In the News...
Convergent Group Delivers REGIS Prototype
(Englewood, Colo., September 10, 1998) Convergent Group announces the successful, on-time completion and acceptance of the project prototype implementation for Michigan's REGIS multi-participant GIS project. One of the largest multi-agency cooperative GIS projects ever, REGIS participants include 20 local governments in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area. REGIS is an acronym for Regional Geographic Information System (GIS). The project is overseen by the REGIS Agency, an autonomous, self-governing agency of the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council charged with all policy and governance issues pertaining to the GIS implementation.
Acceptance by the REGIS Agency of the prototype culminates an eight-month cooperative project encompassing a nine-square-mile test area. The data conversion effort included the integration of over 500 digital documents and databases, and 2,100 paper source maps. The result is a robust REGIS database of 800 data layers, including utilities (water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and electric), assessors, public safety, park and recreation, clerks, engineering, zoning, traffic, and streets and roads. The project was designed to test and validate critical system assumptions that were made in the REGIS strategic plan prior to moving forward with full implementation across the 865-square-mile region.
The end of the prototype project marks the official and successful completion of development, testing, acceptance and installation of new GIS applications and data that enable REGIS participants to have quicker access to information and provide better customer services.
"The project has verified our approach and strategy for building a system that will ultimately improve the way we deliver services and information to our citizens," said Sharon Steffens, Supervisor of Alpine Township and Chair of the REGIS Agency. "Now, it is time to move forward with full implementation throughout the region."
Convergent Group was retained by the REGIS Agency to provide overall project management, systems specifications and procurement management, data conversion management, consulting and systems integration services. "We are pleased that the REGIS prototype was delivered within the ambitious, eight-month time frame," commented Eric Frazier, Convergent Group Project Director for REGIS. "Particularly, since it included a complex database design, the development of seven user-friendly applications and interfaces, and the conversion of disparate source maps and data from a dozen participants into a seamless digital database."
Convergent Group is a systems integration company that helps utilities and city/county governments leverage technology to their strategic advantage. We do this through innovative business solutions that improve the effectiveness of service delivery processes. The core of our business is based on converging operational best practices with business solutions that we have pre-configured from our technology workbench. The key value to our approach is rapid implementation of business solutions and a shorter path for our customers to achieve strategic business objectives. In its 13-year history, the firm has completed some 2,300 successful information technology projects.