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RECIPIENT: Virginia Department of Forestry Integrated Forest Information Resource System (IFRIS)
In the past, when forestry rangers, management and loggers were in the field, they relied on maps and property pin markers to determine location and used paper-based maps and input for their business processes. Through two major and sequential IT initiatives, the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has facilitated a paradigm shift in the way their field personnel work. “There are more than 15 million acres of forest land in Virginia that require sound management to ensure long-term protection and sustainability of this resource. IFRIS enables wider availability of critical Department of Forestry data, minimizes errors, and increases workforce productivity through an innovative application of technology. This tool is the first of its kind in the nation and is being used as a prototype for other states.” Mindia Brown, GIS Manager, Department of Forestry, Commonwealth of Virginia
The integration of geospatial mapping, GPS-enabled pocket PC devices and forestry business applications have dramatically changed the way the VDOF does business. The change enables superior management of the state’s more than 15 million acres of forest land, maximizes financial and human resources and significantly improves service delivery to citizens and businesses.
The Integrated Forest Information Resource System (IFRIS) is a centralized, Web-based enterprise system that sews geospatial mapping into routine employee accomplishment recording. With IFRIS in operational use since April 2006, VDOF now has launched the next phase, the Forest Protection and Mobile Computing (FPMC) project. FPMC expands on the geospatial toolset by integrating use of GPS-enabled Pocket PC devices for efficient, timely, and geospatially accurate field data collection. Secure data transfer and synchronization is created for activities such as wildfire incidents and mitigation, water quality law enforcement, and forest health observations.
VDOF leverages the Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) by integrating digital aerial photos and topographic maps from VGIN’s Geospatial Enterprise Platform (GEP). IFRIS and GEP are hosted by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) to minimize redundant efforts. IFRIS leverages Web services and Service Oriented Architecture constructs to unify all spatial and non-spatial operations. It leads the way for enterprise mobile computing in the commonwealth.
IFRIS minimizes redundant data entry and errors, increases workforce productivity and supports a mobile workforce through technology. It streamlines and integrates administrative functions with business applications, supports multiple program areas, enables location-based tracking of activities, feeds employee and agency reporting and vastly improves customer service. This application is the first of its kind in the nation and is a prototype for other states.
The commonwealth’s investment in IFRIS provides a strong return on investment. In less than one year, five paper forms have been eliminated and one full time payroll position has been transferred to customer service. Virginia’s Cost Benefit Analysis Tool projects measurable financial benefit. Cost avoidance is expected to be $293,000, cost savings $558,600 and the ROI is expected to be 55% with a payback period of 2.6 years.
IFRIS is creating a significant positive business impact as it transforms the way the organization does business. It supports nearly all agency performance metrics in VDOF’s Strategic Plan and the Commonwealth’s Strategic Plan for IT. IFRIS and the FPMC project have over 25 performance metrics for success as identified in its Project Performance Management Plan.
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