Case Study: City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota achieves rapid storm‑sewer mapping, $130K savings and $24.7M in funding with Trimble GeoXT

Gis project's success translate to funds for Sioux Falls

The City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota faced severe flash floods in May–June 2004 that flooded more than 200 homes and revealed that older neighborhoods’ storm drainage systems were undersized and poorly documented. With much of the storm infrastructure data digitized from 30‑year‑old plans, the engineering department needed a rapid, accurate survey of the central 5,000 acres to assess conditions and prioritize repairs.

Two field teams using Trimble GeoXT handheld GPS units with ArcPad mapped over 4,700 storm structures and more than 100 linear miles of pipe in 29 days, uploading daily updates into the city’s GIS so consultants could model eight basins. The effort helped Sioux Falls secure $24.7 million in State Revolving Fund loans, saved an estimated $130,000 through time efficiencies, accelerated design and construction planning, and produced an accurate utility database now used across city departments.

City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Shannon Ausen

Assistant City Enginer