PMS 6.1.7 Release Notes

Task Orders

Release 6.1.7 sees the deployment of a task order to create data download links in the PMS Management Tool.

The data grids in the Pavement Management System are populated by Web Feature Service (WFS) requests. Meaning, that when a request is made i.e. a user opens a grid, sorts a grid, filters and grid, selects features by shape, adds/removes a column or exports data from a grid, a WFS request is sent to the server and both attribute data and spatial data (point, line or polygon geometry) is returned. This is a powerful method of data delivery for end users as it intrinsically links the data in the data grid to the data displayed in the corresponding map layer. It also allows users to access the data in external GIS applications such as ArcGIS and FME.

This system of data delivery was originally designed for users at the local authority level.

Recently, a need has arisen for PMS administrators at the RMO to export map layer data attributes to Excel at a national level for external reporting purposes. The original design and functionality of the PMS data grids do not always meet this need. This can be down to many factors, not limited to:

  • The processing power available to the export functionality from the computer in use.

  • Overall traffic on the system at the time a request is made.

  • The complexity of the calculations required for the requested map layer, e.g. PSCI compliance calculations.

  • The complexity of the geometries of the requested map layer i.e. points, lines or polygons.

  • The number of records being requested.

  • Default web browser settings.

As has been the case, when new requirements have been requested, developed and delivered for local authority users, and due to the reasons listed above, a threshold for effectively exporting map layer data via data grids at the national level is passed, resulting in the export functionality not functioning for this use case. The amount of data requested at the national level can be up to 30 times the amount of data requested at the local authority level. To date, no issues around the export to Excel functionality have been reported by local authority users.

Given the conflict between delivering the required functionality for local authority users and the bulk export of map data at the national level for PMS administrators, an alternative export function was developed for PMS administrators that does not utilise the map layer grid export function

The developed solution utilises MapServer to export the following layers:

  1. PSCILatest

  2. Projects

  3. ReportMaterialCostsExport

  4. ReportOtherExpenditureExport

  5. RoadSchedule

  6. RoadsProgrammeLAs

  7. ProjectStartEndPoints

  8. ProjectAuxiliaryItems

  9. LocalAuthorities

  10. MunicipalDistricts

  11. ProjectWorksSections

  12. CombinedATI

  13. Budget Allocations (All years)

A download link is added to the PMS Management Tool. This link downloads a zip file named YYYYMMDDMapRoadDatasets, where YYYYMMDD is the Year, Month and Date at the time the scheduled task is run.

The export is scheduled to run nightly. Each export overwrites the previous night’s export so that only the latest export exists on the server at any one time.

Support Tickets

Data / Functionality Missing from Road Schedule Form

The ‘Old Road Number’, previously displayed in the Segment form and removed by request of the RMO under Ref 07: Delete Admin and legacy values tab was reinstated by adding it to the Maproad 2016 map layer.

Bugs

#2094

Issue resolving an edge

#2093

Warning Bannor Issue

#2072

N25 Waterford Issue

#2083

Entering Data in None Section

#2099

Issue with Missing Edge Associated Files Disappearing When Splitting Missing Edges