While I don’t normally like to touch too strongly on politics in any article or blog I write, I saw something today on the GovLoop site (posted by Andrew Krzmarzick) that is so potentially life-changing, you need to see it. This very short video presents a thought-provoking and powerful message about how government is and could be structured. I leave it for you to draw your own conclusions and ideas:
Today I read a recently released white paper, Government 2.0: Building Communities with Web 2.0 and Social Networking. Overall, I thought the paper did a good job summarizing much of the ongoing, online discussions and research on this topic. However, I sensed an underlying attitude that concerned me as a government employee. This unspoken, read-between-the-lines belief by the author was finally put to words in the conclusion when he stated: “Ultimately CIOs must decide for themselves if Web 2.0 technology makes sense for their community and if this is the time to invest in it.”
Now, I don’t know about the rest of you working in government, but I can’t begin to tell you how many times our city attorney has lectured me that we are only employed to give advice; it it the job of the elected officials to make the final decisions. I realize we are left to make some decisions on a daily basis without having to run to the mayor or city manager each time, so I take his comment as meaning the “big” decisions. As the city engineer, I can make recommendations about what roads need to be repaired, but in the end, the mayor and the aldermen make the final choice. And I make the repairs based on their decision.
So making the statement that ultimately it will be up to the CIO to decide if his community should embrace Web 2.0 is like saying it is up to our city attorney to decide if he should begin legal proceedings to condemn and demolish someone’s home that doesn’t meet local ordinances. All of us would think that is ridiculous. Those types of community-wide decisions that have the chance to impact our citizens and expend funds must be made by the elected officials. CIOs can recommend and present implementation of Web 2.0, but ultimately, the elected officials will be the ones to accept or deny its use.
The role of the CIO is something I have been thinking about for some time and even more so since meeting Bill Greeves, Director of Information Technology for Roanoke County, Virginia. He and I co-founded the MuniGov 2.0 group to serve as a resource for local government folks looking at Web 2.0 implementation. Not one of the members of this group, who are primarily people working in the information technology or computer fields, have ever expressed an attitude or opinion similar to that put forth by this report. In fact, all have viewed their role in this as a professional who has recognized the need to develop the skills necessary to face the future Web 2.0-related demands of their agency. They all have approached implementation of Web 2.0 as that of a person who will most likely lead the charge, but primarily as a facilitator, collaborator, and mentor to others in their workforce.
Their approach has restored an image I had of that profession that was obviously undeserving but brought about by years of hearing others in government complain about the IT department. The complaints I have heard are that IT prevents them from being able to do their work by restricting access to programs. Talking with Bill about this, I realize that IT has an important responsibility to protect the security of the network, and most likely, these restrictions have been set in place by IT to accomplish that task. But Bill takes a very practical approach to this by indicating that while security is vital, that goal should not keep an IT professional from working with others in the agency to investigate implementing needed software. (See his article on this – published by the same entity that published the report above – addressing this topic from an IT professional’s perspective: Can’t We All Just Get Along?)
As we move into the future and acceptance of Web 2.0, I do believe that IT professionals will be moved out of the basement (as so humorously depicted in the British television show, the IT Crowd) and take a well-deserved place on the upper floors. And I believe that instead of complaining about how IT keeps everyone from being able to do what they want to do, people need to realize how much IT does to make sure they can keep working. We need to “friend an IT person,” find out what their job really entails, and realize that as computers increase in importance, it will be these folks who most likely will be leading the charge. But the charge will not be successful if they do not obtain the trust and buy-in from other departments (and comments like those in this report do not facilitate that type of cooperation with people who already look upon the IT department with distrust and consternation). And no one will be charging at all without the green light from elected officials.
For the past two years, I have been exploring Second Life as a potential tool for civil engineers, public works professionals, and local government. Now, thanks to Silverwing Benoir, a friend of mine from Second Life, I will have the opportunity to present what I have discovered, try to offer some insight into future applications, and hopefully generate some interesting discussion. If anyone is interested in attending this talk, titled Simulating Civil Engineering Projects in Virtual Worlds, it will be held in Second Life at noon (EST), Monday, Dec. 29, 2008. You can register for the presentation for free at the Value-Train Website.
FLSmidth Cement Plant in Second Life
Ever since our city first became aware of the possibility of a federal stimulus package focusing on public works, we have been busy as bees finding “shovel-ready” projects to submit for funding. Because I realize efforts like ours are now going on all over the U.S., I thought it might be helpful to post some example projects local governments could submit that require minimal planning and design:
Purchase/produce and replace street signs throughout a community or region – everyone knows the federal government recently passed legislation that requires all of us to upgrade our street signs by a specific date to meet new reflectivity regulations. Although we do have several years in order to comply, this is an expensive and unfunded mandate, so why not use the monies from the stimulus package to purchase or produce and install your signs. This is a relatively easy project to put together for bidding. Local government can even take advantage of existing state joint purchasing programs and bid out only the installation. This idea puts to work all the suppliers and manufacturers who make sign materials as well as the laborers who will install the signs.
Purchase, install, and implement a water leak detection service – Over the last few years, companies have developed leak-detection technology that involves placing a small device on the “city-side” of a customer’s water service lines. The device listens to the sounds in the water mains and reports the possibility of water leaks back to the provider.
Leak Detection Report - Green: No Leak, Red: Leak
Unfortunately for our city (from a funding view), we have already set up a system like this. But for those who have not, they would get started by simply contacting a company that provides this technology to get a proposed price. The actual work involves the set-up of a fixed network and installation of data recorders/transmitters. A leak detection project puts to work those who manufacture/supply the recorders/transmitters, electricians, and plumbers. In addition the end result of this project is the reduction of water loss.
Purchase and install a fixed-network metering project – while you’re in the process of setting up a fixed network to read your leak detection units, why not think about installing either new meters (if needed) or a metering data collection system that reads meters on a 24/7 basis. Again, little planning and design. Simply contact the metering/fixed network companies and get your pricing in order. Like the leak detection system, this project puts to work the companies that manufacture/supply the units along with employing plumbers to install meters. Plus this system can also help decrease water loss.
The important thing to remember as we up together our lists is that not every worthwhile project has to involve significant engineering or even shovels to put people to work. If anyone has thought of any other easy-to-implement ideas, please post them in a comment and help your fellow, public works brethren. And if you don’t work for local government, think about passing along the ideas to your local officials. Remember in the end, it is about putting people all across America to work and improving our public works assets.
Public Utility Crew Setting a Pole
Yesterday, while our water crews were repairing a major water main break in our city, I spent some time talking with a guy from our local gas company. He had been sent to the site to watch out for the gas main that was located in the same trench. Our conversation made me realize that something important might be missing from President-elect Obama’s Public Works initiative: the impact this work will have on public utilities owned by non-government entities.
You can all relate to this. How many times does the gas/power/phone/cable have to move their lines or send out crews because we are constructing a project? And how many times do they beg you to let them know about work a year in advance so they can budget for it? And how many times do you wonder about building brand new pavement over gas/power/phone/cable lines that are ancient and prone to malfunction? Now imagine $700 billion worth of work being done in 12 to 18 months time with only a few months notice. You know public utilities have not budgeted for all the relocations and other work that will be necessary to construct $700 billion worth of improvements.
So what is the answer? The public works initiative is a great plan to get America back to work and at the same time rebuild our infrastructure. But we need to remember that public utilities have the potential to be severely impacted by this work. They need to be at the table with us as we move forward. If we don’t address their costs with this stimulus package, these extra costs could be passed onto consumers. Allowing them to access funds will ensure these projects will be done in a timely manner and will put even more people to work. For the public works initiative to be successful, I think we need to move over and get some more chairs.
Tired of trying to get a curb ramp built that meets the ADA? Instead of photos of your kids are you carrying around pictures of a compliant curb ramp to show the contractor? Join the club – ever since the curb ramp section of the ADA was finalized, sidewalk design and construction have never been the same. The basic concept is simple; the need is imperative. However, getting it to all fit existing conditions and educating the contractor about the requirements have been the stumbling blocks.
This is why the Public Works Resource Center in Second Life has started a project to develop 3-D visualizations of the design solutions presented in the following Special Report: Accessible Public Rights-of-Way Planning and Design for Alterations, developed by PROWAAC. Perhaps seeing the designs in 3-D in a virtual environment can enhance the understanding of these regulations.
3-D Visualization of the Design Solution 1.01 in the PROWAAC Report
For now, as each 3-D build becomes available, it will be added to a design solution libraries at the Public Works Resource Center in Second Life.