Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has undertaken a transformative journey by spatially digitising critical datasets across its operations. Leadership has played a crucial role in this transformation through investment decisions and Steering Board Governance. The GIS Operations Board ensures continued alignment with strategic objectives. In the absence of a dedicated GIS team, staff have demonstrated innovation and ownership by upskilling and embedding GIS technology, particularly ArcGIS, into their roles. Through this continuous improvement, staff have greater visibility of and access to information.
A key innovation has been the move from disparate datasets to integrated, interactive, spatial data. This shift gives leadership assurance that operational risks are being effectively managed. For example, spatial analysis of straddle tipping incidents revealed high-risk zones, enabling targeted interventions to reduce occurrences and improve safety outcomes – directly contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Web GIS applications of port assets – spanning from stormwater infrastructure to maritime navigation – have enhanced operational sustainability and compliance by improving visibility and data sharing across internal and external agencies, including contractors and regulatory bodies, supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Accurate, live asset information drives more efficient maintenance, reduces duplication of effort, and mitigates environmental and health and safety risks. The process has helped to identify gaps in our knowledge further improving sustainable and safe operations.
Several “operating pictures” developed in ArcGIS Experience Builder bring together diverse business units and datasets, transforming static information into dynamic, actionable insights. For example, the Maritime Operating Picture provides planners, pilots, engineers, and health and safety teams with a shared, real-time view of operations. This spatial digitisation initiative demonstrates how a coordinated and integrated approach to leveraging siloed data can enhance accuracy, safety, efficiency, and compliance.