“St. Charles Connect” allows a user to capture a photo, video, or audio of the problem. The user then uploads the media and, along with GPS location information pulled directly from the device, submits a report directly to the appropriate department. Once a report is submitted, feedback is provided to the user based on the action taken by the department handling the report.

Using St. Charles Connect allows the city to use technology to save time and money, while improving accountability. In addition, the application verifies that the item being reported is within the city boundaries. If there is a pothole, for instance, outside the city boundaries, the GPS tracking service from the device the sender is using will identify the location of the issue being reported and notify the sender.

Download App

• iTunes
• Android

Press Coverage

• Chicago Tribune
• St. Charles Gov Website

We’re excited to announce the release or our newest product, ZenFunder. We officially kicked off this product at the 2013 LAUNCH Festival in San Francisco. ZenFunder is a revolutionary civic crowdfunding platform that allows citizens and the government to collaboratively fund local community improvement projects. Check out this video to see our launch during the Festival.

Anyone can propose a new project on ZenFunder. Once the project reaches a minimum funding threshold, it is reviewed by city government to ensure the project is in accordance with local requirements.

Once approved, the project is promoted and funding is crowdsourced. The local government and corporate sponsors can also contribute funds.

Not Your Average Crowdfunding Platfrom

ZenFunder is different from other crowdsourcing platforms. It allows cities, elected officials, and neighborhood councils to participate without being charged any processing fees, ensuring that 100% of tax money can be contributed to funding projects.

We’re offering both a free version and a premium version, which includes more robust management tools. For a limited time, all setup costs are waived for mayors, city managers, and local leaders who sign up by May 1, 2013.

Sign Up Now

San Jose’s Councilman Pete Constant is the first customer to sign up for the ZenFunder platform and has several active projects eligible for funding. His projects focus on supplies for a local library and for crosswalks to increase safety. See these live examples here and here.

Contact Us About

CEO Jason A. Kiesel receiving the 2013 IBM Beacon Finalist Award

Using CitySourced, residents report broken street lights, potholes, graffiti, and other issues directly through the native smartphone apps built on iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone. These reports contain detailed information provided by the user, including location information and a photo. Using software we developed, these reports are automatically added to IBM Maximo, software used to maintain assets. Once that report is updated or resolved in Maximo, CitySourced notifies the app user, creating seamless two-way communication between the resident and their government.

In addition to partnerships with IBM customers Los Angeles Unified School District and the City and County of Honolulu, CitySourced has deployed its mobile reporting solution worldwide, including in San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Omaha. International customers include cities in Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Abu Dhabi.

About CitySourced Contact Us

We also get to control our geo-location tools, avoding problems where the device can’t accurately locate addresses with the native APIs. Testing our application against other similar map based applications proves our point. All the others have the flaws and inconsistent data Apple feeds back to them. CitySourced is ecstatic on our bet with Esri. They’ve  enabled us to keep control of our application and even deliver higher levels of customization for customers who wanted to use their own high quality, authoritative maps like UCLA, Redlands, and Honolulu.

Thanks Esri – we’re so thankful for your technology and proud to be a gold partner!

UPDATE: Below is a map we found at ArcGIS Online. It’s an authoritative map produced by the City of Indianapolis, and it’s got some incredible detail.

Now with IBM’s analytic s technology and the CitySourced mobile app, students along with faculty and staff can act as sensors reporting maintenance problems they see first hand using their mobile devices. Issues such as leaky faucets, smashed windows, graffiti, broken toilets and more are now being reported along with the correct location of the issues.

All reporting issues sent with a simple text or photo goes directly to the school’s maintenance office. Each request also contains GIS information to pinpoint locations so workers know exactly where to route staff, saving time and resources. Within the first 8 months of launching, the school system cut its maintenance request processing expenses by 80%.

For the full article click here.

The app is free for resident to download and install and is available on various platforms including the iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone. Users are able to record images, video and audio of issues such as potholes or graffiti, add a message and send it directly to City personnel. The application uses geo-tagging technology to automatically provide the problems location, simplifying the reporting process for users.

Using Redlands 311, smartphone users can report problems including:

- Abandoned bikes, vehicles and shopping carts
- Loose, dead or biting animals
- Graffiti
- Potholes
- Flooding
- Homeless encampments or nuisances
- Illegal dumping
- Illegal fires
- Illegal signs
- Parking violations
- Overgrown or problem trees and plants
- Roadway or sidewalk dangers
- Non- working streetlights
- Polluting vehicles

This is the second award for the Redlands 311 app. In May the Center for Digital Government selected Redlands for its 2012 Best of California award for Best Application Serving the Public. Award winners are recognized at the League of California Cities Annual Conference, in Western City magazine, and on the Leagues website at http://www.cacities.org/Top/Partners/Helen-Putnam-Awards.aspx.

For full article click here.

Cassandra Barker, General Manager of Map Data Services showed how easy it is to use the CitySourced app. She opened the app on her iPhone, took a picture of an “incident”, confirmed the location and included a short description. Once she pressed submit, the report showed up in the CitySourced console, ready for the appropriate authorities to action. Cassie highlighted that users can report on anything from noise disturbances, potholes, fallen trees and lost shopping trolleys. Drawing on crowdsourcing principles, the app can be used by anybody with a smartphone, effectively deputising the entire community in working together towards a common goal.

CitySourced is proud to be partnering with such a great company. Together, they will be bringing mapping applications to a broader audience and are challenging the traditional boundaries of GIS.

Excellent work by MapData Services!

For the full article click here.

“Citizen’s App” allows a user to capture a photo, video, or audio of the problem. The user then uploads the media and, along with GPS location information pulled directly from the device, submits a report directly to the appropriate department. Once a report is submitted, feedback is provided to the user based on the action taken by the department handling the report.

Using “Citizen’s App” allows the city to use technology to save time and money, while improving accountability. In addition, the application verifies that the item being reported is within the city boundaries. If there is a pothole, for instance, outside the city boundaries, the GPS tracking service from the device the sender is using will identify the location of the issue being reported and notify the sender.

Download App

• iTunes
• Android
• Windows Phone

Press Coverage

• Citizen’s App Press Release

Here are some tips for local governments looking to build an official mobile app. Two IT experts from Redlands, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA give some great advice.

1. Keep it simple
Don’t overdo it. The app should mean one thing when you publicize it. Multiple functions may require a separate app or system.

2. Be open to ideas
Engage other departments in the design and functionality of the app.

3. Know your audience
The Internet is accessed more frequently via mobile solutions by people below the poverty line (due to the low initial price point). You’re involving a new group and need to plan your outreach accordingly.

4. Make it relevant
Know what functions and issues are of concern to the community and make your app more than just a problem reporting program.

5. Location, location, location
If your app doesn’t have a spatial component to it and you don’t have an ability to extract GIS information from the app, you’re more than missing the boat — you don’t know where the water is.

6. Data integration
Make sure the mobile app can feed into your existing work order or dispatch systems. You don’t want to waste staff time trying to bridge systems

7. Cross-platform support
Don’t leave two-thirds of your public unable to interact with their local government easily because you decide to only develop on one platform.

Go to the full GovTech article here.

Mayor Jim Suttle uses the new "Omaha Mobile App" on his iPhone to take a photo of graffiti on a piece of equipment in Essex Park in South Omaha. Photo: City of Omaha

The Omaha Mobile App provides a simple and intuitive platform empowering residents to identify civic issues (public safety, quality of life, environmental issues, etc.) and report them to City Hall for quick resolution. It uses geo-tagging technology to automatically provide the problem’s location, simplifying the reporting process for users while increasing the reliability of report location for the service crews.

Through the Omaha Mobile App, users will be able to report problems for the city to address, including:

• Abandoned bicycles and vehicles
• Deceased animals
• Bulky items
• Graffiti
• Illegal dumping
• Broken sidewalks
• Potholes
• Overgrown trees

The application is available free of charge for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Windows phones.

Download App

• iTunes
• Android
• Windows

Press Coverage

• Omaha Mayor’s Office
• Omaha.com

We’ve certainly learned a lot in our time. But, what does this all have to do with flying drones you ask?

Well, this year we decided to step up our Exhibit Booth efforts and hold a contest to giveaway a Parrot AR Drone 2.0. This hovering, spinning device was a hit! It helped us attract large crowds and easily grabbed passerby’s attention. Any one was allowed to enter and we were able to easily collect contact information from over 500 individuals. Our lucky winner was Allen Wright, a GIS Technician from City of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Here’s a video of the drone in flight

So what makes for a great giveaway? From our experience, here are our keys to success.

3 Keys to Conference Contest Prizes

1. Make it Unique

I love my iPad. Gift cards are nice. But, the endless rows of exhibitors begin to blend together. Therefore, if your prize is unique, you’ll grab much more attention, and other conference attendees will help spread the word. They become your own brand ambassador. Sweet!

2. Your Audience is #1

you’ve got to keep the interest of your audience in mind. Esri UC is about the power of GIS and how maps and data can solve major problems. As a result, it attracts many scientists and techies. What’s great about the drone is that it involves technology, but at the core it’s a high-tech toy. It speaks to the child in us all. Plus, many of our participants mentioned their own kids really wanting one of these. We struck a deep chord with our audience. Are your prizes and contests invoking this type of response?

3. Don’t Forget Cost

Spend too little and you’ll not get very far with conference attendees. Blow your marketing budget on an expensive prize and you’ll attract too many low quality leads. If money wasn’t an issue, it would be easy to find amazing prizes. You need to be creative to find your cost sweet spot, but remember that one prize giveaway should only account for a reasonable portion of your marketing and event budget.

Check out other great images from the event and leave your thoughts and questions in the comments!

PeoriaAz Civic Reporter allows a user to capture a photo, video, or audio of the problem. The user then uploads the media and, along with GPS location information pulled directly from the device, submits a report directly to the city’s appropriate department. Once a report is submitted, feedback is provided to the user based on the action taken by the department handling the report.

Using PeoriaAz Civic Reporter allows the city to use technology to save time and money, while improving accountability to Peoria citizens. In addition, the application verifies that the item being reported is within the city boundaries. If there is a pothole, for instance, outside the city boundaries, the GPS tracking service from the device the sender is using will identify the location of the issue being reported and notify the sender.

The application is an efficient way to report nuisances, dangerous roads, and broken traffic lights, as well as many other items the city can address. The app does tell you that if you have a real emergency, you should call 911 and will prompt you to do so with a button.

Peoria residents can download the PeoriaAz Civic Reporter application to a phone, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone, by using app store on their device. For residents who don’t use or have a SmartPhone, reporting of city streets or environment issues may still be submitted online at either www.peoriaaz.gov or by calling 623-773-5150.

Use PeoriaAz Civic Reporter for the items listed:

Dead Animal

Flooding

Graffiti

Homeless Nuisance

Illegal Dumping

Illegal Signage

Manhole

Other (Not Listed, Please Describe)

Parking Illegally

Pothole

Sewer

Shopping Carts

Sidewalk Cracked/Obstructed

Street Light

Street Signage

Traffic Signal

Trash Can/Recycle Bin

Water Leak

Weeds/Plants/Trees

We intend to jointly create market-leading mobile products and services designed to offer citizens and governmental agencies an unrivalled choice and opportunity. As each company would focus on its core competencies, the partnership creates the opportunity for rapid time to market execution. Additionally, we plan to work together to integrate key assets and create completely new service offerings, while extending established products and services to new markets.

Under the partnership:

• VUEWorks® and CitySourced will collaborate on joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.
• CitySourced content and application store will be integrated with VUEWorks for a more compelling consumer experience.
• VUEWorks is able to provide its existing citizen portal to customers desiring a lightweight solution while now being able to offer a more robust citizen facing mobile application to meet the business needs of the municipalities we serve.

About VUEWorks®

VUEWorks® is dedicated to providing scalable, flexible work and asset management software and related services for any organization, in any industry, that wants to manage infrastructure assets more cost effectively.

VUEWorks® operates on top of ArcGIS Server, includes a hierarchical facility manager, and works entirely through a web browser.

People use VUEWorks® in a variety of ways in different industries to manage all types of assets including underground pipes, pavement, bridges, signs, treatment plants, stations, buildings and more. Some use the software for simple map viewing and easy access to linked documents while others have connected it up to their payroll system so all workers can submit their time through VUEWorks®. Many use the asset management modules to rate condition, track value, and prioritize improvements, cost out projects, and budget for the future with decay curves. It’s designed for the enterprise but built so anyone can use it in a variety of ways.

VUEWorks® is supported by a team of professional engineers, work management experts, developers and support specialists who are dedicated to supporting the VUEWorks® community of customers and partners.

About CitySourced

CitySourced is a real time mobile civic engagement platform. CitySourced provides a simple and intuitive platform empowering residents to identify civic issues (public safety, quality of life, environmental issues, etc.) and report them to city hall for quick resolution; an opportunity for government to use technology to save time and money plus improve accountability to those they govern; and a positive, collaborative platform for real action. A picture tells a thousand words and CitySourced makes it a snap.

This new app allows people to report issues quickly and conveniently using their Smartphone, including iPhones, Androids, Blackberries and Windows Phone. Smartphone capabilities allow for residents to report issues via a photo or video, geo-tag it, and submit it to the town very quickly. The issue is then routed to the appropriate City department for resolution.

The app can be downloaded from the Smartphone’s store or marketplace by searching for ‘My Marana’. Additional information on this service and links to download the app can be found at Marana’s site.

“CP Connect” allows a user to capture a photo, video, or audio of the problem. The user then uploads the media and, along with GPS location information pulled directly from the device, submits a report directly to the appropriate department. Once a report is submitted, feedback is provided to the user based on the action taken by the department handling the report.

Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell, a longtime proponent of leveraging the latest technology for City government to improve citizens’ lives, says,

Using “CP Connect” allows the city to use technology to save time and money, while improving accountability. In addition, the application verifies that the item being reported is within the city boundaries. If there is a pothole, for instance, outside the city boundaries, the GPS tracking service from the device the sender is using will identify the location of the issue being reported and notify the sender.

Download App

• iTunes
• Android
• Windows Phone
• Blackberry

Press Coverage

• City of Cedar Park
• Cedar Park-Leander Statesman
• Impact News
• Austin Your News Network
• City Prezi

Video Highlights:

• Citizens create service requests at the click of a button. <Tweet This>
• Take a picture and report the issue. <Tweet This>
• Integrated directly with 311 Call Center Dispatchers. <Tweet This>
• 2-way communication ensures residents get real-time updates on service requests. <Tweet This>
• Code Enforcement tracking, including GPS location, timestamp, and photos. <Tweet This>
• Gather direct resident feedback and input. <Tweet This>

Download App

• Android
• iTunes

‘Rialto CA iTip!’ allows a user to capture a photo, video, or audio of the problem. The user then uploads the media and, along with GPS location information pulled directly from the device, submits a report directly to the appropriate department. Once a report is submitted, feedback is provided to the user based on the action taken by the department handling the report.

Using  ‘Rialto CA iTip!’ allows the city to use technology to save time and money, while improving accountability. In addition, the application verifies that the item being reported is within the city boundaries. If there is a pothole, for instance, outside the city boundaries, the GPS tracking service from the device the sender is using will identify the location of the issue being reported and notify the sender.

Download App

• iTunes
• Android
• Windows Phone

The app allows residents to report and send photos, video and/or audio recordings of various issues – such as graffiti or potholes in streets – to city staff using geo-tagging technology to automatically target problem locations and, in turn, provides a simple reporting process for users.

The Redlands 311 app, available free for smartphones, allows users to report crime, flooding, homelessness and other issues. Released in February, 2011, the app has helped the city and residents get those problem areas addressed as quickly as possible. Also, the app helps deliver the issues to the right department without word being lost in the shuffle of things.

Rather than have someone come to speak with the city clerk or make a phone call, a work order is created from the app and sent directly to the right department or staff member, said Carl Baker, public information officer for Redlands.

While it didn’t necessarily reduce the workload, Baker continued, it did reduce that workflow system and helped reel in a whole new group of people in the city who were not reporting issues prior to the app’s release.

When released last year, Redlands was only one of four cities in the state to use similar versions of the app, joining San Francisco, Los Angeles and Glendale.

Press:

• The Sun
• Government Technology

The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) defines the long range planning policies and priorities for the community’s future transportation system. It is the region’s blueprint to maintaining access, mobility and clean air for our community. The RTP is a key tool for preserving our quality-of-life including short, safe commutes, a vibrant economy, and clear, blue skies. Under federal regulations, the RTP must be updated every four years. The current RTP is valid until July, 2013.

The purpose of the plan is to support the vision and guiding principles, which encourage:

• Safe & healthy communities
• Economic development & diversification
• Sustainability
• Increased travel choices
• Regional Transportation Plan Goals (Identified by the Working Groups):
• Follow a community-based planning process
• Improve safety
• Integrate all types of transportation
• Integrate land use & economic development
• Incorporate sustainable practices & healthy community objectives
• Manage existing systems efficiently & effectively
• Promote equity & environmental justice
• Invest strategically
• Focus on regional connectivity
• Improve freight & goods movement

Learn more online at http://yourwashoertp.com/