GIS IN ACTION to anyone using the Web application,” continues Mueller. “In addition to helping different divisions share information efficiently, it helps them respond more quickly to requests from residents because they’ll have quicker access to information stored online. With the combined capabilities of Esri and SAP technology, we’re seeing a future of efficiency, cooperation, and improved records management. In addition, it provides more transparency and accountability, something that is well appreciated by the employees who are continually striving to provide the citizens with a high level of customer service.” Extending the Footprint Now, with its proven success in the Street Division, the city has decided to extend its Esri and SAP integrated system to other departments and divisions. The program is making its way into the Storm Water Pollution Prevention, Storm Water Operations and Maintenance, Facilities Maintenance, Fleet Maintenance, and Communications divisions. All have started implementing and extending the functionalities of SYNERGY for their operations. Future implementations will include the city’s water and sewer operations and maintenance functions. “At its core, public works is an asset management business,” says David Jarrell, San Diego’s deputy chief operating officer for Public Works. “The SYNERGY system, leveraging the tremendous capabilities of both Esri and SAP technologies, allows the city to make a great leap forward in the management of our assets. We have proven the SYNERGY concept within our Street Division and are now aggressively implementing the system for our other public infrastructure assets. The result promises to be an unsurpassed asset management tool for our employees and citizens. And we 37 The GeoMAM user interface is simple to use. and other information pertinent to the street sweeping operations. When residents call, employees can check a digital map and obtain detailed information regarding past sweeping operations, often heading off or quickly managing questions and complaints, saving the city time and increasing goodwill. Going Mobile In 2007, Project SYNERGY’s enterprise systems were enhanced and upgraded to SAP ECC 6 and ArcGIS 9.2. After completion of the upgrade, San Diego’s integrated system was ready for the next big challenge—accessing the enterprise asset management system from the field. Today, with the implementation of SAP’s Mobile Infrastructure module and ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Mobile software, the city is realizing its vision of carrying out asset management activities in the field. Tasks such as creating, viewing, and updating SAP service notifications and work orders are being completed in real time by field staff using a map interface. This system’s continuing improvement will greatly enhance the overall efficiency of the city’s business processes. “We have come a long way since we first integrated Esri and SAP technologies to leverage our GIS resources within the SAP framework,” says Elizabeth Mueller, San Diego Public Works enterprise asset management project manager, who is now leading the way for other departments and divisions within the city to leverage the successfully integrated Esri/SAP system for their operations. “We believe in empowering the city employees with the right tools to help provide excellent customer service to our citizens. Our aim is to get it right the first time, and get better at it. “The capacity to visualize and analyze information geographically is now available expect to see even greater system benefits upon completion of the implementation of the SAP enterprise resource planning system for the city’s financial, logistics, and human resources functions.” This project, a comprehensive effort geared toward maintaining the city’s progress in reforming and modernizing information systems throughout the agency, is called OneSD. When launched later this year, OneSD will provide city departments (including the central departments for financial and human resources) with the ability to consolidate asset and work management functions with costing and manpower availability and allocation using an integrated system. “The City of San Diego’s vision for the information technology system is to deliver best value services through the creative use of technology,” says Nader Tirandazi, the city’s director of financial management. “We have already realized that vision time and time again, one piece at a time, and we continue to evolve our systems to support the services that impact our community and its citizens.” “We are all very pleased with our successes to date,” adds Mueller. “I also think that by partnering with Esri, SAP, and our integration consultant Smartsoft, we’re poised for even greater success in the future.” More Information For more information, contact Elizabeth Mueller, EAM project manager, Public Works, City of San Diego (e-mail: emueller@ sandiego.gov). The Map Display menu option of the application replaces the list of work orders with a table of contents that can be used to control the layers that are visible on the map. An ArcGIS Server dynamic map service is used to render the map in the GeoMAM application. Users can turn layers on or off to enhance the map. They can also toggle between the table of contents and the map legend. Users of the GeoMAM application have a robust set of search tools available to them under the Map Search menu item. An ArcGIS Server geocoding service allows them to zoom to a street address or a street intersection. They can also locate assets on the map by searching for them using feature attributes, such as the SAP functional location ID, or any other attribute. GeoMAM Application Architecture The architecture of the GeoMAM application is illustrated at the top of page 36. More Information For more information, contact Elizabeth Mueller, EAM project manager, City of San Diego, California (e-mail: emueller@sandiego. gov), or Steve Benner, Esri (e-mail: sbenner@ esri.com). Exclusive ArcNews Online Articles The Summer 2009 issue of ArcNews Online (www.esri.com/arcnews) presents the following exclusively online articles: The City of Quinte West Unifies Emergency Communications In 2006, the City of Quinte West in southeastern Ontario, Canada, asked the city’s GIS division and IT staff to develop a telephone call-out notification system after a series of boil water advisories were issued. Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority Creates and Edits High-Quality Data As with other aviation authorities, the Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority is faced with doing more with less. Three years ago, it looked for a solution that would allow it to efficiently create the products required to do its job and chose ArcGIS for data management and mapping and viewing spatial data. Also, look for the expanded Esri T-shirt section online, as well as new supplemental podcasts. Above: Map is centered on the location of the work order with its related asset selected. Left: Detailed work order information is available via SAP Mobile Infrastructure.