By Si Yeon Kim · May 2025

In a region like Metro Vancouver, where urban development pressures often lead to the demolition of single-family homes, sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It is a pressing challenge that requires innovative solutions. As part of our BCIT GIS practicum project, my team partnered with Renewal Development, a company dedicated to relocating and repurposing homes rather than tearing them down. Our mission was to develop a mobile GIS application that empowers field teams to make timely, informed decisions in support of sustainable urban planning.

Relocating Homes using Barge
Renewal Development

The Problem: Thousands of Homes, Limited Insight

Each year, over a thousand single-family homes in Metro Vancouver are demolished. Many of these homes could potentially be relocated and reused. The issue stems from a lack of visibility. Without efficient tools to identify, evaluate, and plan routes to these properties, even well-intentioned organizations like Renewal Development face significant challenges in acting swiftly and effectively.

To address this, we set out to design a mobile GIS application that simplifies data access, integrates routing capabilities, and equips field staff with interactive spatial tools, all through an intuitive and accessible interface.

The Tools Behind the Transformation

Our project combined modern software development practices with advanced GIS technologies to deliver an integrated solution. We used ArcGIS Pro for processing spatial data, cleaning road attributes, and setting up the foundation for network analysis. ArcGIS Online served as the central platform for managing and sharing GIS datasets, including roads, homes, and reference layers.

To convert and refine OpenStreetMap and BC government road data, we used FME Workbench. The core development of the application took place in Visual Studio Community 2022 using .NET MAUI, which enabled us to build a cross-platform mobile app. We integrated the ArcGIS Maps SDK for .NET to display and interact with spatial data inside the app. For field data collection and CRM integration, we used ArcGIS Survey123.

This technology stack allowed us to connect geospatial data with real-world application in a seamless and scalable way.

Downloaded .NET MAUI Extension
Visual Studio Community 2022 was used, which was free to download
Used ArcGIS Maps SDKs to display the maps in the Android

Data Engineering Meets Design Thinking

The project began with extensive data engineering. We gathered and processed road network data from GeoFabrik and the BC Digital Road Atlas. These datasets were spatially joined in ArcGIS Pro to combine attributes such as road names, speed limits, and directionality. We applied SQL-based filters to remove irrelevant road types and ensured spatial consistency through projection to a common coordinate system.

My role focused on designing an intuitive user experience within Visual Studio using .NET MAUI. I developed interactive tools including buffer creation around user-defined points or the current location, feature selection, the ability to copy and paste selected road segments, and zoom and layer toggles for navigation.

These tools were designed not only for functionality but also for usability, particularly considering that many end users, including the CEO of Renewal Development, might not have a technical GIS background.

Enabling Route Intelligence in the Field

One of the most impactful features we implemented was a routing function using ArcGIS’s Routing API. Field workers can select homes on the map or use buffer zones to identify areas of interest. Based on these inputs, the application calculates optimized travel routes. This allows users to plan their site visits more efficiently, which is critical when assessing hundreds of homes across Metro Vancouver.

Routing Page

From Prototype to Purpose

Through 40 days of development, testing, and troubleshooting, we delivered a fully functional prototype. The application supports the visualization of multiple spatial layers, allows users to interact with road and home features, and provides the ability to collect and submit structured field data.

More than a technical exercise, this project demonstrated the tangible impact that GIS and mobile development can have on sustainability. By empowering Renewal Development with better tools, we are contributing to the broader goal of reducing unnecessary demolition and emissions.

Map Page
Map Page

What I Learned

This project provided invaluable experience in full-stack GIS development, including:

Most importantly, I witnessed how technology can support sustainable development in a direct and meaningful way.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank our faculty advisor, Josh MacDougall, for his guidance throughout the project. I am also grateful to our sponsor supervisors Keanu Ono and Justin from Renewal Development for their vision, support, and invaluable feedback. Special thanks to my teammates Dean Marques and Frederic Guilbault for their collaboration and dedication.

Final Thoughts

GIS is evolving from a desktop-bound discipline into a dynamic, mobile-first solution that responds to real-world needs. Our work with Renewal Development illustrates how thoughtfully designed GIS applications can support sustainability, enhance decision-making, and create more resilient communities.

If you are interested in GIS, sustainable housing, or mobile application development, I would love to connect and exchange ideas.

#GIS #MobileAppDevelopment #Sustainability #SmartCities #Esri #ArcGIS #BCIT #FME #.NETMAUI #UrbanPlanning #StudentPracticumProject #BCITGIS #ArcGISPro #ArcGISMapsSDKs #VisualStudioCommunity