Once the City grasped the power of web based technology, it seemed that there was no limit to what could be done. Why stop at an On-line O&M manual? Looking into the power of this tool, it was found that the technology could be used to do an on-line, up-to-the- minute look at influent flows to the facility. This was found to be very useful for determining meter failures and flow rates from the Sub Regional Operating Group (SROG) Cities that share the ownership of the facility.
Currently the system is being taken one step further and a database function is being implemented for the Information Access System (IAS). By adding this function, the system provides storage and retrieval of data, CADD drawings, photos, and vendor manual information, in a structured environment. It also allows update capabilities to be done by non-technical staff with limited training required. A simple Geographic Information System (GIS) is also being used for graphing location and access into the system. Documentation for service contracts is now being provided in an electronic format. A screen shot of this new database-driven IAS is shown below.
Future development of the Information Access System throughout the Department is anticipated. The City has just scratched the surface of the capabilities of the web-based applications and tools. As more and more changes in the workplace take effect, the ability to access information and data becomes even more critical, and the IAS will serve as the mechanism to support the City for many years to come.
The Future
The future of knowledge management systems is in the hands of web technology and the people who implement and use the systems. The capability of web technology to integrate information across and between enterprise-wide systems will become more powerful and easier to use. Future Internet standards for integration on an application level (e.g. XMl) and a network level (e.g. WAP/WML) will ensure that the technology is consistent and extensible for all systems. Then, it is only a matter of people to formulate and use the integrated information of these systems in a manner that they can honestly be referred to as Knowledge Management Systems.
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