E&A - Projects

Projects

The following descriptions provide a brief sampling of the types of projects our consultants have completed. For more details about a particular project or to request references, contact us.

To view descriptions of a particular type of project, use the links below.

			Technology Planning Projects



			Technology Assessment and Plan

			Client: Very large school district

			Project: Review the status of technology used by a very large school district in Texas (including all schools and support facilities) and create a report of the findings. Following the assessment, work with the district to create a ten-year technology plan.

			Solution: Through a series of interviews, focus groups, and site reviews, a team of E&A consultants created a very extensive background analysis of needs related to upgrading technology throughout this district of 60,000 students and 70 buildings. The plan included budget estimates and was used as a foundation for all future improvements involving technology.

			Distance Education Network Rebuild Plan

			Client: Technical college

			Project: Develop a plan to completely revamp and upgrade the distance education network for a six-campus college in Wisconsin, replacing an aging ITFS system.

			Solution: E&A's recommended solution resulted in a design to upgrade to a new QoS-based WAN utilizing multiple T-1 circuits, 30 codecs, and an IP-based MCU. The installation was planned and then executed during the summer months, to allow training on the technology during the college's down time.

			Technology Upgrade Assessment

			Client: Healthcare center

			Project: Conduct a technology analysis, with a focus on upgrading existing facilities, including wireless, multimedia, access to records, security, and video conferencing.

			Solution: Through an extensive interview and inspection process, E&A evaluated the network and telecommunication in this health care facility and provided a report of findings and recommendations for administrative planning and budgeting. The recommendations included plans for in-building wireless, desktop conferencing, enhanced network security, and remote access for staff.

			Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Plan

			Client: National communications firm

			Project: Develop the technology portion of a recovery plan for a national communications firm, with a focus on its switching centers.

			Solution: E&A conducted on-site visits at multiple locations throughout the United States and facilitated in-depth interviews of technical staff. Using this information, we developed a formal report of findings and system recommendations related to the communications strategy.

			Public Safety Projects



			Public Safety Radio and Integrated Mobile Data System

			Client: Large Midwestern city

			Project: Conduct two assessments (radio and mobile data) and create an integrated technology solution in support of law enforcement, fire, EMS, water system distribution, health services, and city inspection services for the city.

			Solution: E&A consultants were awarded the contract to complete the assessment and plan. In the assessment, users were questioned, potential solutions identified, and a recommendation presented. The plan offered the city a detailed series of steps to move towards a complete solution.

			800 MHz Trunked Radio System

			Client: County government

			Project: Develop a complete multisite simulcast trunked radio system to support county law enforcement operations plus interoperability interfaces in support of mutual aid.

			Solution: E&A managed the design and installation process of the five-site system, including microwave, system controller, and complete multichannel radio system. Coverage is excellent and the system has sufficient capacity to meet the needs of officers.

			Electronic Jail Visitation System

			Client: County government

			Project: Develop a video-based jail visitation system customized to the needs of a particular county in Wisconsin.

			Solution: E&A developed a system that replaced face-to-face meetings through glass with a system of cameras, monitors, and phones, thereby reducing staff needs and enhancing security for the jail. The system also allows an incarcerated person to be arraigned before a judge for his or her initial appearance without a guard transporting the individual.

			CAD/RMS System Design

			Client: Large Midwestern county

			Project: Create a common system approach to serving multiple communities with a single, cohesive Computer Aided Dispatch system for all emergency services county-wide.

			Solution: E&A consultants first developed a recommendation and then moved to the acquisition mode and project management for the CAD/RMS system. The planning included necessary interfaces to all existing systems and an upgrade path for the future.

			Infrastructure Projects



			Cabling System for County Government Support Building

			Client: County government

			Project: Develop a plan for all telecommunications cabling and fiber optics systems to support a new three-story office building for a Minnesota county.

			Solution: E&A consultants provided a complete design, bid documents, and contract administration for this building, and created a system to offer a flexible voice, video, and network distribution system meeting EIA/TIA-568B standards.

			Smart Classroom and Cabling System Infrastructure Design

			Client: University

			Project: Develop specifications for a complete low voltage wiring system for two new classroom buildings, in addition to smart classroom technology for all lecture spaces at a Missouri university.

			Solution: E&A created specifications for the infrastructure system. As a second project for the same university, E&A designers created a fiber, coax, and Category 5e cabling system, plus a custom design for smart classrooms. The project was bid and interfaces established to ensure successful integration with campus systems.

			Residence Hall Technology Upgrade

			Client: University residence hall community

			Project: Review the technology infrastructure necessary to support a student residence community at an Illinois university (a $4 million project).

			Solution: E&A consultants conducted a complete review of the campus's technology infrastructure needs and created detailed bid specifications for the project. The resulting project included a complete campus delivery system of fiber optics and a residence hall television headend. The work covered two summers, to reduce the impact on students. Every student room was provided a voice, two data, and one television outlet. The new television headend and system allowed the campus a fifty percent reduction in television signal costs.

			Networking Projects



			Community-Wide Fiber Optics System

			Client: Private residential community

			Project: Design a community-wide fiber optics broadband delivery system offering voice, video, and high-speed Internet services to homes, apartments, and public areas, plus a theater and community room multimedia system.

			Solution: E&A created a design for the system, which consists of an on-premise voice switch, television headend, and Internet provisioning. The multimedia theater has fixed seating and offers surround sound, touch screen control, and even a snack station.

			Metropolitan Area (Fiber) Network

			Client: Large school district

			Project: Design a broadband inter-district MAN to support voice, video, and data for a Texas school district (a $2+ million project).

			Solution: E&A designers created a fiber optic network with a distribution point at each high school, interconnecting fiber to all other buildings. Bid documents allowed for either a leased or owned network, resulting in a multi-year lease with very favorable terms.

			Wireless Network Grant and Construction

			Client: City community

			Project: Develop a grant for a wireless community network in a Texas city.

			Solution: E&A developed the grant for the network, which was proposed to provide DSL-like services to local businesses and organizations. After writing a successful grant, E&A then began an RFP to contract with a company to create the necessary infrastructure. The selected solution was a wireless ISP providing 20 Mbps services to two areas (each one a 5-mile radius surrounding a water tower).

			City-Wide MAN and Building Technology

			Client: City and school system

			Project: Develop a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) to serve the city and school system in a growing Minnesota community.

			Solution: E&A consultants developed a fiber optic MAN connecting 19 buildings and associated in-building LANs to offer staff and students the opportunity to share voice, video, and computer networks anywhere within any building. In addition, the network will be used to interconnect traffic lights, the local college, and security cameras, with little concern over bandwidth.

			Voice Projects



			VoIP Telephone System

			Client: Large school district

			Project: Develop a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) system to support over 1,100 phones, operating via an existing fiber optic MAN supporting 24 buildings.

			Solution: E&A developed a complete design for the system. We then coordinated the bid process, which allowed the district to acquire the services of a qualified contractor at the lowest price. E&A then oversaw installation and cutover of the new system.

			Technology Systems Design for State Lab Building

			Client: State government

			Project: Design a technology system (including voice, network, all low-voltage wiring systems, multimedia, and wireless) to support operations in a new laboratory building in a Midwestern city.

			Solution: E&A created a design using AIA standard procedures. We have also created all necessary bid documents for the project, to offer a fully integrated technology solution.

			Administrative Center Phone System

			Client: Nonprofit organization

			Project: Design a new phone system to meet all the voice needs of the organization's administrative center (including local and long distance calling, call center, voicemail, and in-building paging).

			Solution: E&A's project design team met with the administrative and planning team to discuss options for the new center. We developed a design and then wrote and released an RFP. After the organization awarded a contract, E&A was on-site during installation to ensure a successful cutover.

			Multimedia Projects



			Distance Learning Network

			Client: School district

			Project: Establish a means of interconnecting two high schools, an alternative high school, and a local consortium.

			Solution: This project involved creating three distance learning rooms capable of using either a local consortium T-1 network or the school's fiber network to intercommunicate and share instructional resources. The previously installed fiber optic MAN, in combination with a state-offered T-1 service, created an individualized custom network.

			Special Events Center

			Client: Very large school district

			Project: Provide the technology program and design consulting services for an 8,000-seat special events conference center and arena.

			Solution: The 190,000 square foot multi-use building was designed to serve the needs of the school district and the community, and will accommodate the area’s convocations, sporting events, special event performances, teacher in-service activities, and national and regional tournaments. The facility includes an 8,000 square foot ballroom that is divisible into eight smaller meeting rooms, a 125-seat tiered lecture hall, and additional meeting and conference rooms. Technologies include the sound system for the main arena, a color LED video matrix scoreboard, meeting room audio/video systems, video production and broadcast connectivity, and a unified control system for all technologies. The facility’s main equipment room also serves as a district-wide hub for the metropolitan area network.

			Television Studio and Editing Suite

			Client: School district

			Project: Design a complete television studio system, editing bay, and multimedia system, including interface with the architect to create all physical facilities.

			Solution: E&A created a design using the latest in digital technology, with upgrade capability built in.

			Residence Hall Television System

			Client: Large university

			Project: Work with a university to replace its residence hall television system. In doing so, also educate the university staff and handle the bid process for procurement.

			Solution: E&A conducted a training session with university staff, coordinated a search for alternatives, and determined the available solutions. We then worked with the university to select a plan of action. E&A developed an RFP, and the bid process resulted in selecting a contractor to provide and install a private cable operation that the university now operates.

			City Council Chambers Upgrade

			Client: Local government organization

			Project: Establish a plan to upgrade the city council chambers, with a focus on better sound, graphic presentation, and television broadcasts via cable TV and streaming at a large city in Illinois and another in Minnesota.

			Solution: E&A created a program report and submitted a final detailed design, which was approved by the full council. The bid was let and a vendor was selected to complete the work. E&A conducted regular site visits to ensure that the program was completed as planned.

			Security



			Security Analysis and Plan for a Water Treatment Plant

			Client: Large city

			Project: Conduct a vulnerability assessment and create an emergency operations plan for a water treatment and distribution facility in a large city.

			Solution: E&A consultants were awarded the contract to complete the assessment and plan. In the assessment, we used Sandia Labs methodology to focus on threats, consequences, critical functions, and potential attacks to public systems. The plan offers the city a detailed series of steps to move towards a more secure environment.

			Library and Technology Center

			Client: Community and technical college

			Project: Develop a technology plan for a new building to support a library and technology center.

			Solution: E&A developed a technology plan for the new building, created detailed construction documents for the project, and later provided contract administration for security and other low-voltage infrastructure, including multimedia.

			University Security Assessment Plan

			Client: State university

			Project: Higher education campus security project

			Solution: E&A provided building security planning and design services for a new Student Center facility on campus. E&A’s consulting services included an overall review of existing campus security plans, existing and planned technology communications integration with security components, CCTV/multimedia systems, and building security designs. We also provided a needs assessment, then designed the appropriate security systems and worked with University personnel and the equipment vendors during the installation and commissioning phases of the project.

			"Safe City" Security Plan and Design

			Client: Capital city in the Midwest

			Project: Design, bid out, and provide project management for a large-scale multi-user CCTV surveillance system.

			Solution: Phase I of the CCTV project involved adding 34 IP-based cameras at intersections along four miles of a major thoroughfare in the city, as well as a downtown spur of roughly one mile. The system also includes a command and control center equipped with multiple large displays and control consoles. Phase II of the CCTV project includes 62 cameras covering approximately half of downtown (with focus on a major event center and the approaches to it). Backhaul for the video is via a combination of leased fiber, owned fiber, and high-speed point to point wireless links, while the most of the cameras themselves are connected via a wireless mesh network. Throughout the project, the City has relied on Elert & Associates to provide expert technical design, assistance, and project management. Our scope includes investigating and designing the fiber backhaul system, developing a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) for Phase I, tracking project progress, reviewing and approving work by contractors, inspecting installations, and generally facilitating all aspects of the project.

			K-12 Safe School Assessment and Plan

			Client: Midwestern school district

			Project: Security assessment and recommendation for school district

			Solution: Elert & Associates was retained to conduct a district-wide review and assessment of the district office and all buildings relative to security risks, likelihood of threats, and the potential for events and resulting damage and disruptions. The project included an on-site review, observation, and assessment of the administrative offices and the elementary, middle, and high school. Observations were conducted during both daytime and nighttime hours. The overall project included coordination with the local law enforcement agencies as well as the county emergency management director. Following our review and assessment, E&A provided a written report with findings, potential gaps, and options for improvements.