Denver Botanic Gardens Jumpstarts its GIS Capabilities
Denver Botanic Gardens is positioned for a collaborative, cutting-edge future with ArcGIS® Online and ArcGIS® Pro.
Restrictions on funding are a fundamental challenge for non-profit organizations. How can a non-profit build a foundation for a technologically sustainable future without putting an oversized dent in its budget? At Denver Botanic Gardens, Director of Innovation and Technology Dan Domagala and Associate Director of Horticulture (Plant Records) Cindy Newlander were wrestling with this question as they saw the limitations that existed for their legacy group of GIS users isolated within information silos. Moving to an enterprise mindset would open the doors to a more collaborative, efficient present and a more expansive technological future. But would a transition like this be affordable?
An Affordable GIS Partnership
Denver Botanic Gardens partnered with Argis Solutions, Inc., a Colorado-based GIS consultancy, to explore this transition using Argis’ Jumpstart for ArcGIS® program. Jumpstart for ArcGIS offers accessible GIS for smaller organizations and communities with limited budgets. It includes a tailored implementation plan, an ArcGIS Online subscription as a SaaS cloud provider, updates under an annual subscription to ArcGIS Online, and knowledge transfer.
The process began with Argis Solutions meeting all Denver Botanic Gardens stakeholders. Argis assessed the system setup and training necessary to quickly launch the Jumpstart. The Gardens started with two diverse teams active in spatial data analysis: a research team and field staff at its Chatfield Farms location.
Training at the Gardens’ Chatfield Farms location
The Deployment Process
Argis helped deploy ArcGIS Online for most of the Gardens’ field users. Argis also helped the research team transition away from ArcMap™ to ArcGIS Pro in order to support the teams’ special project needs. Learning to function in a new software platform can feel daunting. Effective training is key for a smooth, productive launch. Argis conducted two formal training sessions, supplemented by several one-on-one sessions for key individuals.
After setting up the initial ArcGIS Online platform, Argis created workflows to match the needs identified in the project’s assessment stage. These workflows followed industry best practices and the security requirements of the Gardens’ IT department.
GIS Managed Services
With a successful Jumpstart behind them, the Gardens transitioned to Argis Solutions’ GIS Managed Services program. GIS users received additional training. Argis helped clean up configurations and add additional upgrades for ArcGIS Online. The GIS Managed Services program also includes smaller projects that cover GIS Managed Services time, for example, pulling in drone data for ArcGIS Online.
Argis’ GIS Managed Services program is a cost-effective way for the Gardens to keep its GIS systems running smoothly, with the peace of mind that Argis is standing by to address new challenges that arise as current technology evolves.
Widened Horizons
With these GIS upgrades, collaboration is turbo-charged. Denver Botanic Gardens is well-poised to address worldwide environmental research and conservation challenges. The Gardens’ research team is empowered to travel the world, securely documenting rare plants. Interns at Chatfield Farms are now able to easily collect data using ArcGIS® Field Maps. And Denver Botanic Gardens now has access to cutting-edge geospatial tools that widen its horizons for the future, a necessity for the second most-visited public garden in North America.