Presented By: Todd R. DennisIT Application Developer Senior – Information Systems Division

NebraskaDepartment of Roads

Pile Informationand Location Explorer

And Web Services

HEEP Area III / IV Conference

Current Pile Application…

• The previous system relied on pile information being entered by field personnel into Excel spreadsheets. These spreadsheets were then sent to the Geotechnical section for review.

• Current system concerns include:– Limited ability to share information.– No support for the current application in use.– No custom reports or screen reporting functions.– Historical documents are not easily accessible.

Excel Spreadsheet…(previous system)

Printed Output…(previous system)

Pile Information and Location Explorer

Pile Application…

• The new application incorporates the previous analysis efforts into one application which has the following key features:– Pile analysis data is located in a single database.– Ability to read and write out data in XML format for

easy transfer of data between the field and the Geo-Technical section.

– Decrease the dependency on printed reports.– Application driven reports.– Viewing of historical documents.

Interface Features…

• Project summary screen allows for easy project selection.

• Project screen offers detailed information at a glance.

• System allows for easy access to Add, Edit, or Search functions.

• Tabbed window layout easily allows the user to view pile, image, and GIS information.

Development Platform/Technology

• Graphical User Interface– Microsoft Visual Studio.NET (C#.NET).

• XML (Extensible Markup Language)– Exporting/Importing of pile data.

• Pile Data– Data store developed using Microsoft Access 2003.

• Scanned document and Image data store– Currently using Windows Imaging Acquisition (WIA) for local

pc scanning. The documents, images and metadata are stored in an Microsoft Access database.

Future Development…

• Future enhancement to the application:– Utilize Falcon web services and database for document

management (where we are now).– Incorporate GIS information and interactive maps into the

application (Google Earth???).– A “web enabled” version of the application.– A consultant version of the application.

Current Projects Screen

File Functions

Data Sources

Pile Data/Information Area

Pile Driving Data for Pier No. 2

Menu

Pre-filled drop downs

Specific test pile data

Data collected for future use within the GIS system.

Reference Data Screen

Data collected for future use within the GIS system.

Document Management – Image Source

File Functions

Image and Data Screen

View Controls

Image Metadata

Search All (Pile Records or Historical Images)

Web Services – What?

DefinedA web service is any piece of software that makes itself available

over the internet and uses a standardized XML messaging system. XML is used to encode all communications to a web service.

Platform Independent XMLA client invokes a web service by sending an XML message, then

waits for a corresponding XML response. Because all communication is in XML, web services are not tied to any one operating system or programming language--Java can talk with Perl; Windows applications can talk with Unix applications.

Web Services – Basic Flow

<Project Number>

<Structure Number>

<Contractor>

XML

- Request is like the message

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)

-Can be considered the address. Where does it go and to whom.

Web Services – Why?

• Efficient method to serve a growing number of users.• To fulfill the need to sharing information with users as

well as other systems.• The ability to make the information selectively visible

and to change the visibility on the fly. (You ask the questions the web service provides the answer)

• To bring the consumer and provider closer together.• Developer friendly (uses existing HTTP protocol and

XML as base language).• Uses standardized set of rules making them more

portable to other devices and systems than other technologies.

Falcon Web Services

• Benefit the user by having all project related documents in one location.

• Lets the user ask the questions (What year, which highway, which county, which structure or bridge, etc.)

• Provides the users with many functions:– Check out original document (document is locked until for

editing by other until checked in).– Check in document (after editing document lock is released).– Copy the document (document is copied to local machine but

cannot be checked in).– Move document to new location on the web server

Falcon Web Services

• Options continued:– Add new document (adds local document from user to the

data store).– Remove document (permanently removes the document).

What Next…?

• Migrate existing data into the Falcon database.• Incorporate Falcon web services into the Pile

Application.• Provide training and assistance to the existing users

on the changes to the system.• Look at other systems where web services may be

beneficial– Points Database (Survey point data).– ARMS System (Automated Right-of Way Management

System)– Accident Records System.

NebraskaDepartment of Roads

Thank you for your time…..

Contact InformationE-Mail – tdennis@dor.state.ne.usPhone – 402/479-3619