GIS-Centric Asset & Work Management Resources for Government and Utilities
Posts tagged Work Management Software
Integrating GIS with Permits, Licenses, and Code Enforcement for Small and Medium Sized Utilities
Aug 18th
Raise your hand if:
- You’re reading this post and you work for a municipality or utility serving a population of less than 40,000.
- You use more than one application to manage your work orders, permits, licenses, and inspections.
- You’d like to be able to manage all of the above information in a GIS-based environment.
(way to go if you actually raised your hand)
Most people know about the GIS-based work management capabilities found in Elements (service requests, work orders, etc.). However, a lot of small to medium-sized municipalities and utilities are using Elements to manage much more than just service requests and work orders so I thought I’d post a few examples here.
Building Department
The dynamic data management tools in Elements give users the ability to efficiently manage Building Permits, Inspections, Certificates of Occupancy and other construction-related items. Basic features include:
- Customers and contractors can submit permit applications online
- Notify customers and contractors of status changes and application progress via email or text message in real-time
- Monitor interdepartmental approval statuses of each permit application
- Manage fees, building valuations, and footage assessments associated with permits and applications
- Create configurable inspections based on Permit Application types
- Generate permanent and temporary Certificates of Occupancy
- Monitor expiration and activity dates for certificates and inspections
- Manage contractors, certification levels, identification numbers, and other contractor related data
Code Enforcement
Elements offers the necessary tools to manage and enforce municipal code. Users can manage nuisance calls, code violations, case files, and other code-related items including the ability to:
- Monitor status updates for individual case files
- Set follow up dates for code violations
- Visualize code violation locations on GIS maps
- Schedule field inspections and reviews
- Manage fees associated with violations and permits
- Allow customers to submit complaints and violation reports via the web
Licenses, Permits & Other Applications
Manage Business Licenses, Conditional Use Permits, and other applications specific to the unique needs of you organization with Elements. Typical examples of licenses and permits managed within Elements include:
- Business Licenses
- Inspections
- Certificates of Occupancy
- Solicitor Licenses
- Home Occupation Permit
- Alcohol Beverage Control
- Animal Licenses
- Firearms
- Restaurant Licenses
- Fireworks
- Tobacco
- Watercraft
- Sign Permits
If you’d like to see how Elements can help manage permits, licenses, inspections, and code enforcement in a GIS-based environment you can request a live demo here.
Using ESRI for GIS-Based Asset and Work Order Management Software in Government and Utilities
Aug 11th
Recently I did a quick search on ESRI’s website for “work order software” and was surprised by the result: a couple of outdated articles from 2006 about Grand Prarie Texas and the City of Philadelphia.
Search Results for "Work Order Software" on ESRI's Website
A search for “asset management software” returned more up-to-date results, but still not quite what I was looking for.
Search Results for "Asset Management Software" on ESRI's Website
If you’re looking to integrate your ESRI GIS data with asset and work order management here are some things to consider.
Full GIS Integration
Elements Management Software (www.novotx.com) provides a comprehensive set of GIS-based asset and work management tools in a single, standalone application giving utilities and municipalities the ability to:
- Manage work orders, permits, licenses, inspections and other important data in a GIS-based environment using GIS data from any industry standard application including ESRI, MapInfo, Manifold, Autodesk, and more
- Maintain assets and critical infrastructure in a GIS-based environment without requiring third-party GIS licenses
- Tie work history and asset management data to any GIS asset
- Associate asset and work management data to non-customer related assets and accounts
- Take advantage of GIS-based asset and work management without incurring additional GIS expenses
- Visualize work history and asset locations on GIS maps
- Visualize geographic areas containing high concentrations of work orders and other data
- Effectively distribute capital improvement funds by quickly finding problem areas and assets with high failure rates
- Maximize existing GIS investments
- Use GIS data from any source or application to manage assets and infrastructure in a visual, geographical environment
- Powerful GIS Tools In a Standalone Application
Asset, Work Order Management, and GIS Data in a Single Application
Maintaining all of your data in a single, standalone application enhances the overall user experience and reduces implementation time.
- Reduce costs and minimize the learning curve
- All information, including GIS data, is accessible in a single application
- Full GIS integration is provided without requiring third-party GIS licenses
- Reduced learning curve; third-party GIS applications are eliminated
- Reduced maintenance and overhead for support staff
- Quicker overall implementation
Industry Standard Compatibility
Elements Management Software also allows municipalities and utilities to maximize their GIS investment, regardless of which GIS technologies are currently being used by the organization.
- Full GIS support for any industry standard GIS application including ESRI, MapInfo, Manifold, Autodesk, and others
- Organizations with little or no GIS can use Elements to take advantage of GIS-based asset and work management by obtaining GIS data from resources such as counties, state, and local governments then using that data with Elements
- GIS data from varying sources and multiple applications can be used together to manage assets and infrastructure
Elements Management Software integrates with ESRI and other GIS applications to provide GIS-based asset and work management tools for utilities and government. To learn more about Elements and related products offered by novotX visist www.novotx.com .
GIS-Based Asset and Work Management Software with Full GIS Integration and Industry Standard Compatibility
Jul 20th
If you’re looking to integrate your GIS with an asset management package there are several options to consider. Elements Management Software offers the following features in a single, standalone application.
Full GIS Integration
Elements provides a comprehensive set of GIS-based asset and work management tools in a single, standalone application giving utilities and municipalities the ability to:
- Manage work orders, permits, licenses, inspections and other important data in a GIS-based environment using GIS data from any industry standard application including ESRI, MapInfo, Manifold, Autodesk, and others
- Maintain assets and critical infrastructure in a GIS-based environment without requiring third-party GIS licenses
- Tie work history and asset management data to any GIS asset
- Associate asset and work management data to non-customer related assets and accounts
- Take advantage of GIS-based asset and work management without incurring additional GIS expenses
- Visualize work history and asset locations on GIS maps
- Visualize geographic areas containing high concentrations of work orders and other data
- Effectively distribute capital improvement funds by quickly finding problem areas and assets with high failure rates
- Maximize existing GIS investments
- Use GIS data from any source or application to manage assets and infrastructure in a visual, geographical environment
- Powerful GIS Tools In a Standalone Application
Elements provides asset, work management, and GIS data in a single application – reducing costs and minimizing the learning curve.
- All information, including GIS data, is accessible in a single application
- Full GIS integration is provided without requiring third-party GIS licenses
- Reduced learning curve; third-party GIS applications are eliminated
- Reduced maintenance and overhead for support staff
- Quicker overall implementation
Industry Standard Compatibility
Elements allows municipalities and utilities to maximize their GIS investment, regardless of which GIS technologies are currently being used by the organization.
- Full GIS support for any industry standard GIS application including ESRI, MapInfo, Manifold, Autodesk, and others
- Organizations with little or no GIS can use Elements to take advantage of GIS-based asset and work management by obtaining GIS data from resources such as counties, state, and local governments then using that data with Elements
- GIS data from varying sources and multiple applications can be used together to manage assets and infrastructure
Elements Management Software integrates with ESRI and other GIS applications to provide GIS-based asset and work management tools for utilities and government. To learn more about Elements and related products offered by novotX visit www.novotx.com.
GIS, Asset & Work Management Software, and the Nintendo Wii
Jun 16th
Pop Quiz: How many Wii consoles have been sold compared to PS3s and Xbox 360s? (And what does that have to do with GIS & asset management?)
Simple, affordable, and easy to understand, the Nintendo Wii has outsold both the Xbox 360 and PS3.
Feature for feature both the Xbox 360 and PS3 blow the Wii out of the water. Far better graphics, faster processors, more storage, you name it. The Wii doesn’t compare. However, the Wii has proven a couple of things:
- People like simple stuff.
- People like stuff they can afford.
To illustrate the point: Remember back in the fall of 2006 when the only way to get a Wii was to pay two times the retail price? Remember how you had to buy it from some punk kid who was making a killing that year selling Wiis? …so you gladly let him rip you off while you gritted your teeth and paid like $500 for the stupid thing so your kid could have a one for Christmas? Remember one year later at Christmas time when Wii’s were still hard to find?
Nintendo could not manufacture the things fast enough.
Well, they’ve done it again. This time it’s a 3D video game console (handheld) that works without 3D glasses.
So what does this have to do with GIS and asset management software? More than you might think.
You see, you’ve got Microsoft (Xbox 360), Sony (PS3), and Nintendo (Wii) all playing in the same space here. Microsoft and Sony have been focusing their efforts on making super-powered-all-in-one entertainment hubs while Nintendo has been doing nothing of the sort. Nintendo’s strategy? Stick to what they do best – video games.
And their strategy seems to be working.
Nintendo has sold at least 70.9 million Wiis – compared to only 35.7 million PS3s and 40 million Xbox 360s (even though the 360 has been on the market for almost a full year longer than the Wii).
At novotX, we like Nintendo’s strategy. For those of you who’ve seen our GIS-based asset and work management software you know it’s much like the Wii – simple, affordable, and easy to understand.
For those interested in reading more Nintendo’s 3D device, here’s the source article:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hOgruq-9nbyzLje-SdR7w1KKI2hQD9GCELNG1
For anyone interested in checking out Elements, our GIS-based asset and work management software, you can contact us here:
http://www.novotx.com/Contact.aspx
Miss South Carolina on GIS & Work Management Software
Apr 23rd
Many times I’ve wondered why so many utilities and municipalities around the country aren’t taking full advantage of their GIS – then it hit me: maybe Miss South Carolina was right after all.
Funny thing about this video is she’s right (well sort of) – about having the maps at least. Oddly enough, in our experience implementing GIS-centric work management software around the country we’ve found that many ‘U.S. Americans’ actually do have maps (GIS) – they just don’t have access to the maps (because the GIS is only used in the engineering department) – and they certainly don’t have their work management software associated with their maps.
In order for any utility system or municipality to get the most out of their work order and asset management software, maps and GIS play a key role. The ability to visualize work and asset management data on GIS maps is changing the way governments and utilities operate – utilities and public works crews are getting more work done in less time, spending less money researching problems, and management is better allocating capital improvement funds.
GIS map showing locations of Service Requests.
In past years, GIS-based work management systems have been extremely complicated and difficult to figure out (almost as difficult to figure out as Miss South Carolina’s answer, in fact). However, GIS-centric work order and asset management software has come a long way in recent years – software development teams have made great strides with GIS integration and work management software has become much more user-friendly.
In summary, GIS-based work management software is much simpler than Miss South Carolina would lead you to believe. By giving maps to ‘U.S. Americans’ (via integrating GIS with their work management software), utilities and government are beginning to see improvements in their daily operations and improvements in their annual budgets.
…like such as South Africa and the Iraq – everywhere like such as… 
GIS & Work Management Software: 6 Quick Tips for Government & Utilities
Apr 21st
Utilities and government face a unique set of challenges when selecting work management software. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you go through the selection process:
1. Keep it map-based.
Governments and utilities can maximize their GIS investments and save big dollars by selecting work management software that integrates with the organizations mapping infrastructure. Several work management software applications allow integration from any industry-standard GIS technology including ESRI, MapInfo, Manifold, Autodesk, and others.
2. Keep it simple.
Avoid work management software that is complicated to understand or that involves an extensive learning curve. Remember – even though you may understand the technology, many people who will ultimately be using the system may not be so tech savvy. It may not be a bad idea to have a few of the end-users sit in on a demo or two and see if they think the software is easy enough to understand.
3. Keep it accessible.
Whichever application you select, make sure you can access your data while on the go. Real-time access (via the web) to GIS and work management data is critical to field workers and remote operators. By taking advantage of the web and real-time field access, dispatchers and receptionists are also likely to smile a bit more because communication between field and office staff will improve – making their jobs much easier.
4. Keep it open.
Few things are worse than having lots of great data locked down in a proprietary database. It’s your data – make sure you can get it when you need it! It’s also a great idea to find something that’s built on an industry-standard open platform (such as the Microsoft .NET framework) so you can integrate with third-party applications if necessary. Governments and utility systems can greatly benefit by integrating their work management software with utility billing, financials, and other applications.
5. Keep it affordable.
Remember, you get what you pay for. We’re not looking for free here – we’re looking for a solid application that fits our needs and fits our budget. Enterprise work management software generally entails a bit of configuration to match the specific needs of your organization. Also, if you select a firm that knows what they’re doing you’ll likely receive some pretty good consulting and best-practice information along the way.
6. Keep it manageable.
If you don’t have a large IT department and a large staff, avoid work management software that requires those things. Remember, once the software has been implemented and your staff has been trained, you’ll have to support this thing. Work management software comes in all sorts of packages, so be sure to consider all of your technological options before you purchase (hosted solutions, software as a service (SaaS), on-site deployments, etc.).
Comments? Experiences selecting work management software that you’d like to share? Let us know!