Lauderhill, Fla., Equips Code Enforcement Officers with Handheld GIS

INKforce, a Web-based code enforcement application allowing city and county officers as well as administrators to schedule, track and monitor inspections directly from the field using a tablet PC, wireless connection and web browser

Code enforcement, a rigid paperwork and time intensive government compliance process, is undergoing major streamlining with city and county officers as well as authorized administrators soon having the ability to schedule, track and monitor the life cycle of all inspections directly from the field using a tblet PC, wireless connection and web browser--particularly in Lauderhill, Fla.

The city of Lauderhill in Broward County, Fla., recently deployed INKforce, a suite of automated government software tools developed by Fort Lauderdale-based Calvin, Giordano & Associates (CGA). The city has phased in INKforce over the past three months, and has been in full operation with its nine code enforcement officers since mid-January.

"The INKforce system is working great," said Joan Fletcher, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Manager for Lauderhill's Department of Engineering Services.

Fletcher described the system as "very intuitive" with the ability to acquire and update information on the spot.

"It also saves huge amounts of time cutting down on the paper trail and can digitally capture the signature of the person being cited right then and there," she said. "Our officers, though they have had very little computer experience, said it was very user-friendly and easy to pick up. CGA has been very supportive in making adjustments to work within our system."

CGA's Data Technologies and Development team created the proprietary code enforcement application using ArcIMS, ArcSDE and SQL/Oracle and web technology as the main platform to deliver an easy, straightforward inspection process using real-time GIS-enabled data. Armed with a Panasonic Toughbook Tablet PC and a wireless connection, code enforcement officers while in the field can access schedules and directions, property and complaint histories, city and county ordinance specifications and can secure signatures and issue compliance notices on the spot or automatically initiate a certified mailing to the property owner.

CGA President Dennis Giordano, whose firm has provided privatized services for many municipalities in southern Florida including the city of Weston where CGA provides engineering, surveying, planning and GIS services, said negotiations are currently underway with numerous local, regional and even out-of-state city and county agencies to provide customized code enforcement applications.

"Code enforcement is really just the tip of the iceberg as far as the suite of government applications that can be customized and put into place," said Giordano. "Finance, administration, building permitting and inspection, police and fire rescue would all be potential beneficiaries of a wireless GIS enabled system that would allow users to tap into a seamless stream of data and to affect a real-time response."

The base cost of INKforce is $25,000 for the first five licenses, which includes software plus 40 hours of training. Customization, a GIS module application and service updates would be additional. Standardized software modules are available. Development of a customized INKforce program would take approximately one month, he added.