{"668049":{"#nid":"668049","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Man Behind the Maps","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIf you\u2019re looking for the \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtfacilities.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/instant\/media\/index.html?appid=848503b3354c4dfda362fda4c6869adf\u0026amp;locale=en\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Enearest trash can on campus\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E or if you\u2019re interested in \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fm-gis2.ad.gatech.edu\/building-utility.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ethe type of heating system\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E used in any given building, there\u0027s a map for that. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn a digital age, an endless amount of data is available at the tap of a screen. That accessibility allows Doug Sims to keep all 482 of Infrastructure and Sustainability\u0027s (I\u0026amp;S) maps up to date for the Georgia Tech community.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ESims arrived at Tech in 2008 as a utility analyst. With a background in civil engineering and the keen eye of a land surveyor, he began identifying ways to streamline operations using a geographic information system (GIS). At the time, Sims explained that GIS was seldom used outside of tax assessors\u2019 offices, but he recognized its ability to connect lines on a page to valuable data. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0022If you\u0027re looking at a line for a pipe, you can click on the pipe and see that it\u0027s a 10-inch pipe, and you can see what it carries, what it\u0027s used for, and where it goes,\u0022 Sims said.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EOver the past 25 years, Sims noted how GIS has exponentially evolved to map out entire countries. Georgia Tech is often described as a city within a city, and with the help of GIS, that presents an opportunity for the department to get a better lay of the land. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0022We have our own electrical distribution system. We have our district energy for the chilled water and the steam managed by I\u0026amp;S. When you look at how GIS is normally used, it\u0027s normally looking at larger scales. So, once you start shrinking it to a relatively small area like the Tech campus, it changes how you look at things as they become much more detailed,\u201d he said. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ENow the senior \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Esystems support engineer \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Efor Infrastructure and Sustainability, Sims\u0027 foresight to increase GIS application was a catalyst for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/facilities.gatech.edu\/maps\u0022\u003Ethe data sets that exist today\u003C\/a\u003E. In his role, Sims continues to search for ways to capture additional data points and recognizes that the communal nature of a campus setting can provide opportunities for instantaneous collaboration. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0022It\u0027s a big paradigm shift. It\u0027s putting power in the hands of the people where they can make the changes immediately. Whether I\u0027m sitting on campus or 50 miles away, I can make a change. They can hit refresh and see that change immediately. It\u0027s changing how we think about and use that data every day,\u0022 he said. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA recent project, working alongside the recycling and zero waste department, invited students to identify the location of all trash cans and recycling bins on campus. Sims\u0027 creation allowed participants to use their phones to pinpoint locations that were added to the map, which has since been used for additional analysis of the Institute\u0027s sustainability efforts. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe ability to connect with data instantaneously has helped Sims and his staff, which recently added a new team member \u2013\u2013 a Tech alumna who worked with the department as an undergraduate \u2013\u2013 to expedite work orders across campus. The first widespread application of GIS mapping empowers members of the Tech community to \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/d5597924b6e74fa3bb9f669439e052e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ereport landscaping requests to I\u0026amp;S\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E by marking the exact location of the issue, sending photos and any other relevant information directly to an organized dashboard for review. Sims hopes to expand this service to additional services in the coming years.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EKeeping campus informed and operating at its most efficient is a point of personal pride for Sims, and, wielding what he calls the \u201cGIS hammer,\u201d he hopes to be a springboard to assist other departments using GIS. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0022If people want to map something or see what we have, get in touch with me, and let\u0027s see if there\u0027s a solution we can provide to you,\u0022 he said. \u0022I\u0027m here to come up with an answer that makes their day easier, makes their job easier, and provides data for other people to share around campus.\u0022\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ESims laments that while he does get the rare request for printed maps, they are often already outdated while they\u2019re still warm from the printer due to the speed at which data changes at Tech. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Hundreds of maps detail the Tech campus. Doug Sims sees endless opportunities to utilize data to keep the community informed. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EHundreds of maps detail the Tech campus. Doug Sims sees endless opportunities to utilize data to keep the community informed. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Hundreds of maps detail the Tech campus. Doug Sims sees endless opportunities to utilize data to keep the community informed. "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2023-06-09 16:21:02","changed_gmt":"2023-06-12 20:04:17","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-06-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-06-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"670969":{"id":"670969","type":"image","title":"Senior Systems Support Engineer\u00a0for Infrastructure and Sustainability Doug Sims. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESenior Systems Support Engineer for Infrastructure and Sustainability Doug Sims.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686585233","gmt_created":"2023-06-12 15:53:53","changed":"1686585233","gmt_changed":"2023-06-12 15:53:53","alt":"Senior Systems Support Engineer\u00a0for Infrastructure and Sustainability Doug Sims. ","file":{"fid":"253944","name":"IMG_6858.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/12\/IMG_6858.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/12\/IMG_6858.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5500300,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/06\/12\/IMG_6858.JPG?itok=Y4xn5XRI"}},"670970":{"id":"670970","type":"image","title":"Senior Systems Support Engineer\u00a0for Infrastructure and Sustainability Doug Sims flags an upcoming project using GIS mapping. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESenior Systems Support Engineer for Infrastructure and Sustainability Doug Sims flags an upcoming project using GIS mapping.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686585266","gmt_created":"2023-06-12 15:54:26","changed":"1686597774","gmt_changed":"2023-06-12 19:22:54","alt":"Senior Systems Support Engineer\u00a0for Infrastructure and Sustainability Doug Sims flags an upcoming project using GIS mapping. ","file":{"fid":"253945","name":"IMG_6923.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/12\/IMG_6923.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/12\/IMG_6923.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7587316,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/06\/12\/IMG_6923.JPG?itok=bmGsvTAP"}}},"media_ids":["670969","670970"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"179355","name":"Building Construction"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E - Communications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}