Case Study: Austin’s Communications and Technology Management achieves citywide GIS modernization and streamlined ArcMap-to-ArcGIS migration with Esri

Proactive, Unified Approach to Modernizing GIS

Austin’s Communications and Technology Management faced a citywide migration challenge when ESRI announced the retirement of ArcMap (part of ArcGIS Desktop). More than 30 city departments and roughly 1,400 ArcMap users relied on the legacy software for mission‑critical workflows, so Austin launched a three‑phase GIS Modernization Project to move users to ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and upgrade servers to ArcGIS Enterprise with support from ESRI services.

ESRI supported the effort through its Advantage Program, change‑management and training consultants, and Esri training resources (e‑Learning and instructor‑led classes), helping Austin define user types (power vs. light users) and assign appropriate migration and learning paths. The approach—six departments in phase 1, detailed usage reporting, EAP‑funded training, and integrated communications—identified ~1,400 users, streamlined migrations (power users to ArcGIS Pro, light users to ArcGIS Online), produced the 2021 Austin Bike Map entirely in ArcGIS Pro, reduced data/styling discrepancies, and positioned the city to meet its March 2023 migration deadline with ESRI’s ongoing support.

Austin’s Communications and Technology Management

Shanon Sims

IT Project Manager