Enterprise wide decision support system for the city of San Diego water department
Enterprise Wide Integration Practice
TIDES views the separate computer applications within the water department programs and sections as one
integrated system. To accomplish this, three integration architecture plans were set in place during 1994
and 1995:
- An integration architecture plan for data and databases was established in 1994 and
implemented in 1995 and 1996 using data and process modeling and relational database
technology.
- An integration architecture plan for microcomputers, wide and local area networks was
established in 1995 and implemented in 1995 and 1996.
- An integration architecture plan for computer applications was established in 1995 and is in
an on-going evolution as new applications are identified for upgrading within TIDES.
Hardwate and Software Infrastructure
TIDES hardware/software infrastructure entails acquiring desktop and laptop computers to the City of San
Diego standard specifications. Data and file servers are tailored to specific need with in a standard
specification range. CADD and GIS workstations are acquired to a tight standards. A common Windows
Graphic User Interface (GUI) is required for all software on all desktop, laptop and workstations.
Network Communication Practice
An integration architecture plan for microcomputers, wide and local area networks was established in 1995
and implemented in 1995 and 1996. TIDES is using enterprise data servers, distributed file servers, Fiber
Distributed Data Interface and co-Axel cabling to connect the five hundred (500) office and field desktop/
laptop microcomputers, the seventy five (75) CADD and GIS workstations and the one hundred thirty six
(136) pen based microcomputers. Network hubs, routers, data services units and other communications
devices have been implemented to support Ethernet switching technology. Switched Multi megabit Data
Service is used to move text, GIS and CADD data across the Wide Area Network.
Data Base Management Practice
One central component of TIDES is the “data management policy”. This practice represents how all of the
Water Department data will be processed, stored and accessed .
TIDES has been structured around a common integrated database practice. Data is developed in a logically
consistent manner using sound principles of data management that 1) minimize the occurrence of redundant
data, 2) streamline updating, and 3) create user-oriented data definitions. Data tables are created
incrementally in a phased approach using process and data models to get data that is related to user
requirements. Additionally, the TIDES phased approach allows the data structures of each table to be
related to each other.
Data Managers and a Systems Integrator combine to manage quality into enterprise data. This two-tier
approach is being used to strengthen the quality and reliability of the Department data.
Data Managers are responsible for the ownership, definition, integrity, use and security of all data
associated to a specific application module or group of modules. The CADD and GIS Data Managers are
working examples of this practice.
A Systems Integrator from the MIS Section is assisting the Data Mangers with the integration of
applications into TIDES. The Systems Integrator is working with Executive Sponsors, Data Managers, and
Database Administrators from SDDPC to apply Water Department MIS operating practices and standards
to applications and database design.
As the first step towards accomplishing this integration, City Water and SDDPC conducted a four month
process and data modeling of water and sewer facilities and created a logical data and process Facilities
Information Management Model (FMIM) on paper. All business operations
were included in creating this Data Architecture Plan.
FMIM was used to create the physical relational tables for facilities maintenance management system text
data in a project called Sewer and Water Information Facility Tables (SWIFT). As new computer systems
are developed SWIFT is expanded to included any new data entities and attributes. The result of this
practice has been to eliminate capturing and storing the same data redundantly at many sites.
The FMIM model was also used to create the spatial database physical structure in the GIS automated
mapping system (SPLASH).
End User Data Access Practice
The anticipated benefits of the TIDES program are predicated on realtime access by users to accurate and
reliable data from remote locations. Allowing the user access to Water Department data is accomplished
through pre-determined queries for each application. In addition, a report writing tools have been added to
help users develop their own custom or ad-hoc reports.
Spatial Intergratino Practice
TIDES has been designed to capture data for analysis of the water facilities network using both
traditional text based methods and spatial tools for analysis using “Smart Maps”. Strategically, TIDES is
intended to shill the department from paper maps to electronic or digital data. The Field Acquisition Data
Device (FADD) project has used the FMIM data structure to integrate the SWIM Service Request with the
digital SPLASH mapping data on the pen based microcomputers for use by crews in the field.
Computer Applicaiton Practive
The way that Water Department is using TIDES is through automated applications, such as TRIM,
SPLASH and SWIM that automate business activities, such as tool tracking, mapping and maintenance
management. Each application is designed to support the updating, display, graphing and reporting of data
in a reliable manner. There are 29 major applications in TIDES. that have been grouped into four major
data management categories as discussed above.
To ensure that the business operations are fully committed to the application, an Executive Sponsor is
identified for each automated application with the role to provide stable functional requirements for the
system, including approval of and implementation of necessary changes
to existing business operating practices prior to or with implementation.
Tides: Accomplishments
On March 20, 1997, TIDES will have been enhanced with the following technology automation to support
the business operations of the Water Department:
- an Integrated Communications Network for moving text and spatial data across the wide
area network (WAN) at speeds up to 34 megabits per second using Pacific Bell Switched
Megabit Data Services (SMDS). The ICN includes twelve local area networks (LAN)
connecting six hundred and fifty desktop, laptop and pen based client computers.
- a Facilities Relational Database Management System housed on two enterprise wide RISC
6000 data servers connected to the ICN. One data server is designed to support text data
from business applications and the other data server is designed to support spatial data
from Geographic Information Systems. Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)
drawings and data are positioned on a Network File Manager (NFM) document
management system. Digitalorthophotos are stored on an optical server.
- newly developed computer applications in a client server processing environment
integrated with Iegacy applications. Newer computer applications include:
- Tool Room Inventory Management (TRIM) for tool and inventory control;
- Sewer and Water Infrastructure Management (SWIM) for water and sewer
facilities maintenance management;
- Automated mapping (SPLASH) for automated mapping and spatial data
management.
- Morning Report for daily information on treatment and distribution operations.
- a common user friendly report writer to access enterprise text data.
- a common user friendly report writer to access enterprise spatial data.
desktop, laptop and pen based computers to service office and field data collection and
reporting.
Tides: Conclusion
Information for running a business is a strategic asset that must be developed, stored and retrieved using the
most efficient, reliable and cost effective practices. This paper has briefly discussed one the technology
practices used by the City of San Diego Water Department to accomplish a mission of providing “the right
information at the right time in the most efficient manner for the benefit of the users within the Water
Department and the City of San Diego.
The city of san diego water department
The Water Department (WD) is a financially self-supported department within the City of San Diego
municipal government. The department provides treated water and water services to the City and portions
of San Diego County including a lakes and recreation program.
The water system consists of approximately 2,600 miles of treated water pipes ranging in size from 2-inch
to 54-inch. The water system is operated on a Secondary Yield Basis at the direction from the City
Council. This operating policy requires the use of local water resources prior to the use of imported water.
Due to the City’s location to the south and west of the San Andreas earthquake vault line, a seven-month
local reserve (14 1,600 acre-feet [AF]) is maintained at all times in ten local reservoirs that have a
maximum storage capacity of 415,936 AF.
Local water is collected from eight watersheds that provide rain and snow run-off to ten reservoirs.
Imported raw and finished water is received at nine sites within the water distribution system, via the First
and Second San Diego Aqueducts, from the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA). Finished treated
water is imported from the Lake Skinner filtration plant to the North of San Diego County.
The water distribution system operates using gravity flow over 87 pressure zones at a pressure between
40-90 PSI, with booster assistance from 45 water pump stations. Regulating reservoirs are located at three
local water treatment plants at Miramar, Alvarado and Otay, and finished water storage facilities are
located at41 sites throughout the distribution network. Three filtration treatment plant services areas
provide approximately 7.3 billion gallons of water a year to 246,640 customer accounts ( 1.2 million San
Diegans) .
