A database for the entire community

With a population of about 5,000, the Styrian municipality of Bad Mitterndorf is one of the largest municipalities in the Salzkammergut region in terms of area. Using the rmDATA Info software solution as a central platform for infrastructure and municipal management, Rene Ziller, head of the Department of Drinking Water, Waste, and Sewer Systems, has not only fulfilled the legal requirement to maintain a digital utility network registry but has also expanded it into a central data hub for several municipal departments.

Replacement of the Previous System

Bad Mitterndorf was formed from the merger of several municipalities following the 2015 Styrian municipal structural reform. There, Rene Ziller leads a team of twelve, overseeing areas such as drinking water supply, wastewater, and recycling centers. Like every municipality, Bad Mitterndorf is legally required to maintain a digital utility network inventory.

They were not very satisfied with the previous solution: It was too extensive, too complex, and not very user-friendly; above all, the display of the utility lines left much to be desired. “It was almost impossible to tell the difference between a property line, a water line, or a sewer line—that always bothered me,” recalls Ziller. To make matters worse, the municipality was using several separate programs for different areas: one for the utility network cadastre, another for the building cadastre—street lighting and bridges had not yet been recorded anywhere.

Centralized Data Management

They were therefore looking for a program that would replace the existing utility cadastre system and go beyond merely fulfilling regulatory requirements. Ziller wanted a solution that would bring together as many internal municipal departments as possible—from buildings and properties to street lighting and bridges—and allow the respective municipal employees with the appropriate permissions to access it. “The decisive factor was that all data be available in a single program and that users could get a quick overview,” Ziller summarizes the requirement. Added to this was the desire for a clear, understandable representation of the utility lines, as well as for quick, straightforward information for residents.

In addition to the utility network cadastre for water and wastewater, the municipality now also manages buildings in rmDATA Info and, in the future, will manage bridges and street lighting as well—all on a single central platform. With the appropriate permissions, colleagues in citizen services and the building department will also be able to work with the data in the future; a broader training session for this was scheduled for late September. “Access to pipeline information or the ability to print out lighting plans is already working well, especially for the municipal maintenance yard manager,” said Ziller.

Cross-country ski trails integrated

To create the utility network cadastre, the municipality commissioned an engineering firm, which delivered the DLK in accordance with legal requirements. The integration of this data into rmDATA Info then took place as part of the system implementation, supported by rmDATA account manager Alexander Pieber. Expansions to the utility network resulting from new service connections will be collected and imported on an ongoing basis in the future as part of rmDATA’s annual support services.

Rene Ziller is particularly concerned with the region’s cross-country skiing trails: With 180 kilometers of cross-country trails—“not every municipality has that”—Bad Mitterndorf also plans to map all trail lease agreements and sections in the system in the future, supplemented by a planned snowmaking system for parts of the trail. The region hopes this will help it reposition itself more strongly as a tourist destination with guaranteed snow for cross-country skiing. In the future, mountain bike and cycling routes within the municipal area could also be added as separate data sets.

For inquiries from residents—such as those regarding a property purchase or construction project—rmDATA Info saves the municipality an enormous amount of time. “I used to have to find a map, copy it, scan it, and send it out. Now, with just a few mouse clicks, I have it right there—with the municipal header and everything that goes with it,” Ziller explains, describing his daily work routine. This quick access also pays off in the field: In the event of a water main break, public works employees can immediately check on their cell phones to see where the pipes are located.

Bad Mitterndorf is a market town with just under 5,000 residents in the Styrian Salzkammergut region of Austria. Bad Mitterndorf is best known as a tourist and winter sports destination nestled amid the mountains of the Salzkammergut. The town attracts international attention thanks to the Kulm, one of the world’s largest ski flying hills. The regularly held Ski Flying World Cup competitions attract tens of thousands of visitors from Austria and abroad to the region. In addition to winter tourism, the Tauplitzalm, numerous hiking and recreational opportunities, and the region’s long-standing tradition as a health and wellness destination shape the character of the town.