HEEP NEWSLETTER
CURRENT
AND PROPOSED ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Network
Infrastructure - Local Area Networks – Ethernet; file and
print servers running Novell NetWare 5.1 with a plan to migrate to
Windows-based file and print services. Application and database
servers have been migrated to Windows 2003. Implemented VPN solution
for secure remote access to MDOT resources using CISCO VPN
Concentrator to facilitate teleworking. Changed routing protocol
from EIGRP to OSPF, Readdressed entire IP network. E-mail migrated to
a centralized Exchange 2003 System. Upgraded T-1 connections to ATM
using both public and private Fiber. Using Wireless Enterprise data
transmission in remote areas and also serving as secondary links.
Implemented a SANs architecture that accommodates storage needs of
both Novell and Microsoft environments. WAN infrastructure on ATM in
Balto/Washington Districts. Maintenance Shop connectivity upgraded
to T-1 or FRASI. Implementing a Disk-to-Disk-to-Tape (DDT) backup
architecture to facilitate business day backups/restores and improve
backup windows. Set up a VMWare server farm to consolidate servers
where possible and to utilize virtual machine technology. This is
currently running in a testing environment with a production
environment to be set up in late September 2007. Considering
site-to-site replication technologies for enhanced DR capabilities.
Office
Automation Microsoft Office XP
HEEP NEWSLETTER
Relational Database Management Systems
– The migration of Database
Servers to Oracle 10g release 3 with the majority of Application
Servers converted to Windows 2003 has been completed. Implementation
of Oracle DataGuard and Oracle RAC connecting with SANS technologies
has been completed successfully. Application development is conducted
through the use of PowerBuilder and .NET. PowerBuilder 10 migration
of applications developed in PowerBuilder 8 is beginning this summer.
Time
Entry System – This web based computerized Payroll Time
Entry System has been deployed.
PRISM
- A customized COTS web-based application that brings together
contractor profiles, contract detail information, MBE compliance
monitoring, and reporting systems. It facilitates contract
management by providing a way for prime and sub contractors to submit
periodic invoice payment records and reports to compliance officials.
This application is scheduled for implementation during fall of
2007.
Document
(Information) Management and Imaging System – A
computerized system for managing and retrieving documents and images
through resource sharing. This project has been expanded to also
include workflows and on-line forms. This development effort is
approaching the requirements analysis phase.
Integrated
Highway Maintenance Management System – A computerized
system to provide an integrated database application with the
capability to effectively and efficiently plan, control, monitor,
track and report SHA highway maintenance activities. This on-going
project will undergo a requirements analysis.
Transportation
Project Information Web Application – A Web
application developed in conjunction with our Web content management
system, (Interwoven’s Team Site), to display major project related
data and information for public outreach in a consistent and
informative format.
Maryland
Product Evaluation List (MPEL) - MPEL is an HTML-based web
application that automates the MDSHA product evaluation workflow.
MPEL allows vendors to submit product information and track the
progress of their applications while giving MDSHA personnel the
flexibility to screen the application, test the product, and
correspond with the vendor in a free form environment. This system
was deployed earlier this year. Over the last several months the
system was also expanded to include an integration with APEL. APEL is
a system used by the Federal Government to manage product
evaluations. Maryland will be the first state to use the integration
capabilities of MPEL and APEL. Currently SHA is testing the upload of
MPEL data to APEL. Eventually all states will be able to upload to
this central APEL system. This will allow for efficient management of
data across multiple states.
SIGNALS
Database System - Provides statewide signal, CMS, Shazam
sign, Automatic Traffic Recorder, and Roadway Weather Information
System information. This Information is used in the SHA HISD's. GIS
Information is used by OOTS teams for operational and construction
matters. This information is also used by regional planning
organizations
MOA
- The Memorandum of Action Application ( hereafter, MOA ) is an
application that will help senior management track historical
documentation of action items approved or carried out by the
Director’s Office and SHA entities
CoP
- Traffic Engineering Community of Practice web site provides a
useful knowledge management tool. It will be used for online
discussion forums and sharing of best practices, ADE-T meeting
minutes, FAQs, policies and guidelines, etc. It provides a one-stop
site for all traffic engineering related information.
Collision
Diagramming - Software design to create diagrams of crash
locations. The software will draw section as well as intersection
diagrams.
Rest
Area Information System (RAIS) - This database application is
used by the Office of Maintenance as a tool to define customer
satisfaction who visit our Rest Areas, and to provide information to
SHA's Business Plan GOAL 6: PROVIDE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS TO OUR
CUSTOMERS THAT MEET OR EXCEED THEIR EXPECTATIONS - Objective 6.5 SHA
Rest Area Rating Annually attain at least 80 percent rating of A or B
by customers regarding SHA-maintained rest areas.
CURRENT
SYSTEMS
CADD
–Intergraph and Bentley applications being used on about 350 high
end workstations running Windows 2000, primarily on DELL hardware.
Currently standardized on Microstation V8 and ProjectWise and Digital
Interplot. Software maintenance provided by Bentley Systems, Inc.
for most software.
Highway
Management Information Systems - The HMIS database is being upgraded
to Oracle 10g. We are also beginning to gather requirements for a
rewrite of the HMIS application in 2008.
Traffic
Monitoring System (TMS) – The TMS database has been upgraded to
Oracle 10g.. The TMS Intranet application is being rewritten in .NET.
Geographic
Information System (GIS) - GIS is in use statewide throughout the
State Highway Administration. It provides an enterprise GIS to over
four hundred users with access to sixty data layers, via the
DataViewer, an ArcView 3.2 application. Also deployed throughout SHA
is ESRI’s ArcGIS 9.1, with a migration and test plan in place to
migrate to ArcGIS 9.2. Preliminary discussions are under way to plan
the migration of the DataViewer application to the current ArcGIS 9.x
environment. We have completed the effort to develop a new GIS road
network (transportation base map), and now are in an annual
maintenance mode. We are nearly finished populating our
Transportation Spatial Database (TSD) with verified GIS base map
features, allowing us to bring our Mapping and GIS products closer
together by integrating, publishing, and distributing them through
Oracle and SDE.
Also
available through SHA’s intranet is the SHA Web Map Engine
(SHAWME), and ArcIMS web application that provides every SHA employee
the capability to select a discrete location, and return all of the
currently spatially enabled data that SHA has for that location.
Reports and maps provide a fast, quick “show me all of the data
that we have for this location”. Through the use of this online
data catalog, employees can quickly find all spatial data for a
specific location in Maryland
NEW
SYSTEMS – A
new Information Technology Project selection process was implemented
earlier this year. Several systems which are slated for preliminary
analysis are:
Highway
Asset Infrastructure Data Warehouse – A comprehensive
system to track SHA’s highway assets including roads, bridges,
signs, lights, and guardrails.
Vehicle
& Equipment Automated System- This is a re-design of
the current mainframe-based Equipment / Vehicles (E/V) System. It
will streamline the current processes associated with acquiring,
owning and managing SHA’s equipment and vehicle fleet.
Third
Party Agreements– This system allows for the tracking of
third party agreements and project billings and collections along
with entering and editing of 3rd Party Project data.
Consultant
Contract Tracking- The CTS system is an enterprise oracle
application that assists all design offices in tracking Architectural
and Engineering Contracts and reporting on expenditures of MBE monies
allocated in these Database Monitoring-
Materials
Management System- The Materials Management System (MMS) will
be an all electronic means of storing and sharing the data,
approvals, rejections, pay factors and reports that OMT develops. The
MMS will act as a central repository for all material testing and
approval information.
HR
Data Warehouse- This project focuses on designing a Human
Resources Repository that will be fed from the MDOT(Main) HR system,
and will allow secured enterprise access to HR data, and allow the
data entry of additional fields to be integrated with existing HR
data.
AHPS
Web Payments by Credit Card- This addition to the AHPS
application will enable external customers the ability to utilize
credit card payments and secure web service transactions for
processing permits.
AAH
- Adopt A Highway : A tracking and management SW system for
the Adopt a Highway program.
The
Adopt-A-Highway Program is a volunteer program that allows civic &
community organizations , schools and families to pick up litter
along non-interstate roadways, as a community service.
Adopt-A-Highway volunteers help preserve Maryland's natural and
physical resources and protect the environment.
PeerReview
- The Peer Review Measurement Program is a condition
assessment program that provides SHA with an accurate, reliable
evaluation of the condition of SHA's highways and roadsides, and the
level of service we are providing our customers. The Peer Review
Measurement Program relies on detailed field evaluations, performed
by teams of maintenance managers, engineers and technicians, of
approximately 2,000 one half mile segments of highways across
Maryland. Data on 29 individual maintenance elements is captured and
analyzed, and ultimately used to measure performance on key
components of SHA’s Business Plan. Peer Review Measurement Program
data is also used to develop part of the SHA maintenance budget, as
well as provide justification for additional funding for specific
maintenance elements in need of improvement.
RECORD OF
EXCHANGE
INFORMATION
WANTED
Experience
in designing, developing and utilizing Data Warehousing
Technologies.
Policies/Examples
of Governments picking up Professional Memberships.
Experience
in acquiring and implementing an Asset Management Information
System.