Every Project Has A Story.
These Are A Few Of Ours.
For nearly forty years, CALCAD has helped California's Special Districts and municipalities solve problems that mattered.
Some projects saved money. Some rescued stalled implementations. Some modernized aging systems. One even helped save a life.
These are more than GIS projects. They're stories about helping the people who keep California running.
Two Weeks.
Twenty Thousand Dollars.
One Last Chance.
The City had already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in a traffic safety project. The goal was ambitious: combine California Highway Patrol SWITRS accident data with GIS to identify traffic accident hot spots and improve public safety.
Unfortunately, two previous attempts had failed. Time was running out. Only about $20,000 remained. The project had to be completed within two weeks or the City risked losing the grant funding.
CALCAD accepted the challenge. Our team analyzed the problem, developed a new approach, and completed the project with days to spare.
The City kept its funding. The project moved forward. And another “impossible” project became reality.
“When success depends on solving the difficult problems, CALCAD is ready.”
The GIS That Helped Save A Life.
Some projects become more than technology.
During testing of an advanced E-911 mapping system, emergency dispatchers received a call from a young woman threatening suicide. She refused to reveal her location.
Using live wireless location information displayed through the GIS, emergency responders were able to locate her before it was too late.
The technology worked exactly as designed.
More importantly… someone went home alive.
That project remains one of the moments we're proudest of—not because of the software, but because of what it made possible.
Technology only matters when it helps people.
From Google Earth To Enterprise GIS.
Like many smaller agencies, Golden Hills had built years of valuable information using Google Earth. The data was excellent. The technology had simply reached its limits.
Rather than recommending an expensive multi-year implementation, CALCAD built an operational prototype within a week. District staff immediately saw what was possible.
After refining workflows together, the completed enterprise GIS was delivered approximately two weeks after receiving the final data.
The result? A practical GIS the District could begin using almost immediately.
Enterprise capability doesn't have to require enterprise complexity.
Sometimes Saving Money Means Asking “Why?”
A Fire Chief requested sub-centimeter GPS accuracy for every fire hydrant in the city. Many vendors would have gladly sold exactly what was requested.
Instead, CALCAD asked a simple question.
“Why?”
After discussing how the information would actually be used, it became clear that sub-meter accuracy would fully meet the department's operational needs. The result was a substantial reduction in data collection costs—without sacrificing usefulness.
The right answer isn't always the most expensive one.
Honest advice saves taxpayer dollars.
When The GIS Champion Leaves.
This is a story many agencies know all too well.
A district invests in GIS software, implementation, and staff training. Over time, one employee becomes the in-house expert, accumulating valuable knowledge about the system, data, and daily workflows.
Then that employee retires or accepts another position. Suddenly, years of experience and institutional knowledge are gone, leaving the district to decide whether to start the hiring and training process all over again.
CALCAD has helped numerous agencies avoid—or recover from—this situation. We quickly understand existing GIS data, document workflows, simplify operations, and provide the ongoing expertise that many agencies struggle to maintain internally. Rather than relying on a single employee, your district gains an experienced GIS partner who becomes an extension of your staff.
Experience You Can Count On. Continuity You Can Trust.
Built Around Relationships.
Some of our clients have worked with CALCAD for decades. Not because contracts require it. Because trust is earned.
Our projects don't end at implementation. Questions arise. Priorities change. Infrastructure grows. Technology evolves.
We're still here.
Nearly Four Decades. One Mission.
- 1987Company founded
- First utility GIS
- First web GIS
- Statewide election mapping
- Energy crisis mapping
- DashGIS™ developed
- Integrated utility solutions
- TodayHelping agencies throughout California
What Our Clients Say
“DashGIS™ and the Maintenance Management extension that CALCAD had implemented just prior to the pandemic lockdown made it possible to keep up with our Sanitary Sewer Management Plan and maintain regulatory compliance with ease!”
Collections Superintendent
Ironhouse Sanitary District
“We have trusted our GIS to CALCAD for twenty years.”
Sierra County Assessor
“We appreciate our relationship that we have with your team. CALCAD's enthusiasm motivates us to take our GIS to another level and all the different possibilities to achieve our goals and beyond.”
Field Operations Superintendent
Vallejo Flood & Wastewater District
Every story on this page is different. Different agency. Different challenge. Different technology. Different timeline.
But they all have something in common.
- Someone needed a trusted partner.
- Someone needed honest advice.
- Someone needed dependable results.
That's why CALCAD exists.
We Would Love To Help Write Your Success Story.
Whether you're replacing an aging GIS, beginning your first implementation, or trying to rescue a stalled project, we'd welcome the opportunity to learn about your agency.
Let's talk.