White Paper prepared by Agust Gudmundsson.

Description of Product.

Overview and Technical Specifications:

File Structure:

Applications / Use:

• Public Works Departments.
• Administration.
• Economic Development.
• Police Department Public Information Management.
• Fire Department  Public Information Management.

Described in this document are examples of features and uses of OurTown 2.0.  These examples should not indicate that the product is limited to these uses.

This product, as described here, is ready for installation now.
 

• Technical Contact Information

Technical Specifications.

• Database limited only to hard disk space and operating system upto 2 Billion records.
• Up to 45,000 requests per citizen.
• Unlimited number of network logins.
• Action Log for tracking users additions, edits and deletions.
• Context sensitive help system.
• Ability to share data with non networked computers using the Internet.
• Can run thin. Full installation on network nodes not required.
• Client written in Microsoft Visual FoxPro.
• Server can be MS-SQL, Oracle or Native FoxPro (FoxPro Database Included).
• Pinnacle Graphics Server for creating graphs.
• Query Maker provides English interface to SQL queries.
• Files include: Citizen, Citizen Request, Departments, Bureaus/Divisions, Committees, Services Provided,

Help and FAQs on Service Knowledge Base,  People in your Government, Internet Messages… More details found in section:  Files and Structure.
 

System Requirements.

• VGA monitor
• Mouse
• Connection to printer
• Windows 9x/NT. **See  Client/Server notes for other platforms.

Requirements for Processor/Hardware.
    Minimum:

• 386/DX
• 12MB Ram
• 20MB HD Space.

• 586
• 32MB Ram
• 120MB HD Space free.

Performance

Speed:

• Seek on 2 million records = 0.5 seconds. *
• Post = < 1.0 seconds *
• SQL Select:  < 1.0 seconds.  Actual speed will vary, depending on number of fields queried, speed of server and connection speed.

Since OT2 is written in MS VisualFoxPro the most comprehensive test examples on large scale databases can be found at MicroSoft.com.  The U.S. Geological Survey used FoxPro for a multi-billion record geographical database system.  PC Discounters record over 1/2 Million hits per day on their FoxPro powered web site.  There is no faster database management platform faster than FoxPro.  MicroSoft would not have paid $160,000,000.00  to buy it if it was not the best.
 
 
 

Client / Server

OT2 will work with many systems.  All require that the customer purchase the server and client software from them or their representatives. Example:  If customer wants to use MS-SQL or Oracle server then the server and client license must be obtained by customer from the respective server software company.  For installations of less than 200 concurrent nodes/seats the included native FoxPro database is sufficient on a LAN or high speed WAN.

For slow WAN connections, such as ISDN, a client/server system is recommended.  If there are scattered remote clients connected over ISDN or regular telephone line (or Internet) then a Cytrix server has been tested as an economical solution.  This version has been in use in Lewisville, TX for over two years.
Cytrix thin clients:  Using Cytrix server software (around $2,500 for 5 users) has economical advantages because it allows you to run high powered Windows 95/NT software on older PCs (even 286 models), and other non-PC units.   The application processing is done on the server.  Only the screen display is handed over to the client.

We also offer a browser-based interface called OT2i.  OT2i requires MS IIS and IE5+.  This version has been in use at Yonkers, NY for over two years.  The only product required on the client computers is the web browser.  Data is stored on a data server and the application is maintained on an intranet server.
 
 

Word processing.

Technical Support.

• Full color user manual.
• Context sensitive help screens.
• Telephone support answered by program specialists.
• MIS support handled by programmers.
• On-Site services by contract:  Installation, Training, Custom programming, Trouble shooting.

Support and maintenance contract includes program upgrades.
  

Internet Modules.

You DO NOT NEED your own Internet Web Server to use the Interactive Modules.   These pages can be posted on ANY web server.  OT2 does the work in your office on any standard Personal Computer.

OT2 writes the HTML code, publishes the pages, retrieves information from citizens and inserts that information into the proper database(s).

OT2 uses the structure and information from its data files to create the interactive web pages and the Internet Information Reader.
 

• The web pages are always true to your office setup and
• The information sent by constituents via the Internet always find their way to the proper fields in the proper files in the proper database because:

• The Department / Division / Bureau web pages are created from your government setup files.
• The Glossary, Index and Request for Service pages are created from your Service Code Definition Tables.
• The Calendar, Community Events, Municipal Agenda and other time-line web pages are created by your Event Management files.
• The Permits and Applications web forms are created from your Permit Record files.
• The Legislative Feedback web pages are created from Your Bill Tracking System.
• The Issue Opinions web pages are created from your Issue Tracking System.
• The Email to Staff, Elected Officials, Commission and Committee Members web pages are created from your Government Communication files.

1. Information from the browser is sent to a text file on the web server  (Bucket #1).
2. That text file is sent, as email, to your OT2 email-data address (Bucket #2).
3. OT2 Reads the email-data into a confirmation file called a free table (Bucket #3).
4. After verifying that the data is a valid request the message is stripped of any non-keyboard characters and posted to the proper database (Bucket #4).

If you are using OT2 powered web pages to collect payments via credit cards or other secure electronic methods, a few other steps are added as the constituent information is routed through a secure (encrypted) server.  If your provider does not offer secure hosting you can use one of the GOVT secure servers.

Files and structure.

MIS directors of  localities seriously considering our product may request the actual file layout and structure for the entire OT2 product.

<HR WIDTH="100%">
 

• Constituent:
• Individual Citizens
• Business
• Organizations
• Services
• Work order Requests
• Legislation/Ordinance/Issue opinion tracking
• General Communication from citizen to govt and back
• Events, with calendar
• Permits/Applications
• Government Organization
• Departments
• Divisions/Bureaus
• Service Codification and Descriptions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Glossary of Service Terms
• People in Government
• Elected Officials
• Administration
• Workers
• Internet
• Home Page HTML, FTP Administration  and e-Communications
• Activity Based Costing and Tracking
• Labor/Worker Hours
• Equipment
• Materials
• Cost Analysis
• Tickler File
• Report now - Do latter.
• Program Administration/Setup
• Network File Locations    Passwords
• SQL/ORACLE setup    Work Station Preferences
• Saved Queries     Printing Preferences
• User Activity and Audit Log

Application Use and Examples

Public Works Departments

• Enter requests for service.
• Log work or jobs to be performed.
• Assign work orders.
• Print work orders.
• Print work routing reports.
• Enter work completion status and notes.
• Print work status reports by work group, work type, geography, etc.
• Maintain tickler for assign now-do later.
• Activity Based Costing:  Labor hours, Equipment usage and Materials.
• Time Log for workers.
• Department / Bureau / Division / Work Group history and performance
• Analyze with graphs and reports.
• Respond to citizen via letter or email.

Below are just a few examples of Works management.

• Potholes/Street Repair
• Snow/Ice Control
• Salting
• Plowing
• Leaf Pickup
• Mowing
• Street Sweeping
• Alley Repair
• Curb Repair
• Barricades
• Street Light Locations
• Street Light Maintenance
• Street Sign Maintenance
• Parking Lot Maintenance
• Pavement Markings
• Branch Pickup
• Sidewalk Repairs
• Parkway Repair
• Parkway Restoration
• Parking Meter Repair
• Fly Dumping Removal
• Emergency Clean Up
• Dead Animal
• Graffiti Removal
• Wood Chip Delivery
• Tree Planting
• Tree Trimming
• Tree Removal
• Tree Removal/Sewer
• Stump Removal
• Herbicide Application
• Pesticide Application
• Landscape Maintenance
• Hanging Branch(s)
• Storm Damage to Tree(s)
• Disease/Insect Complaint
• Bolt/Cable-Split Tree Repair
• Dutch Elm Disease
• Private Dutch Elm Disease
• Private Tree Maintenance
• Sewer Location
• Sanitary Sewer Back-Up
• Sewer Odor
• Storm Grate Cleaning
• Street Flooding
• Alley Flooding
• Retention/Detention Bain Maintenance.
• Ditch/Creek Maintenance
• Culvert Maintenance
• Sewer Cave-in
• Rebuild Catch Basin/Inlet
• No Water
• Water Pressure
• WaterTaste/Odor
• Watermain Break
• Water Turn On/Off
• Water Locate
• Meter Repair
• Meter Reading
• Frozen Meter Service
• Fire Hydrant Repair
• B-Box Repair
• B-Box Adjustment
• B-Box Locate
• Garbage Pickup Misc.
• Replace/Deliver Recycling Bin
• Deliver/pick up Adopt-A-Spot Can
• Litter Pick up Request
• Multi-Family Solid Waste Complaint
• Single-Family Solid Waste Complaint

Administration

Below are just a few examples of Administration management.

• Permits:  Parking, Building, Garage Sales, etc.
• Applications
• Community Event Scheduler creates HTML calendar
• Zoning Appeals, Enforcement, Complaints, Information
• Inspection Requests
• Administrative Services
• Requests for Information.
• Newsletter Suggestions.
• Community Event Signs
• Legislative / Ordinance system tracks bills from introduction to vote.
• Citizen Opinions on issues tracked.
• Automatic Response System composes letters to constituents.
• Graphs and Reports to monitor departmental efficiency.

Economic Development

• Development Issues
• Registration
• Site Availability
• Sidewalk Cafe Regulations
• Development Review Process
• Strategic Plan
• Comprehensive Development Plan
• Historic Preservation
• Land Use Information
• Annexation

Police Department Public Information Management

• Community Services Miscellaneous
• Youth Counseling
• D.A.R.E.
• Neighborhood Watch
• Special Events
• Community Patrol
• Safety Town (Officer Friendly)
• Alarm Permits
• Home Watch Program
• School Liaison Program
• Security Surveys, etc.
• Curfew
• Parental Responsibility
• Solicitors and Peddlers
• Patrol
• Search & Rescue
• Emergency Medical Assistance
• Traffic Control
• Parking Enforcement
• Emergency Communications/911 Complaints Suggestions
• Bicycle Registration
• Investigative Services Misc
• Investigative Services Internal
• Investigative Services External
• Parking Tickets Street
• Parking Tickets Parking Lot
• Traffic Accident Invest/Reports
• Bike Helmet Requlations
• Public Nuisance
• Animal Control

Fire Department  Public Information Management

• Community Services Misc
• Emergency Shelter
• Fire Safety Classes
• Fire Prevention Programs
• Fire Prevention Inspections
• Fire Inspections
• Hazardous Materials
• Environmental Risk
• EMS Training
• Operations Misc
• Fire Suppression
• Medical Emergency Comments
• Rescue Comments
• Hazardous Materials Reporting
• Emergency Management Information
• Emergency Communications/911 Complaints
• Fire Investigation
• Emergency Disaster Preparation Information
• Fire Code Requirements

Technical contact:

Phone: (800) 494-7499
Fax:  (304) 645-3482
Email:  agust@govt.com

Contact: Agust G. Gudmundsson

Address:

R&D Lab: 124 N. Court Street
  Lewisburg, WV 24901
  (304) 645-3481