2004 ESRI International User Conference, Wednesday, August 11,2004 Broadband Mapping and Network Design Using Realtime GIS Author: Michael Dueweke Coauthor: Shengyao Duan Abstract A major goal for the State of Michigan is to sustain efforts needed to strengthen the state's economic base. While a number of strategic policy initiatives and programs have been enacted to meet this goal, none is more important than improving access to high-speed telecommunication services and assuring that comprehensive information is available from carriers and other service providers regarding the type, quality and location of services. This paper presents the development of a "Realtime" online mapping application deployed during the data collection phase of the LinkMichigan Regional Telecommunications Planning Program. The integrated software application designed utilized ArcSDE, ArcIMS and Java to provide telecommunication providers a means to map their facilities, service areas and proposed broadband networks, online in Realtime. The relevance of employing these technologies for creating Realtime, online mapping applications is limited only by one's imagination. Introduction One of the major goals of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is to sustain, on a long-term basis, efforts that are needed to strengthen our state's economic base. Improving access to high-speed telecommunication services is the most important state economic infrastructure issue for the new century; not roads, not sewers not water, but telecommunications infrastructure. Whether for business, government, healthcare, or educational purposes, higher speed "broadband" access is increasingly becoming a necessity - not a luxury. Michigan is a recognized leader in competing for new business growth and attracting and retaining a world-class workforce, but unless greater telecommunications access becomes available to all parts of the state, Michigan stands to lose its prominence. Recognizing the importance of telecommunications access to Michigan's business climate and quality of life, the Board of Directors of MEDC has established, as a key element of its 2001 operating plan, the development of the LinkMichigan Telecommunications Planning Program (LinkMichigan) to expedite an advanced telecommunications infrastructure to all parts of the state. Facilitating the development of the most advanced and robust telecommunications infrastructure in the country is the goal of the LinkMichigan initiative.

mdueweke@emich.edu