the stormwater management system