What is AIMS?
The AIMS application structure consists of a Basic Platform that is standard for each implementation, and a series of modules with optional additional functionality. Combined, there is functionality that pertains to every aspect of data management a water and/or wastewater agency deals with day to day.
Basic AIMS Platform
The Basic Platform consists of the following elements:
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Menu System – a series of dropdown menus providing access to various screens, functions, and reports.
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Dashboard Screen – either a simple photo-based design or one or more ESRI-based Operational Dashboards showing the status and statistics of the asset portfolio, maintenance, and financial metrics.
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GIS Maps – an ESRI-based GIS viewer that contains map layers, navigation tools, and functions for printing, address search, measurements, Google StreetView link and others.
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Asset Registry – a series of database screens and asset details windows that allow for browsing, searching and editing of information related to utility networks such as water distribution system and wastewater collection data.
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Security – user management that allows for the assignment of user names, passwords, roles, and permissions.
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Document Management – a documents explorer and documents search system that allows for the up and download of documents, and the linking of documents to specific asset records.
Additional Modules
Optional Modules include the following:
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Maintenance Management – includes the management of work orders and the scheduling of preventive maintenance tasks. Examples of such tasks include asset repairs and replacements; sewer main flushing; valve exercising; hydrant inspections; pump maintenance; and many others.
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Customer Information – integrates an agency’s utility billing system with publicly available parcel data in a GIS environment, allowing for a user to select a parcel on the map, and view customer account information such as account status, meter information and service order history.
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Record Drawing Library – specifically for record drawings, or ‘as-builts’, the library is organized by construction project and year, and linked to geographic areas in the GIS. This allows the user to select a location on the map and visually retrieve one or more project drawings that show the applicable construction history.
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CCTV Inspections – applicable only to sewer systems, integrates CCTV inspection software with asset information stored in AIMS. Allows the user to select a sewer line and see the inspection history along with observations, condition ratings using PACP standards, and media including snapshots and videos. Color-codes sewer lines on the map by condition rating.
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Facility Management – allows for the tracking of equipment assets within facilities such as pump stations, treatment plants, lift stations, reservoirs and well sites. Facilities and equipment are organized in an asset hierarchy. Equipment can be visualized in diagrams and field photos within the GIS environment for easy data retrieval.
Beyond these larger and more popular modules, the AIMS Team also has implemented smaller and highly specialized functions related to the following data management aspects:
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Permit Management – tracks the entire permitting workflow from calculating permit costs, credit card payments, and permit inspections.
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Electronic O&M Manual – provides an interface for entering maintenance procedures related to specific asset types and manufacturers including text, hyperlinks, photos, and videos.
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SCADA Link – an automated import routine of runtimes and start/stop events, which can then be used in the maintenance management module for the automated generation of work orders based on predefined maintenance thresholds.
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Well Field Monitoring – provides analytical tools for tracking the performance of production wells, resulting in color-coded alerts based on predefined trigger levels related to water quality, pumping equipment, and well screens.
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Lab and Field Measurements – allows for the chain-of-custody tracking of water quality samples, uploading of Lab EDD files, entering of field measurements such as temperature and pH, and automated report generation to meet regulatory requirements.
Lastly, AIMS is capable of integrating with the latest ESRI technology including Portal for ArcGIS, Operational Dashboards, Story Maps, Survey 123, Web App Builder, and ArcGIS Online.