Project Profile

Forestry Management Requirements Definition and Application Prototype

Client:
State of Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources

Location:
Statewide, Wisconsin

Timmons Group was tasked to perform the initial due-diligence and requirements definition for the Wisconsin Forest Inventory & Reporting System (WisFIRS) Phase II.  Additionally, Timmons Group developed a prototype GIS application that integrated with WisFIRS Phase I. WisFIRS is a web-based set of tools for collecting, mapping, planning and managing forest information, or reconnaissance, at a stand level. These tools allow forest managers to plan and schedule forest treatments including site preparation, thinning and harvests, insect and disease treatments, and tree planting. Phase II defined the Integration of GIS visualization and analysis tools to the existing WisFIRS Phase I business data tables leveraging ESRI ArcGIS Server. The prototype application focused on mapping and editing the spatial and corresponding business attribute data of forest parcels that had been ‘treated’ with a prescribed therapy (e.g., insecticide spraying). The prototype application successfully demonstrated the potential benefits and ranges of use for ArcGIS Server applications within WisFIRS.

Deliverables

• Database-driven content
  
• SDE-stored data
  
• Scalable Architecture
  
• SAN Storage
  
• VML-based selection tools
  
• Server-side views of forest parcel data

Technologies

• ASP.net 2.0
  
• C#
  
• IIS
  
• ArcGIS Server
  
• ArcSDE
  
• ArcIMS
  
• VML
  
• DHTML
  
• Oracle 10g

Project Profile

Integrated Forest Resource Information System (IFRIS)

Client:
Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF)

Location:
Statewide, Virginia

IFRIS includes application modules that support enterprise computing functions, including the following:  federal reporting requirements compliance, time and accomplishment reporting, forest stewardship plan management, forest lands (tracts and parcels) management, automated fiscal and strategic goal reporting and field data collection.  IFRIS facilitated the elimination of many existing paper forms; cumbersome workflows consolidated data capture and maintenance.  Employee time and accomplishment (i.e., forestry practices) reporting are linked interactively to spatial features, including managed tracts and parcels facilitating advanced spatial decision support functions.  Advanced web-based mapping functions allow for the creation and manipulation of a variety of spatial features including forest stands, tracts and parcels / stands.

As part of the initial consulting services, Timmons Group assisted VDOF in the development of a supporting needs assessment and information architecture solution.  The needs assessment and initial due-diligence was accomplished through user interviews, information collection, legacy application and data review.  User interviews included a diverse set of users ranging from technical staff to foresters and field professionals.  The developed solution includes the use of ESRI’s ArcGIS Server©, ArcIMS© and ArcSDE© to meet spatial data management, reporting and analysis.  The architecture is extensible and offers geospatial web services as part of a service oriented architecture (SOA) model.

• IFRIS won the ESRI Special Achievement in GIS Award 2006 (IFRIS)
• IFRIS was selected by the American Council of Technology as an Intergovernmental Solutions Award Finalist in 2007
  
• IFRIS was selected, in October 2007, for the Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.  
  
• IFRIS was selected as one of only two applications in the world to be demonstrated at the ESRI International User Conference in August 2007 in San Diego California.
  
• IFRIS was published in ArcNews http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall06articles/virginia-dof.html in the fall of 06.
  

Project Profile

ArcGIS Server Mobile Application

Client:
Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF)

Location:
Statewide, Virginia

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) manages more than 15 million acres of forest in the commonwealth of Virginia. To protect and sustain forestland, the department collects data on and performs mapping of Virginia’s state forests. With an operational budget of $26 million, VDOF employs 272 salaried staff.

VDOF needed to establish an enterprise GIS to improve operations and take advantage of current technology. To do this they chose Timmons Group, a civil engineering company with a large technology and geospatial services practice, to build and implement a geospatially enabled enterprise information system called the Integrated Forest Resource Information System (IFRIS). The first phase of the implementation was deployed in 2006 and consisted of an enterprise Web portal based on ArcGIS® Server. IFRIS allows users to spatially and temporally track activities and quantify time spent in terms of strategic goals, grant allocation, and cost sharing. For the second phase, VDOF needed to extend its investment in an enterprise geographic information system (GIS) to the field and allow remote field-workers to access business and geographic functions needed for daily routines.

Specifically, Timmons Group needed to design an enterprise GIS application that allowed employees to track time and accomplishments out in the field and map forest-related activities such as forest stand observations, water quality harvest inspections, wildfire incidents, and woodland home communities. The key objectives were to reduce the time and expense of traditional field-worker activities as well as accurately and consistently capture field data for input into the enterprise GIS.

The Solution

Timmons Group designed a mobile solution for VDOF that integrates GPS functionality, allowing staff to use ESRI’s ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Mobile software. All field-workers are equipped with Trimble® GeoXM™ devices running ArcGIS Mobile, SQL Server® Compact, and .NET Compact Framework 2.0. Field employees use the GeoXM device to collect feature data by cataloging attributes, such as pest infestations, on an inventory form along with GPS coordinates. GIS Web services push the GPS data and associated attributes from the mobile device to IFRIS Web. Mobile workers can now easily log every phase of the inspection process in the field while also recording time sheet information and monitoring observations and inspections that they recently completed. Uploaded field data and features can be immediately viewed via IFRIS Web, and a recently synced field data dashboard Web service allows the user to quickly zoom to data collected in the field.

ArcGIS Mobile technology makes it faster and easier for field staff to capture data and describe the location and nature of critical forestry data. ArcGIS Mobile provides the ability to integrate mapping and GPS into a form-based data collection application. Mobile map services hosted by ArcGIS Server allow the upload process to be seamless and transparent to the forester or field-worker.

The Results

Workers are now able to monitor their recent work activity and fill out appropriate time sheets without having to return to the office. The system also reduced paperwork, eliminating 13 paper forms. Regional managers are now able to monitor the details of department projects and make rapid adjustments that target service resources to high-priority areas. The system also leverages Virginia’s geospatial enterprise platform, giving workers quick access to statewide basemap data, such as high-resolution digital orthophotography, and other geospatial services.

It is expected that within three years of implementation, VDOF’s mobile solution will yield a return on investment of 52 percent.

 

 

Project Profile

ArcGIS Server Development - EMAPS IV

Client:
South Florida Water Management District

Location:
South Florida Water Management District, Florida

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) contracted with Timmons Group to enhance their existing Environmental Monitoring Analysis and Planning System (EMAPS) application.

Timmons Group is developing the EMAPS application as a web-based mapping and analysis tool leveraging ESRI’s ArcGIS Server WebADF 9.3 technologies.  The EMAPS application will be a quick, user-friendly, tool which provides SFWMD staff access to monitoring station location and attribution information as well as a host of other GIS base data needed for planning activities.  Timmons Group is also assisting the District in the development of ArcGIS Server Image Caches to optimize the performance of EMAPS and GIS System Architecture Design activities.

As part of the EMAPS IV project, Timmons Group is performing the following tasks:

• Functional Requirements Workshops
  
• System Architecture Review
  
• Application Development
  
• Map Cache Development
  
• Application Deployment and Testing
  
• Application Documentation
  
• Application Training
  
• Program Management
  

Project Profile

CADD to Geodatabase Migration and Enterprise GIS Implementation

Client:
Bedford County, Virginia

Location:
Bedford County, Virginia

As part of the FY 2007/2008 Virginia Wireless Services Board (WSB) grant program, Bedford County and the Bedford Communications Center, which jointly services Bedford City and County, undertook a comprehensive effort to move the County’s Geospatial program to a true Enterprise GIS environment. Undertaking a number of concurrent tasks, the County’s GIS office developed the necessary ESRI-based Land Records and E-911 Addressing and Emergency services Geodatabase models to support a variety of ongoing initiative, specifically modernization of the County’s legacy AutoCAD-based GIS.

In conjunction with Timmons Group, the County’s implementation partner, the County performed a complete CAD-to Geodatabase migration of cadastral and addressing databases, adapting the State’s Virginia Base Mapping Program (VBMP) Road Centerline (RCL) data model. The migration and subsequent deployment of COTS data maintenance tools and ArcGIS Server based Web technologies have enabled to County’s GIS office to significantly reduce the time it takes to supply changes to the County’s current and future Computer Aided Dispatch applications.

The County has also contracted Timmons Group to implement and host Web LoGIStics, Timmons Group’s internet mapping technology designed for local governments. 

Services Provided

• System Migration planning and coordination
  
• ArcGIS data model design
  
• CADD to GIS data migration
  
• Migration to the statewide VBMP Road network
  
• CAMA / GIS Integration
  
• Internet Mapping Application design, development, and hosting
  
• Parcel  and Road LoGIStics Parcel Maintenance Software implementation and training

 

Project Profile

Enterprise Asset/Work Order Management System

Client:
City of Richmond, Virginia Department of Public Works

Location:
Richmond, Virginia

Timmons Group is currently implementing a GIS-based Enterprise Asset/Work Order Management System for the City of Richmond, Virginia Department of Public Works (DPW).  The DPW has undertaken this project to integrate a variety of disparate legacy applications as well as improve its daily operating efficiencies and increase its level of service to customers.  This project will also establish a comprehensive inventory of all public works assets and will achieve American Public Works Association (APWA) accreditation for public works best management practices.

Scope of Services

Requirements Analysis & System Design

Conduct a series of implementation planning workshops for the purpose of defining critical success factors, work processes, data needs, work order/service order protocols, reporting requirements, etc.

Existing Data Analysis

Review and analyze each of the existing data sets that will need to be integrated with the new asset/work order management system including pavement distress data, stormwater system condition assessments and various other paper work order and permit documents.

Database Design

Develop the customized UNITRANS and Cityworks (CMMS) database design required to support linear referencing and asset/work order management activities within the City’s existing ArcGIS geodatabase.

Legacy Application Discovery & Interface Design & Implementation

Perform a detailed review of the multiple legacy applications (Permitting, Payroll, Finance, Central Address Database, CMRS, etc.) that the planned asset management system will be expected to either replace or interface with as part of the overall enterprise implementation.  

The results of this effort will yield a Functional Requirements Document (FRD) capable of supporting the development of the required application interfaces (customized programming).

Base Implementation

Install, configure, tune, test, load, etc. the base asset/work order management software packages (Cityworks) throughout the department.

Asset Capture

Deploy state-of-the-art van-based image capture and terrestrial photogrammetry techniques to locate all of DPW’s above ground assets visible within the public right-of-way of an approximately 1,000 road network.  

A variety of point and linear assets will be captured on digital images, extracted to sub-meter accuracy, integrated with the existing base GIS data sets and loaded into the GIS and asset management software applications.

Point Features:

• Bridges
• Crosswalks
  
• Drainage structures
  
• Traffic signs
  
• Pavement markings
  
• Utility poles
  
• Parking meters
  
• Speed humps
  
• Railroad crossings
  
• Fire hydrants
  
• Manholes
  
• Valves
  
• Street trees

Linear Features: 

• Surface type (pavement management)
  
• Median type
  
• Traffic direction  
  
• Speed limit zones
  
• School zones   
  
• Shoulders   
  
• Curbs   
  
• Ditches   
  
• Guardrails   
  
• Sidewalks   
  
• Pavement striping
  
  

 

Project Profile

Artesian Water Company GIS Implementation

Client:
Artesian Water Company

Location:
Newark, Delaware

Artesian Water Company (AWC), the utility subsidiary of Artesian Resources (NSDQ:ARTNA.O), is the oldest and largest public water utility in the state of Delaware.  In operation since 1905, AWC distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal, and utility customers throughout the state.

AWC contracted with Timmons Group in 2005 to design, develop, and implement an ESRI ArcGIS-based Enterprise Geographic Information System (GIS).  The scope of the implementation includes business process analysis and improvement of facility mapping and asset management related activities; water and sewer data model development and database design (SQL Server); water and sewer facility GIS data migration, conversion, and spatial adjustment (AutoCAD to ArcGIS); software installation, configuration, and end-user training; custom data maintenance and viewing application design, development and configuration; and hydraulic model integration, calibration and analysis.  Additionally, AWC has asked Timmons Group to facilitate the integration of the water and sewer GIS databases with the existing Peoplesoft ERP business application.  Finally, Timmons Group also assisted in the solicitation, evaluation, and selection of an EAM solution targeted to replace the company’s existing Hansen solution.

Prior to the GIS implementation, AWC was maintaining all of their as-built and facility mapping data within the AutoCAD desktop environment.  The Enterprise ArcGIS solution will result in the migration of all map maintenance functions to the ESRI GIS application suite, using web services as much as possible.

The Business Process Analysis and Improvement workshops conducted at the outset of this project established the foundation of the numerous inter-related system design and implementation tasks including data modeling, application development, water model development, and training.  Additionally, the newly established business processes and work flows, drove the selection of a new commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) EAM\CMMS package.  Through detailed review and analysis of several CMMS software applications, facilitated by Timmons Group, AWC selected Datastream 7i as their new EAMS.

Timmons Group Services:

• Business Process Analysis and Improvements
  
• Enterprise Asset Management System (EAMS) Review and Selection
  
• Data Model Development
  
• Planimetric Data Development
  
• Data Migration, Conversion, and Spatial Adjustment of AutoCAD Source Data
  
• Quality Control
  
• Custom Desktop Data Maintenance Application Development
  
• End User Training
  
• WaterGEMS-GIS Hydraulic Model Integration, Creation, Calibration, and Analysis
  
• Datastream 7i EAMS Implementation Management, Installation, and Configuration Services