IT solutions for coordinate-based mapping in commercial real estate

¶ … IT Services of BuildingDNA®

I am an IT consultant with the objectives of providing recommendations for BuildingDNA Inc. To assist the company increasing its output and the productivity in the competitive business environment. I am also to provide recommendations for the BuildingDNA on the strategy to employ in implementing IT infrastructure design to achieve a leading ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). The design packages are to assist the company to achieve a leading position in IT infrastructures that include: Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, IT Management and Information Assurance.

More importantly, the goal of the project is to use the IT infrastructures to assist the BuildingDNA, Inc. To fuel very rapid growth by delivering 10-20 maps monthly and reach between 3,000 and 7,000 per month within 3 years. The project also identifies scalable, systematic process and procedure that BuildingDNA will employ in organizing, planning, tracking as well as evaluating the production of online maps in combination of appropriate interfaces to an enterprise level IT infrastructures capable of delivery approximately 3,000 maps monthly

Problem Statement

The critical challenges that BuildingDNA, Inc. is facing is the strategy to employ in identifying the scalable, systematic process to create an effective IT infrastructures. The company is also facing challenges in implementing procedure planning evaluating and tracking online mapping as well as creating appropriate interface to create enterprise-level IT infrastructures that can handle and deliver up to 3,000 maps monthly.

Additional client's business problems are as follows:

BuildingDNA current IT infrastructure, storage capacity, and amount of personnel are not enough to handle the amount of production.

It has also been identified that there are fundamental issues found to be hindering growth of BuildingDNA, Inc. within the existing infrastructure.

Other problem is that the existing IT infrastructures of the BuildingDNA does not have adequate capacity to accommodate the company's growth aspirations.

BuildingDNA also lacks a proper governance to limit unnecessary technology diversity that can occur as the company grows since the technology diversity can lead to an increase in sustainable costs.

The company also lacks the workflow management necessary to ensure that the organization functions at peak efficiency.

With cyber-threats on the rise, BuildingDNA also faces challenges to maintain proper security policy and enforcement.

BuildingDNA does not currently have a sustainable enterprise architecture necessary to maintain the anticipated productivity increase.

The company is also not able to perform functions such as billing customers, tracking orders, scheduling tasks, and several other enterprise resource planning processes.

Moreover, BuildingDNA currently produces dozen building maps monthly for various customers.

The company also aims to expand the production capability by producing a dozen maps monthly between 3000 and 7000 maps per month within three years.

To sustain appropriately-sized IT infrastructure, it is very critical to implement improvements to systems as well as providing a rigorous process of governance and initiate workflow management.

The following BuildingDNA needs are broken down into three major categories: Customer needs, Employee Needs, and Supplier Needs:

Customer Need #1: Improve response time for customer orders

Customer Need #2: Improve scalability to increase production

Customer Need #3: Improve customer experience with ordering services

Customer Need #4: Ensure quality at all levels

Employee Need #1: Provide rapid training for staff on new system

Employee Need #2: Establish easy access to resources needed to accomplish tasks

Employee Need #3: Provide business intelligence for executives

Employee Need #4: Provide time keeping and payment system

Employee Need #5: Provide easy access to company benefits.

The Opportunity

This section provides different goals that can open opportunities for the BuildingDNA:

Goal #1: Support the increase productivity up to 7000 maps per month

Goal #2: Integrate Customer Relationships Management, Human Resources Management, Financial Management, Business Intelligence, Supply Chain, and Workflow Management on new ERP system

Goal #3: Monitor performance, sales volume, productivity, and quality using key performance indicators

Goal#4: Provide all necessary training to employees and customers.

My Recommended Approach

Recommendation #1: Establish virtual datacenter via Amazon Web Services

Recommendation #2: Implement Oracle-based Enterprise Resource Planning system

Recommendation #3: Provide capability to monitor return rates, sales volume, and key satisfaction metrics

Recommendation #4: Institute information assurance best practices

Recommendation #5: Continually monitor system performance and provide change management

Recommendation #6:Provide a performance measurement system to achieve organizational performances.

Recommendation #7:Collecting conformance data and process performances to deliver systematic and timely services.

Recommendation #8: Integrate high quality and effective security systems to protect the IT infrastructures against the internal and external threats.

Recommendation #9: Establish the emerging IT technologies such as high-level configurations to achieve continuous application availability.

Recommendation #10: Provide a dynamic reporting capability to deliver effective services.

Recommendation #11:Integrate effective disaster recovery systems using virtualization method to recover data in case of accident.

Our Proposal

I am an IT professional specializing in four distinct areas of IT design: Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, IT Management, and Information Assurance. The following best practices combine with my experience define the foundation on which this proposal is designed.

Systems Engineering Best Practices

To assist the BuildingDNA delivering quality products to its customers, I decide to design and implement the best systems engineering for the company. The approach to develop and implement BuildingDNA's new infrastructure are follows:

Develop software and hardware conforming to the defined standards that promote interoperability for data, applications, and technology .standards to assist in consistency, improving ability to manage systems, improve user satisfaction, and protect existing IT investments to maximize returns on investment and reduce the cost of operations.

Outsource to a cloud service-provider in order to capitalize on specialized expertise from among vendors. Industry experts should be sourced to assist in the development of the IT infrastructure and adhering to Enterprise Architecture best practices.

Software Engineering Best Practices

Selection and integration of software engineering best practices are critical for the BuildingDNA to follow industry best practices. Different strategies to be used for the project design are as follows:

My design strategies are to use the software engineering tools to provide building service providers their maps in a timely fashion. Building service providers should enjoy competitive market advantages and assist commercial buildings to deliver peak efficiency and profitability. The best practice is also to ensure that customers receive the maps in a timely manner to make BuildingDNA services appreciative and increase the rates of customers returns.

My design method is to assist BuildingDNA improving production methods and customer experience. BuildingDNA plans to increase the number of maps per month from 10-20 per month to 3,000 to 7,000 per month in the next three years. Finding better production methods will help BuildingDNA reach their goals.

Information Assurance Best Practices

The proposal is to integrate effective security system to ensure data is protected from unauthorized use and disclosure and pre-decisional because of the data sensitivity, and level of the proprietary information. "Existing laws and regulations require organization to safeguard the national security through data privacy, while permitting open and free access. Pre-decisional (work-in-progress, not yet authorized for release) information is to be protected to avoid misinterpretation, unwarranted speculation, and inappropriate use." (Minoli, 2008 p 78).

Our solution is to ensure that the enterprise's IP ( Intellectual Property) is protected. This protection is reflected in the IT implementation, architecture, and governance processes.

The technical approach to enhance information assurance is to use firewall, IDS, IPS, and encryption to protect IT infrastructures. The non-technical approach is use security guards to protect the IT infrastructures.

Information Technology Management

As an expert in IT, and years of experience accumulated in IT infrastructures have assisted me to develop necessary extensive knowledge and objectivity to construct a reliable and comprehensive infrastructures management systems that will serve BuildingDNA for several years.

Infrastructure management solutions are based on proven methodology and customized to fit BuildingDNA IT objectives. The key to success lies in putting together the right group of people, drawing on the subject-matter expertise and intimate knowledge for the staff of BuildingDNA.

The IT management approach is also to examine the factors that drive BuildingDNA to achieve market opportunities, cost reduction, risk avoidance, compliance, and creating a roadmap to achieve business advantages for the BuildingDNA.

In essence, my proposed design solutions follow software and hardware standards to promote data application, and technology interoperability standards to ensure coherence, and improve ability to manage systems, raise user satisfaction, and protect current IT investments. The strategy is also to maximize the return on investment and reduces costs to derive support from suppliers, and facilitate integration.

My proposed governance strategy is also to establish that changes in technologies and applications to assist the company to meet business needs. Business driven changes promote an atmosphere where the information environment changes are to reflect business needs, rather than changing the business to reflect IT changes. The strategy is to achieve the continuity of the business operations.

Execution Strategy

My strategy is to incorporate best practices, expertise, and an effective approach to manage IT deliverables. The following section describes my project methods, including how the project will be managed, a proposed execution schedule, and rationale for the suggested project approach.

Technical/Project Approach

Systems Engineering Technical Approach

My approach to employ in assisting BuildingDNA developing and implementing new infrastructure is to adopt standards and best practices as put forth by The Open Group. The Open Group are the developers of the TOGAF®, which is a de-facto global framework standard for Enterprise Architecture (The Open Group, 2011). My approach is also to utilize standard systems engineering phases for the design strategy as being adopted by NASA.

My software engineering technical approach is to use Water Fall model to design, research, develop and test the software system for the business purpose. The waterfall model is the sequential design process flowing downwards starting from initiation, conception, design, analysis, construction, testing, implementation, production and end at maintenance for the development of software.

My IA (information assurance) approach is to manage information related risks for the company IT assets to ensure integrity, confidentiality, availability, and authentication of the IT infrastructures. The information assurance approach is to use both technical and non-technical approach to protect IT infrastructures of the BuildingDNA. The technical approach includes the use of firewall system, IDS (intrusion detection system) IPS (intrusion prevention system), and integration of encryption. The non-technique approach is use the security guards to protect the IT infrastructures. (Crnkovic, Peter, & Larsson, 2002).

My IT management approach is to use the policies, standards, procedures and guidelines to manage data in a secured, consistent, and structured manner. The information management approach is also to govern, collect, organize, secure, use, share and maintain data to enhance the IT management. IT governance is also used to assist in enhancing the administration, and operation of the company data. The strategy assists in enhancing data privacy, and confidentiality. In essence, my IT management approach is also to secure the company data from unauthorized alteration, deletion and data loss through the IT security application .(Butcher and Rowley, 1998).

Systems Engineering Section

Resources

To select a single cloud service that will provide the appropriate services for the business needs of BuildingDNA.

To request customer validation of all detailed technical requirements in form of a System's Requirements Review control gate (NASA, 2013)

To develop access to BuildingDNA facilities and system-level access or assistance for technical personnel

To require adequate amount of storage ( such as 3 TB), compute (Intel core i7 processors), Network bandwidth (100Mbps)

To identify BuildingDNA technical POCs

Systems Project Deliverables

Following is a complete list of all project deliverables:

Deliverable

Description

Systems Requirements Document (SRD)

This document articulates all the detailed customer requirements and is validated by the customer. Once validation is received, the SRR control gate, and the design commences. Additional requirements are the scope creep, and reviewed on case-by-case basis.

Preliminary Design Review (PDR) document

The document provides the initial draft design to the customer for review and approval at the PDR control gate.

Critical Design Review (CDR) document

The document presents the final design to the customer for review and approval at the Critical Design Review control gate.

Bill of Materials (BOE)

The document consists of complete list of equipment that will be presented to the customer.

Pre-Ship Review (PSR)

Inventory of the BOE.

Installation

This is part of the implementation of design.

Test Readiness Review (TRR)

A TRR reveals how the test article (hardware/software), test facility, support personnel, and test procedures will be ready for testing and data acquisition, reduction, and control (NASA, 2013).

System Verification/Validation Report (SVR)

The document ensures that all requirements are satisfied in the design process and document provides the SVR report of the tests to be delivered to BuildingDNA.

Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plan

The document provides succinct steps that the customer will take to escalate technical failures.

Sustainment Plan

The document provides a strategy for establishing a refresh cycle and monitoring health of infrastructure.

Timeline for Execution

The key dates of the systems engineering project are outlined below. Dates are best-guess estimates and are subject to change until a contract is executed..

Description

Start Date

End Date

Duration

Project Start

11/24/2015

03/25/2015

105 Days*

System Requirements Review and approval

11/24/2015

12/08/2015

10 Days

Preliminary Design Review and approval

12/09/2015

01/07/2016

20 Days

Critical Design Review and approval

01/08/2016

01/08/2016

1 Day

Bill of Materials (BOE) Review and approval

01/11/2016

02/01/2016

15 Days

Pre-Ship Review (PSR) approval

02/02/2016

02/05/2016

4 Days

Installation

02/08/2016

02/26/2016

30 Days

System Verification/Validation Report Review and approval

02/19/2016

02/26/2016

5 Days

Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plan Review and approval

02/29/2016

03/11/2016

10 Days

Sustainment Plan Review and approval

03/11/2016

03/25/2016

10 Days

*Business days

Supplied Material

The following materials are to be supplied by the BuildingDNA to complete the project. To assist me meeting the project milestones, the material must be supplied on schedule. The due dates are presented in the following table based on current proposed project dates:

Materials to be supplied by BuildingDNA

Due Date*

Conference room

11/24/2015

Staging area for equipment

02/01/2016

Internet access

11/24/2015

Telephones

11/24/2015

Loading Doc

02/01/2016

If traveling to Latvia is required, I will need Visas and paid travel accommodations

11/24/2015

Software Engineering Section

Resources

Different strategies will be used for the project design . First, I will use the waterfall development model to design the software. I choose the model for the design process because of its benefits over other software design methodology. For example, the waterfall model is cost effective because it assists developers to complete the first phase before proceeding to the next phase. The design strategy assists in detecting and correcting errors before proceeding to the next phase. I will also use the Java programming to develop the software. Moreover, I will use the Oracle database to develop the database to store the data to enhance easy data management. More importantly, I will integrate different security procedures to protect data from unauthorized access. However, Building DNA will need to allocate both financial and human resources to ensure that the project is completed successfully. (McLaughlin, Pollice, and West, 2007).

Software Project Deliverables

Following is a complete list of all project deliverables:

Deliverable

Description

Project setup

The setup defines the project objectives, selects and approves the project implementation approach. The setup also describes the estimated timeframe that will be used to achieve the project objective. The risks analysis is also to be used in identifying the risks associated with the project to enhance successful project completion. The set up will organize and assemble the project team that define the project to deliver high project plan.

Design

The project manager, programmer, and information architect are the project stakeholders to design the project. The project owner will communicate the project requirements to the project stakeholders to identify the overall project benefits. At the stage, the project milestones are developed and commit human resources for the project realization.

Build

This stage will hold the kick off meeting to present the project plan. The control and measure to achieve the team performances are developed at this stage to manage effective communicate plan for the project. The stage also responds to the threat and risks associated to the project to achieve the project objectives.

Timeline for Execution

The software engineering key project dates are outlined below. Dates are estimated and are subject to change until a contract is executed.

Description

Start Date

End Date

Duration

Project Start

11/24/2015

03/25/2015

105 Days*

Software Requirements Review & approval

11/24/2015

12/08/2015

10 Days

System Design Review & approval

12/09/2015

01/07/2016

20 Days

Critical Design Review & approval

01/08/2016

01/08/2016

1 Day

BOE (Bill of Materials) Review & approval

01/11/2016

02/01/2016

15 Days

PRS (Pre-Ship Review) approval

02/02/2016

02/05/2016

4 Days

Phase 1 Complete

Installation

02/08/2016

02/26/2016

30 Days

System Validation / Verification Review & approval

02/19/2016

02/26/2016

5 Days

O & M (Operations and Maintenance) Plan Review & approval

02/29/2016

03/11/2016

10 Days

Sustainment Plan Review & approval

03/11/2016

03/25/2016

10 Days

Project End

Supplied Material

The following materials are to be supplied by BuildingDNA to meet project milestones, and the material must be supplied on schedule. The due dates are presented in the following table that represent our best estimated dates based on the current proposed project dates:

Materials to be supplied by BuildingDNA

Due Date*

Conference room

11/24/2015

Staging area for equipment

02/01/2016

Internet access

11/24/2015

Telephones

11/24/2015

Loading Doc

02/01/2016

If traveling to Latvia is required, our firm will need Visas and paid travel accommodations

11/24/2015

Information Assurance (IA) Section

Resources

The IA (information assurance) is used to defend the information systems against internal and external threats to ensure integrity, availability, and confidentiality of the information systems. The IA also assists in providing the restoration of the information systems. The project will use both technical and non-technical procedures as the resources to enhance information assurance. The project will use firewall system, IDS, IPS, and encryption systems to enhance information. Moreover, security guards will also be used to protect the IT infrastructures against the unauthorized access. (Hawaii Government, 2014).

Information Assurance Project Deliverables

Following is a complete list of all project deliverables:

Deliverable

Description

Project setup

At the stage, the project stakeholder will provide all necessary financial human resources for the acquisition of the materials to achieve information assurance objectives. The project team is assembled to deliver the project plan.

Design

The project uses the access controls to provide the PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) and two-factor authentication to enhance security architecture in order to protect information system assets. The use of cryptography is used to encrypt and decrypt information to secure security control. The physical protection is also used to protect IT infrastructures against the intruders. Network security such as firewall, IDS, and IPS are also used for the IT protection.

Build

At this stage the project stakeholders will hold the kick off meeting for the project plan. The stage also responds to the threat and risks associated to the project to achieve the information assurance objectives.

Information Assurance Costs

Item

Estimated hardware costs - Capital Expenditures (CAPEX)

Estimated cost- Sustainment -- Operating Expenditures (OPEX)

System software

$15,000

$6,000

Webserver

$10,000

$7,500

App server

$25,000

$12,000

Application software

$14,000

$7,500

Security software

$25,000

$12,500

Administration utilities

$19,000

$10,000

Networking equipment and cabling

$13,000

$10,500

Any other cost

$12,000

$7,000

Total cost

$133,000

$73,000

Quality Control

Activity

Proposed quality control activities

Software design

Peer review, expert review, and managerial review

Database design

Peer review and unit testing of table scripts

Backup Strategy

Peer review strategic plan

Security Architecture

Peer review architecture

Any other activity

As necessary

Selected Standards

Activity

Selected standard

Software design

Conforming to the ISO 9001 standards, and ISO 9241 standard

Database design

Following the SQL Query standard to conform to the following database object:

1.Tables

2. Columns (Primary, Composite and Foreign Keys)

3. Indexes

4. Constraints

5. Views

6. Stored Procedures

7. Triggers

Backup Strategy

SQL Server will be used to achieve the most optimal backup strategy. The Recovery Model, Full Backup and Differential Backup are used for the backup strategy.

Security Architecture

The security architecture consist of firewall, IDS, IPS, and encryption.

High Level Design Diagram

The following is the high-level diagram for the IT architecture

Timeline for Execution

The information assurance key project dates are outlined below. Dates are estimated and are subject to change until a contract is executed.

Description

Start Date

End Date

Duration

Project Start

11/24/2015

03/25/2015

105 Days*

Software Requirements Review & approval

11/24/2015

12/08/2015

10 Days

System Design Review & approval

12/09/2015

01/07/2016

20 Days

Critical Design Review & approval

01/08/2016

01/08/2016

1 Day

BOE (Bill of Materials) Review & approval

01/11/2016

02/01/2016

15 Days

PRS (Pre-Ship Review) approval

02/02/2016

02/05/2016

4 Days

Phase 1 Complete

Installation

02/08/2016

02/26/2016

30 Days

System Validation / Verification Review & approval

02/19/2016

02/26/2016

5 Days

O & M (Operations and Maintenance) Plan Review & approval

02/29/2016

03/11/2016

10 Days

Sustainment Plan Review & approval

03/11/2016

03/25/2016

10 Days

Project End

Supplied Material

The following materials are to be supplied by BuildingDNA to meet project milestones, and the material must be supplied on schedule. The due dates are presented in the following table, which represent our estimation based on current proposed project dates:

IT Management Section

Resources

Select a single cloud service that will provide the appropriate services for BuildingDNA's business needs.

Access to BuildingDNA's facilities.

POC's from BuildingDNA for assistance and information

Require customer validation of all business processes.

Activity

Selected standard

Governance

Processes adopted to ensure effective and efficient IT Management

Configuration Management

CMMI Level 3 adopted for CCB (Configuration Control Board)

Policy Enforcement

CMMI Level 3 for Policy Enforcement

Monitoring

Oversight of operations, maintenance, hiring, and training

Business Intelligence

Standard of cloud service adopted

ITM Project Deliverables

Following is a complete list of all project deliverables:

Deliverable

Description

Governance plan

Defines the processes used for IT Management

CMMI Level 3 Deliverables

Begin the process of certifying CMMI level 3

Business Intelligence Plan

Data Analysis Process

Hiring Personnel

Hire between 100 and 120 personnel

Oversee Training

Training Program for production employees

Human Resource Management

Software Product in the cloud

Accounting Program

Enterprise Resource Planning program

Training Plan

As part of an IT infrastructure project, the following training is necessary:

End-user training

Train end users to efficiently utilize the system for transaction processing and to perform their business functions.

Systems administration training

The designated individuals need to administer the system efficiently by learning how to deliver backups, restore data whenever necessary, perform user management (add/delete users, grant/modify user privileges), enforce security policies, produce exception reports, and so on.

Network administration training

We need to train the network administrators in the topology and architecture of the infrastructure, maintenance (both preventive and breakdown) of the network components, reporting incidents, incident tracking and resolution, etc.

Management information system (MIS) training for managers

We need to train them regarding special MIS reports and how to extract and interpret these reports.

For each of the training programs, we need to arrange for:

Training materials including presentation slides, reading handouts, exercises if necessary, and faculty notes

Trainee who can handle training sessions and impart training to the participants

Training equipment like PC projectors, classrooms, scribbling pads, etc.

Scheduling training programs in consultation with the concerned departments

Release of individuals for training

Preparation of materials for obtaining and evaluating feedback on the training

Timeline for Execution

Key project dates are outlined below. Dates are best-guess estimates and are subject to change until a contract is executed.

Description

Start Date

End Date

Duration

Project Start

11/24/2015

03/25/2015

105 Days*

Governance Plan Reviewed and Signed

11/24/2015

12/08/2015

10 Days

CMMI Level 3 Deliverables Started

12/09/2015

01/04/2016

25 Days

Business Intelligence Plan Reviewed and Signed

01/08/2016

01/13/2016

5 Days

Personnel Hired

01/11/2016

02/01/2016

15 Days

Training of Personnel

02/02/2016

02/12/2016

10 Days

Human Resource Management Plan

02/06/2016

02/26/2016

20 Days

Accounting Program Complete

03/05/2016

03/25/2016

20 Days

Project End

03/25/2016

03/25/2016

Supplied Material

The following materials are to be supplied by BuildingDNA for this project. To meet the project milestones, this material must be supplied on schedule. The due dates are estimated based on current proposed project dates:

Materials to be supplied by BuildingDNA