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General Questions
Implementation Questions
Operational Questions

General Questions

What is a street sign management system?

A street sign management system is a system of processes, procedures, policies, and methods that control activities around the life-cycle of a street sign, from installation to inspection and maintenance to retirement. A street sign management system is typically part of a larger asset management system that local governments use to maintain their infrastructure.

Why do I need a street sign management system?
- MUTCD Compliance The second revision of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) 2003 released in December 2007, establishes minimum levels of retroreflectivity for traffic signs. Agencies that are responsible for maintaining street signs have until January 2012 to implement a sign assessment or management system to maintain levels of retroreflectivity.
- Effective Asset Management Responding to the challenges caused by aging infrastructure and new regulatory requirements, Elumena provides local governments the information they need to make better capital planning and O&M decisions by providing more information on the condition of their street sign inventory. Elumena Street Signs monitors sign condition, tracks performance changes over time, identifies signs ready for replacement due to age or condition, monitors field maintenance and replacement programs, and locates unwarranted or "exception"" signs. By better tracking the conditions of their sign inventories and complying with financial standards, such as GASB 34, Elumena can help local governments achieve "clean" audits which will improve their credit rating and lower their borrowing costs.
- Improved Safety A street sign management system will help to identify "at risk"" signs which are candidates for replacement due to high incidence rates of vandalism and/or damage by vehicles. A properly managed system will potentially reduce liability risk involved in accident related litigation by providing inspection and maintenance records. Additionally, some states offer reduction in insurance premiums for municipalities that have implemented street sign management systems.
How does the system work?

Elumena has developed a web-based technology platform that enables local governments to automate their street sign management processes. Deployed over the web using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, the software is centrally hosted and managed by Elumena. Field workers enter updated sign information directly into the system using a PC tablet device connected to the Internet through a wireless connection (Cellular). The software design supports all customers on a single instance of the software. This simplifies operations and dramatically reduces acquisition, installation, and support costs - meaning smaller governments, can take advantage of the same benefits larger government organizations receive from similar systems by effectively sharing the costs of the software with other organizations.
Implementation Questions

What software do I need on my computer to access the system?

All you need is a standard Internet browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.

Does Elumena provide the PC Tablet?

Elumena has partnered with Motion Computing (hyperlink to http://www.motioncomputing.com). Motion Computing provides a light, fully-integrated PC “slate” that is ideal for data collection applications such as street sign management. The Motion™ F5 includes an integrated camera, 2D barcode scanner, WiFi®, Bluetooth®, and CDMA-EVDO modem with service provided by Sprint®. We have partnered with Allegiance Technology Partners who have preconfigured the F5 for the Elumena system.

Does Elumena provide the GPS Receiver?

There are a variety of low-cost GPS receivers that can provide the latitude/longitude position data for the street sign application. We have been using the Garmin Mobile™ 10. Look for a portable Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver that is designed for laptops. There are a number of websites that sell GPS equipment including Tiger GPS.

Does Elumena provide the bar code labels?

Elumena can provide you with contact details for several vendors that specialize in providing durable barcodes for rugged environments.
Operational Questions

I have a very small IT department. Can we support a SaaS deployment?

Software success used to be the sole responsibility of the customer. In a SaaS environment, responsibility for the system is the primary responsibility of the vendor, meaning the vendor is responsible for deployment, maintenance, upgrades, infrastructure, etc. making it easier for customers with small IT departments to support a SaaS deployment. Since SaaS uses a “pay as you go” model, customers can switch providers more easily than with a client server system that requires a large upfront payment.

How does the cost of SaaS solutions compare to on-site client-server solutions?

Client-server systems typically require organizations to pay upfront licensing fees as well as purchase expensive hardware, storage and backup equipment. On top of the cost of equipment, the customer is then required to install the hardware, maintain and upgrade the software and train employees to use it effectively. With on-demand solutions, all you need is a computer with access to the Internet. This level of availability also provides secure access to operational data anytime, anywhere via the Web. Technical support, on-line training and regular software updates are included as part of the standard service offering. Forrester Research found that the total cost of accessing on-demand applications can be 75 percent less than client-server software ("Good Hosts”, Information Week, June 2, 2003).

What if I want to add additional users?

SaaS uses a multi-tenant architecture, meaning that it was designed to support tens of thousand concurrent users. Popular Web 2.0 applications like Google®’s Calendar or photosharing sites like Flickr® are all based on a multi-tenant model and are able to support many thousands of simultaneous users.

How secure is my data?

In a SaaS deployment, all critical data is stored in a secure, off-site data center. Data security is core to a SaaS provider’s offering, meaning that customers can rest assured that their data is probably more secure in a SaaS deployment, than in an on-site, client-server environment. Given Local government IT departments are typically pulled in many directions, they are typically challenged to keep up with the latest in network and physical security strategies, whereas managed service providers (MSPs) who run data centers are focused on ensuring a secure environment for their customers’ data. On-site server-based systems typically lack physical and electronic security that protects user data from natural disasters, data-theft or office mishaps. Secure data centers are used by federal banks and international financial service institutions.

Who owns the data?

All user data is the property of the customer. Elumena provides the capability for users to export their data into popular data formats. Elumena provides the capability for customers to automatically create and deliver a back-up file.

What level of uptime can we expect from the system?

Elumena expects uptime to exceed 99.9% and guarantees a minimum of 99.5% system availability. Compare these levels to those levels typically experienced in on-site client server systems. Every Elumena subscription comes with a guaranteed service level agreement (SLA) where customers can expect to receive a minimum planned uptime and availability of 99.5% on its service or they will receive a credit against their subscription.

What if your company goes out of business? How do I have access to my data?

Elumena uses an open data model, meaning that user data that is stored in the Elumena system can be imported into popular database software. If for whatever reason, customers decide not to renew their service with Elumena, Elumena will provide a copy of their user data upon request. For an additional fee, Elumena is also able to offer customers technology escrow agreements through our managed service provider, which will provide recourse in the unlikely event that Elumena ceases operation.