Presentations from the 2009 MMA Technology Conference

Cost Effectiveness Through IT Optimization[PowerPoint Version - ActiveX Controls are needed]
Richard McKinney, Government Relations Advisor, Microsoft Corp.

Best Practices for Technology Use[PDF]
Sorting out the most efficient and cost-effective products and services today requires a good understanding of “best practices” for technology use.  This session will explore the governmental applicability of some of the more popular technology products being offered today.  Larry Cushing, IT Partners

Computer, Network and Data Security
When the integrity of a computer system is compromised, terrible  consequences often follow.  The security of your computer, your network and data is critical is today’s technology environment of viruses, spam, credit card breaches, identity theft, and more. Ryan Breault, IT Partners

Email Archiving for Local Government in Maine: One Size Does Not Fit All
"Archiving" a local government’s email isn’t as simple as buying the latest pre-packaged solution. What must your municipality retain, and for how long? How should your "archive" be organized, and what tools will you need? This presentation will offer some best practices for local government email archiving, discuss options, and list factors to consider as you plan just the right solution for your municipality. Nina Osier, Maine State Archives

Visually Communicating Financial Information[PDF]
In today’s economic climate, it is more important than ever before that government officials be transparent with budgetary and other financial information – from appointed to elected officials and to the public.  This session will explore ways that technology can be used to enhance the communication of financial information.Laurie Smith, Asst. City Manager, Auburn

Creating a Stronger Online Community Presence [PDF]
Governmental websites do not have to be static.  They can be used for e-commerce, to conduct public opinion surveys, to broadcast council meetings, or to do any of a number of other “interactive” things.  This session explores the possibilities.
Ross Heupel, GovOffice

 

Maine GIS User Group Presentations

Interfacing GIS and GPS to Mooring Management Software for Harbormasters
For several years, Dirigo Spatial Systems and Newburgh Associates have provided a comprehensive mooring management system to harbormasters throughout Maine.  This system utilized ArcGIS to provide a mapping interface for the user.  The complexity and price of ArcGIS was not well suited for the small to medium sized harbormasters operations, so we developed a simple mapping interface using the open-source system MapWindow.  Simultaneously, we utilized another open-source product to add an interface to GPS.  This presentation will discuss how these products were incorporated, and the advantages of using open source GIS products. Mike White, President, Dirigo Spatial Systems  

Managing Assets and the Important Roe of GIS and GPS[PDF - large]
GIS has the powerful potential to serve as a warehouse of details both in spatial and tabular formats.  Associated with the points, lines and polygons can be a wealth of information.  Attribute mapping is the end result of the sweat and tears building a relational GIS database. Tax assessors, planning boards, public works and utilities form the base-line data sets.  Planned growth and managing the roads, power grids, water and wastewater services create quality of life for a community. 

Important goals of asset management are: 1) Receiving the most value from your assets, 2) Timing and cost estimates for asset replacement, 3) Reducing costs and increasing system efficiencies and 4) Providing quick recovery from unexpected failures.  These asset management goals relate to capital improvement planning, emergency response planning, GASB34 accounting and vulnerability assessment. Art Astarita, Water Resource Specialist, RCAP Solutions 

Service Area Analysis of Portland's METRO Bus System
Increased awareness of carbon emissions and rising fuel prices have encouraged many to consider alternatives to the single-occupancy vehicle, including public transportation. In this study, I conduct a network analysis in order to calculate the one-quarter mile service area of Portland's METRO bus system, for the benefit of city planners. This method more accurately reflects pedestrian travel patterns than does a straight-line, “as the crow flies” buffering technique. The service area is then used in combination with city data to determine the geographic area, parcels, and individual buildings contained within one-quarter mile-roughly five-minutes' walk-of the METRO system. Census data and city zoning data are used to analyze areas outside the service area in order to identify potential new areas for service.
Andy Smith-Petersen, University of Southern Maine