Broomfield Simplifies Cemetery Plot Management with ArcGIS® Web AppBuilder Extension

In February 2017, two sisters discovered, to their shock and horror, that the Michigan cemetery where they had buried their brother 15 years prior had lost him. No headstone, no records, nothing. They desperately tried to locate him, but their attempts have been fruitless. Heartbroken and dismayed, they are still dealing with the aftershock and harsh reality that their brother was somehow misplaced.

How does this happen? How does a cemetery lose vital information and misplace someone?

Arguably, the biggest challenge for a cemetery is data management. Hard copy maps get lost, destroyed, or simply crumble over time. Records can be misplaced, and eventually the people who knew who was buried where also die.

Fortunately, geospatial data can change all of that.

Broomfield, Colorado constructed a brand-new section of cemetery, and its interment staff is among the first to be equipped with an interactive tool to manage their data more efficiently with ArcGIS mapping at its foundation.

Argis Solutions developed a customized ArcGIS Web AppBuilder widget that builds upon the current process for buying cemetery plots. It's a workflow app: First, a customer is shown which plots are available, indicated by a particular color. Next, when a plot is chosen, the app changes the plot's color and creates a PDF report detailing the legal agreement the customer will adhere to. Once the newly signed document has been scanned back into the system by the cemetery administration—and payment is received—the app automatically updates the plot with a new color to reflect its purchased status.

The widget allows the interment staff to perform surname searches, and family information will be geographically linked to real cemetery plots. All past records will be loaded into the map and made searchable as well, making this technology a powerful tool for tracking valuable information. This technology will empower the cemetery staff to quickly and efficiently find records, and their corresponding locations, allowing staff members to confidently provide the best service possible for those looking for plots.

While most cemeteries are accustomed to paper record keeping or static maps, having a searchable, dynamic, color-coded map capable of creating PDF reports and keeping track of the purchasing process will undoubtedly save time and frustration for all parties involved. This ArcGIS extension embraces the workflow process for cemetery administration with a real-time approach that is both practical and helpful.

If you are interested in exploring how Argis Solutions can help meet your organization's real-world needs, schedule a discovery call. We want to hear from you!