Paper maps to the digital era

A big part of my GIS work has involved helping agencies move from shelves of paper maps and engineering plans into modern digital systems. Using ArcGIS Online and other tools from Esri, I convert legacy records into organized GIS databases that staff can easily access, update, and use for everyday operations.

Infrastructure System Digitization & Asset Mapping

For several local agencies, I was tasked with bringing decades of paper infrastructure records into a digital GIS environment. I georeferenced and rectified historic as-built plans, digitized system features, and built a structured GIS database that included facilities, infrastructure assets, and repair logs.

The data was then published as an interactive online map through ArcGIS Online. This allowed staff to view system assets, track maintenance history, and plan capital improvements in a single place. Because the system is web-based, staff can also verify or update infrastructure features directly from mobile devices or desktop computers, making it much easier to keep the data current.

Historic Ownership & Water Rights Boundary Reconstruction

In another project, a municipality needed help untangling a complicated history of land ownership and water rights that stretched back more than 100 years. I researched historic deeds, parcel descriptions, and transfer records, then translated those legal descriptions into mapped boundaries within GIS.

Each boundary segment was tied back to the specific deed or document it came from, creating a clear spatial record of how ownership and water rights changed over time. The final product gave the municipality a much clearer picture of both historic and current legal boundaries and provided a reliable digital reference moving forward.

These types of projects highlight my experience turning historic paper records and legal descriptions into practical, working GIS datasets that agencies can use every day.