ParkPAD: Transforming Park Asset Management and Sustainability in Las Vegas with GIS

The City of Las Vegas, located in the Mojave Desert, is home to nearly two million residents, requiring careful infrastructure maintenance and resource management. To address inefficiencies in park asset management, the city’s Department of Operations and Maintenance replaced its legacy maintenance management system (MMS) with the Park Asset Data Collection and Data Conversion Program (ParkPAD) in 2009.

Based on ArcPad software, ParkPAD integrates seamlessly with the city's existing ArcGIS enterprise system, enabling real-time data updates and asset management. Field crews use the system to digitize park images, identify existing data, and collect new data efficiently. This digitization effort includes parks, trails, landscaped areas, and sports fields, forming a comprehensive parks inventory database.

The database supports water conservation efforts by integrating vegetation layers to calculate precise seed, fertilizer, and herbicide requirements. Tree study data was also added to determine tree water needs based on species, size, and location. Future phases involve creating an irrigation layer to map clocks, valves, and controls, allowing crews to quickly locate and repair systems during emergencies. Furthermore, assets like playgrounds, fountains, and picnic areas are now easily tracked for maintenance and planning.

By integrating this data into the city's enterprise GIS, departments like Operations and Maintenance, Parks and Open Spaces Division and Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services can access a unified dataset, eliminating redundancies and discrepancies. Plans are underway to publish this data via an interactive park finder on the city website, enhancing public engagement and usability.