exeGesIS - CAMS v5 Features

The Countryside Access Management System (CAMS) is a complete text data and map management system designed to simplify the task of maintaining ROW, Core Path Networks, Promoted Trails, Cycle Routes, Access Areas and other Public Access Areas and Paths. This list summarises some of the functionality of CAMS V5 with additional modules.

Look and feel

Map and text data presented on one screen in resizable windows
Results Trees provide a simple, visual reference to show each path or area and its associated furniture, problems and surfaces
Extensive use of graphics and information summaries to make data easy to understand
Makes use of context sensitive forms and reports so only the options and information that are relevant to the task at hand are shown
Uses your preferred data structure ‘whole path’ or ‘paths and links’ (BS7666)
On-line help accessible throughout the system

Mapping

Maps your Rights of Way, core paths, public open spaces, access land, furniture, issues, access exclusion areas etc.
Uses your corporate mapping data, Landline, MasterMap, raster maps (eg 1:50,000), aerial photos, historic mapping etc.
Any mapping layers can be added, with visiblity, symbology and zoom layering to suit
Creates a live, two-way link (MapInfo, ArcGIS) or one-way link (other GIS) with your corporate GIS, enabling your data to be available across the organisation
Rapid search facilities, with user definable gazetteers such as post code, community, grid references, etc.
In-built multi-user editing capability to allow multiple staff to simultaneously edit CAMS map data
Automatic layer control and management, with the appropriate layer made editable according to the task being carried out
No specialist GIS training required
Instant printing with automatically generated titles, formatting, etc.

Searching and interrogation

Powerful and easy to use interrogation interface allowing rapid analysis and reports such as: ‘map all paths on which there is a bridge’, or ‘list all stiles in the community/parish of X’
Interrogation interface can be customised by user, enabling searches on any information field
Search criteria can be saved to speed up searching in the future
Your most common search can be saved as a default search to run each time you log in - instantly see the outstanding issues assigned to you
Results of interrogation can be mapped and/or presented as a summary list
Summary lists provide ‘single-click’ access to detailed data presented in tabulated forms

Dealing with the public

Act as a ‘front-desk’ system to manage enquiries and complaints
Provides public facing staff with the information at their finger tips, to respond to public enquiries
Allows officers to respond quickly and efficiently to ‘freedom of information’ enquiries
User definable, multiple map search gazetteers for rapid location of reported problems
Allows complaints to be tracked through to resolution and automatically generates letters to complainants and landowners

Furniture and issues

Records all path furniture and builds a history of inspections, problems and maintenance works
Links furniture and issues to ‘parent’ path or access area/land parcel
A path or furniture problem may have several serial actions recorded against it for instance: site inspection – letter to landowner – notice to landowner – practical task
Generates customisable work programs and task sheets for colleagues, contractors etc
Task sheets provide textual information, grid references and map all on one page
Contractors worksheets can be quickly built up from lists of outstanding tasks or from a results tree of a search, for instance ‘all the annual vegetation cutting tasks in a community/parish’ or ‘inspect all the bridges over 2m in a borough’
Inspections and problems likely to re-occur can be tagged so that they automatically generate a new task at the required time interval (typically for vegetation management and bridge inspections)
Accessibility information can be recorded against furniture and surfaces

Promoted routes

Allows promoted routes to be created by telling the system which existing or new links belong to each promoted route – so data is only entered once
Promoted routes can be created by selecting paths/links on the map or creating a results tree
The full range of analyses and reports can be run on promoted routes
Promoted routes can be identified on the map

Photographs and document management

All your image, video, document, spreadsheet and other files are interactively linked to your database records for instant access
Creates a catalogue of thumbnails to aid searches and linking
Includes powerful image management software
Full multi-user viewing and editing over networks
Flexible options to control the functionality of the cataloguing and editing environment
Fully configurable data display, using CSS style sheets and setup options

Legal and consultation

All the key legal event and processes are recognised and managed by the system
By default, legislation under more than 40 Acts of Parliament
More than 30 enforcement letter and notice templates are included
Applications for access area exclusions can be processed (Scotland)
Consultation and notification letters are auto-generated by the system with user editable text generated to reflect the specific legal event type
All user, landholder and other consultee data is held in a centralised contacts database
All contacts can be associated with one or more organisational affiliations
Consultation and Order documents are produced from the system, with the standard legal text framework in place - you just have to fill in the details of the case
Letters and notices to landholders to progress path issues are auto generated as part of the problem resolution processes
All legal reports can be fully customised
Legal Order plans can be created directly from the CAMS mapping
Administrator options let you choose to prevent some users modifying the Definitive Map layers, while authorised users can
Records costs of legal events, and allows charges to be passed on or waived.

Landowner and land data

Land parcels can be mapped and associated data, including owners, tenants and other interests recorded
System automatically identifies paths within each landownership area and tags them appropriately
Infrastructure can be directly linked to Open Access Land, without needing to record a path where there isn't one
Full details about Area Access, including the basis, limitations and open/closed history can be recorded agains Land areas
Section 31(6) deposit information can be recorded, including receipt date and expiry date. A log of multiple declarations can be recorded against each Land area

Management and financial information

Provides instant reporting on works completed, outstanding tasks, response times etc
Generates performance indicator information
Reports provided to automatically cost outstanding work using user definable ‘standardised cost’ tables
Expenditure and income reporting

Audit trails and liability management

Every report/letter produced by the system is automatically archived in a PDF format
Documents in the archive remain linked to the relevant record
An audit trail of key data changes (date of change, user, etc) is automatically logged

CAMS in the field

A highly cost effective field survey system called Path Surveyor allows rapid inventory, condition and accessibility surveys to be completed
Developed and tested over 27,000km of path survey
Includes ‘in the field’ mapping/GIS
Based on low cost and practical field computers linked to a range of differential and non-differential GPS devices
Easily synchronised with main data system and allows all furniture and problem issues to be viewed and edited in the field as well as adding new ones
Data is automatically processed back into CAMS and maintenance tasks generated where problems have been identified
Images processed back into CAMS, and the link with the relevant record maintained
Integrated camera option allows images to be recorded and automatically linked to the relevant record

Reports and letters

Legal orders and enforcement notices are available as standard reports from the system
All automatically generated letters and reports are formatted in your corporate style and may be edited and printed
Generated reports are easily exported to MS Word, PDF or other industry standard formats
Comprehensive range of reports supplied and new reports can be generated as required
New reports developed by exeGesIS are easily downloaded from web site
Reports may include maps and images
Produces instant reports for councillors, corporate reviews, LAFs, CA, CCW, SNH etc

Web publishing

Interactive mapping and text database pages embedded in your corporate website allowing controlled access to CAMS data
Allows selected data to be published to the public domain via the web
Can include paths, access areas, images, furniture etc to be included along with OS mapping/aerial photo backgrounds
Users are able to interact with maps to show the information they want e.g. ‘Show me all paths I can cycle on’ or ‘Show me all shallow gradient paths near …’
Has search/gazetteer for rapid location by postcode, area, town etc
Enables maps to be printed and the information shown to be set by the user
Allows data from CAMS to be interrogated and results to be displayed on a map and as text
Gives landholders an option to make on-line access exclusion applications
Publicises exclusions/weekly list
Allows the public to submit complaints and enquiries
Protects live CAMS data by creating a selected copy of data to the web server
Integrates with corporate website
Can be offered as a hosted service by exeGesIS

Customisation and flexibility

All of the database search criteria fields can be fully customised.
The contents of all drop down lists are easily edited by ‘higher rights’ users
Form label names and terminology can be customised
Up to six user definable fields are available on each form
The nature and amount of data that is passed from the database to the map can be customised and managed through the configuration settings.
Security operates at the individual log on level, and levels of access can be easily managed through the configuration settings
All reports and letters can be configured to reflect corporate styles
Uses xml and style sheets allowing clients to easily change the look and feel

Integration

Is a .NET development and will run on Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Uses corporate GIS solutions: ArcGIS 8, 9 or MapInfo.
Can be linked to corporate databases SQL Server or Oracle. Alternatively it can be used with MSDE.
Can be installed on an individual PC or run from a server. It can also be configured to run through Citrix or Terminal Services

Delivery, Support and Training

Backed by a well established, long term and successful environmental and IT consultancy
Used by over 70 organisations across the UK
A tried and tested solution developed over 11 years, with the latest release having been redeveloped to take advantage of the very latest proven technology and development environments
Supported by a dedicated, full time team of 4 countryside access data specialists who in turn draw on the services of the software development team
Established user group in England and Wales and a second in Scotland
Structured delivery program from detailed quotation, through installation, training and support
Formalised training programmes at ‘foundation’ and ‘administrator’ levels
Separate field survey training from highly experienced staff
Flexible concurrent licensing arrangements
A range of related services offered including path data capture, field survey, countryside access and consultancy.