Note from the Editor
Welcome! Tari Muth here... introducing our new format for the quarterly newsletter. Hopefully you’ll find it fun to read and informative, and we can use it as a jumping-off point for discussion and dialog; we value your input and feedback!
Please let us know what YOU think, and feel free to suggest articles, give us feedback on YOUR favorite features of CMS, or volunteer for our User Spotlight section!
We have new topics to discuss, exciting announcements, staff introductions, and current events that affect us all! Let’s get started!
President Obama Plans To "Shake Things Up"!
For the first time in decades, government agencies will have an opportunity to dramatically improve our aging roads, bridges and other valuable assets while jumpstarting the economy. President Obama has made the largest investment in our infrastructure since the federal highway system was created in the 1950s. Unlike previous bail-outs, however, this economic stimulus plan will require transparency, full accountability, and results.
For the plan to work, we need to manage effectively and do the right things... at the right time. We need to use taxpayer dollars wisely to maximize long-term benefits. This takes planning, budgeting, and analysis of work costs and performance. To achieve this goal, we’ll need technology tools that help manage information and answer questions.
CMS is that tool! As you know, our software isn’t just Activity-based Asset Management; it uses the latest technologies to help our users capture data from many sources (such as the internet, hand-helds and laptops, and links into other systems like GIS, fleet maintenance, and automated fuel systems) into a comprehensive, integrated system.
It is anticipated that Public Works departments, Road departments, State D.O.T.s, and other government organizations will take this opportunity to not only hire people and buy equipment and material, but also investigate methods of identifying, inspecting, and maintaining assets, and tracking work, using a comprehensive, integrated program such as CMS!
Announcing... Version 8!
Version 8, our latest baby, was born in December of 2006, and has grown up thanks to input and feedback from one of our customers - Mississippi D.O.T. Well, hold on to your hats - after over two years of development, we are ready to send it out into the CitiTech world! Due for release in July 2009, it combines the usual greatness of CMS with some great new features and dynamite functionality!
Converting from Version 7 is simple and we’ll do all the work for you at no cost. You’ll see several new features, such as expanded GIS functionality, handhelds supporting both GPS and barcodes, numerous management reports and an exciting new way to locate assets and other things you’re working against.
In the next couple of months, we’ll be contacting you to arrange your conversion.
Back, By Popular Demand . . . CMS Users' Conference!
We are pleased to announce that our 2009 CMS Users' Conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza in Rapid City, South Dakota, sometime during the last two weeks of September; specific dates will be announced soon.
Version 8 will be released by then and it will be a great opportunity to see it in action. The conference will provide our user group a chance to share ideas and hear in-depth presentations from experienced peers and CMS staff on topics that focus on innovative uses of your asset management system.
Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza makes a great location for this year’s user’s conference. It has large conference rooms that are ideal, a restaurant with a very serene setting, a lounge, and is within walking distance to local sites in the downtown area. Visit their website at www.rushmoreplaza.com for more information. A block of sleeping rooms with discount rates will be set aside for CitiTech users!
Training will NOT be provided at the conference itself; if you want training, consider extending your stay for a day or more after the conference. For those who train at CitiTech Systems, a discount is available; you can save $500/day and get CMS training for $1,000/day! Please notify CitiTech in advance, in order to give the trainer time to prepare for your instruction.
Budget for it now, watch your mail for a reservation packet, and mark your calendar! We hope you can attend; our last users’ conference garnered rave reviews!
Webinars!
Did you know that CitiTech now offers "Webinars", one-hour blocks of instruction/demonstration on topics of your choice? Webinars are free of charge, except for long distance charges (you are provided a phone number to call to be in on the conference call).
Webinars use the internet to allow YOU, the user, to view the presenter’s screen while discussing topics, and by using the speakerphone capability on your phone, your whole group could be part of the conference call. "GoToMeeting", the software we use for webinars, even allows the presenter to hand controls over to you for "hands-on" experience!
Webinars are NOT intended to replace on-site, intensive training of the software for your organization; Webinars can augment your initial training, demonstrate new functionality or modules your organization is interested in purchasing, or as a "refresher" to what you learned in initial training.
Contact CitiTech to request a Webinar on the topic(s) of your choice, at a time that’s convenient for your personnel, and get free training on the topics YOU care about!
Guru's Corner - Featuring Christopher Holland (programmer)
You may have spoken to Christopher on the telephone; he has been with CitiTech Systems since October, 2007.
Originally from Minot, North Dakota, he now lives in Rapid City with his wife and two daughters, 11 and 3.
He currently has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and is working toward his Master’s degree in the same field.
In the past he worked for "E-Venture, Inc.", a company that does interactive websites.
When he joined CitiTech, he was tasked with initial creation of PDAs (the hand-held version of our software). He is currently in charge of finishing up the Contract Management module and working on a data collection form for MDOT (Mississippi Department of Transportation), and (in his spare time), he is writing the Import code for Version 8 of our software.
User Spotlight/Case Study
Las Animas County, Colorado Phil Dorenkamp, Road Manager for Las Animas County, regularly takes advantage of CMS’s capability for remote processing (working disconnected). He downloads data onto his laptop, takes it to the field, and works exactly like he is connected to CMS. Once back in the office, he links back up to CMS, and uploads his work into the CMS program... saving time and energy!
We caught up to Phil recently, and this is what he had to say: " Remote Processing gives me the flexibility to work in the field; I’m not tied to my PC!"
Phil uses his laptop in the field to create Work Orders on-the-spot, when he needs to. He also enters Work Reports in the field, and sometimes even at home. He knows he won’t have to do double-entry... his laptop syncs with the server at his command, uploads his work, and then updates the laptop, so he’s ready to go again!
Another example he gave of the advantages of having his laptop in his truck: if he’s in the field and an equipment item goes down, 90% of the time, the manufacturer or the parts vendor need information about the equipment, such as a serial number. Phil has that information at his fingertips! He simply fires up his laptop and looks it up!
Phil has been using Remote Processing since it became available (in CMS Version 6). He has definitely noticed an improved interface since the old days; although it worked well in Version 6, "it is even easier to use in Version 7", he said.
What Is Smart Client? And, Why Should I Care?
Smart client isn't a technology, and it isn't any specific architecture. It is a state-of-the-art technique that combines the best of both desktop applications and Web applications. Each has certain benefits and limitations.
A desktop application has the power of the network behind it. Desktop applications are usually client-server; where a central computer stores programs and data and "clients" link to the software and data by a physical wire connection or through wireless. Unfortunately, in client-server environments, if the connection fails, the software also fails.
A web application uses the Internet to access software and data. It doesn't require a direct connection to software or data. It can use the Internet as a network connection without having any software loaded on the individual computer. It has a "zero" footprint, because it relies on the Internet for 100% functionality. Unfortunately, in web-based environments, if the connection fails, the software fails.
See the common thread? If software isn't connected to data, it doesn't work. If the connection fails, the software fails.
Network connectivity is a BIG issue. Networks and the Internet can go down. Also, wireless and the Internet connections aren't always available. If the connection fails, the software fails. Smart Client eliminates connectivity connections. It is Microsoft's recommended client-server approach.
How is Smart Client different? Unlike desktop or web deployments, it shares resources between the client and the server. It stores data and software on the client, so if the network fails it has data available to continue functioning. It also reduces network traffic and improves performance. Desktop and web applications require a constant connection to the server to send and receive data. Smart Client caches data locally and only goes to the server when it needs new data or when locally stored data is sent to the server for permanent storage. This limits the number of times the client must communicate with the server. And, if the connection fails, the software can continue functioning with the data it has stored locally.
Smart Client deployments are particularly useful in highly mobile environments, such as public works and transportation departments. Computers don't need to be tethered to a network and can operate in disconnected mode on laptops or handhelds in remote locations without losing the power of the network.
CitiTech uses Smart Client technology to break the network requirement and improve performance. If you would like more information on how it works, let us know. We've prepared a White Paper that explains the concept.