Geotech’s developers have been very busy working on adding features to Enviro Data. Based on helpful feedback from clients, the new 2010 C release will include several significant new features and many smaller enhancements.

Crosstab data import - A challenge for years has been how to handle data, such as in Excel files in a “cross-tab” or “pivot table” format with samples across or down the page and many different results on each line. The new “un-crosstabber” feature will make it much easier to import these files.

Crosstab Wizard - On the other end, when you go to export your data, a new Wizard-driven tool will make it easier to make crosstab reports just the way you want them, letting you customize the row headers, column headers, data cells, and regulatory limit display for output tables with samples across or down the page. This new feature is about ten times faster than the old crosstab tool for some reports, and can handle much more data. The screen for configuring the crosstab output is shown in the following figure:

Crosstab export formats can be saved with names and reused. An example of the output is shown in the next figure:

This output is very similar to several existing Enviro Data output options, but is much more flexible.

Field Tool Enhancements - Changes to the handling of containers and methods will make it much easier to handle repeated data such as similar sample container programs and repetitive events.

New imports and exports - The software now has a feature to export ERPIMS Group 1 and 2 data, in addition to the existing Group 3 export, which was recently upgraded to ERPIMS 5. The new release will also include an import and export for the USEPA SCRIBE format, helping Enviro Data work with this software, which is widely used on emergency response and other EPA projects. Exports are also being added for the ProUCL Excel format.

Coming Soon in 2010D

As impressive as the enhancements in the C release are, we’re not resting on our laurels. The D release, due out soon, will have many more useful features, keeping the Enviro Data functionality at the top of the environmental data management tools, while at the same time remaining inexpensive and easy to use. Here are some examples:

EQuIS Import - As organizations continue to migrate to Enviro Data to better satisfy their data management needs, this has increased the need for tools to move data from other systems into Enviro Data. Geotech has been contracted by a client to provide a standardized import to bring in data in the format for EQuIS, a competing product. Geotech has helped a number of clients manually migrate their EQuIS databases to Enviro Data, but this will be the first time such a tool has been added to the software.

Multiple file import - This new feature will make it easier to manage a large volume of import files. Instead of importing each lab file one at a time, you will be able to select multiple files and import them at the same time.

SQL Speedup - As databases get larger and larger, the need to store data in a server back-end (instead of Microsoft Access) is increasing as well. While migrating to a server back-end provides significant performance improvements by itself, Geotech is working with several clients to further speed up specific areas of data import and retrieval for Microsoft SQL Server databases.

National Lab Project

As a major national laboratory in the southeast proceeds with their Enviro Data implementation, they are finding additional ways that it can help them manage their biological data, including morphological, blood, and chemical information on biological specimens, as well as species population census data. Geotech is working with laboratory staff to provide technology to streamline their data capture and entry process prior to importing the data into Enviro Data.

Geotech News

Trainings

Last month, a major U.S. uranium mining company purchased Geotech’s Enviro software, and this month we hosted their training in our Centennial office.  Employees from our client’s Colorado and South Dakota offices attended the one-day training.  Dave Rich, Geotech’s president showed them how to use the software, load their data, and use many other features.  Muffins and coffee were well received during the morning break, and hearty sub sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies made for a perfect lunch.  These new users are now very pleased with their new database management system, and are asking for our help with their specific reporting needs.  Geotech is very happy to add another satisfied client to its Enviro software family.

Conferences      

Mike Rich traveled to Tulsa, OK, June 27 – 29 to attend the Inter-Tribal Environmental Conference again this year. Mike has met many wonderful people at this show over the years, and was glad to visit with them again to let them know about all the new features in the Enviro software. Many attendees were tribal members, and were very interested in Geotech’s WQX format, new to the software this year. The WQX format will greatly help these folks satisfy their contractual requirement to provide their data to the USEPA. The WQX format is replacing the old EPA STORET format, so it is becoming increasingly important for various organizations. 

Mike Wiley Passed Away      

It is with great sadness that we relay to you that our dear friend and co-worker, Mike Wiley, lost his battle with COPD in July.  Geotech first met Mike in 1987, when both were dealers for the CPS/PC software from Radian Corp., headquartered in Austin.  Mike then became a dealer for Geotech’s Petro Spase product, a tool for data management and mapping for oil exploration.  Mike took over the development of this product.  In 2000, Geotech switched its focus from petroleum to environmental, and created our Enviro Spase product.  Mike was responsible for development and support of this product, and did the programming for the majority of the software functionality for the last eleven years.  Enviro Spase is Geotech’s second best selling product.  We visited with Mike as often as possible, both in Texas and Colorado, for both business and personal interaction.  We looked forward to our standing Friday afternoon phone calls with Mike.  He had a great sense of humor and a deep knowledge of the earth sciences.  We will miss him greatly.  Vaya con Dios, Mike.

Enviro Software Success Story - Long-Time User Finally Upgrades  

An Enviro Data user that purchased our software back in 2002, called Geotech a few days ago saying he had just bought a new laptop with Windows 7 and needed to upgrade his Enviro software. He had been successfully using version 1.5c for nine years! Geotech told him that for the cost of a reinstatement fee plus maintenance, we would update his two databases to Enviro Data 2010, send him the latest version of the software, and provide him with technical support and software upgrades. Needless to say, he agreed. A glowing testimony to the ease of use and reliability of our software, and the outstanding support of the Geotech team!

Enviro Software Success Story - Montgomery and Associates  

Montgomery and Associates is a water-resource consulting firm that has a history of partnering with clients to address their increasing and evolving challenges, including managing their environmental data. With offices in Tucson, the Phoenix area, Santiago de Chile, and Lima, Peru, M&A employs more than 65 professionals who specialize in hydrology, geology, soil science, policy and regulatory affairs, resource economics, GIS analysis, database management, and instrumentation and monitoring. Since opening in 1984, M&A has developed a loyal base of clients that includes mining companies, municipalities, private water companies, government agencies, industrial entities, and tribal groups in the Southwestern U.S. and South America, as well as other parts of the country and the world.

When M&A decided to expand their environmental data management practice, they turned to Geotech Computer Systems, Inc. While two years their junior (having opened in 1986), Geotech is known for their industrial-strength data management and GIS tools, which have been used for years in the environmental consulting, mining, and other fields. The combination of Geotech’s powerful and easy-to-use software, along with M&A’s seasoned consulting and data management staff, has provided a flexible and accessible system for managing water quality and other data, both internally at M&A and through an external interface with their clients. M&A and Geotech look forward to many years of satisfying the data management and access needs of M&A and their clients.

 October Special – Spooky Deals - Free Viewer LIcense With Each Enviro Data License 

Geotech is committed to bringing the most value to our customers for the least amount of cost.  That is why in the month of October, we are offering "scary" specials on Enviro Data single use Viewer licenses.  Purchase any full Enviro Data license, Single or Concurrent, and receive an Enviro Data single use Viewer FREE!  When it comes to adding functionality to others’ desktops, the Viewer can’t be beat.  Contact Mike Rich at mrich@geotech.com or call us Toll-Free 877-740-1999 for additional details. This is a great way to get more out of your investment in sampling, analysis, and management.

Smart Moves in Tough Times - Enviro Data Viewer

Companies these days are doing everything they can to keep costs down. That is why Geotech offers the Enviro Data Viewer program. The Viewer enables you to put your data at the fingertips of more project staff with a lower cost. The Concurrent Viewer license can be installed on as many computers as you would like with one person using the license at a time, and there is also a Single-Use version mentioned above, for an even lower cost. The Viewer is an inexpensive way to provide functionality without the cost of a full license. As a read-only version, it allows the user to view, select and generate graphs and reports, but does not allow data modification. This cuts down on errors that could be made by too many people manipulating data in the database. Contact Mike Rich at mrich@geotech.com or call us Toll-Free 877-740-1999 for additional details.

Geotech Humor - Laughter is Good Medicine!

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. 

Twas the Night Before Implementation 

Twas the Night Before Implementation, and all through the house
not a program was working, not even a browse.
The programmers hung by their screens in despair,
with hopes that a miracle soon would be there.
The users were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of enhancements danced in their heads.
When out of the elevator arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
And what to my wandering eyes should appear
but a super programmer (with a six pack of beer).
His resume glowed with experience so rare,
he turned out great code with a bit pushers flair.
More rapid than engines, his programs they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"On Update! On Add! On Inquiry! On Delete!
On Batch Job! On Closing! On Functions Complete!"
His eyes were glazed over, fingers nimble and lean,
from weekends and nights spent in front of a screen.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know that I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
turning specs into code, then turned with a jerk,
and laying his finger upon the "enter" key,
the system came up and worked perfectly.
The updates updated, the deletes they deleted,
the inquires inquired and the closings completed.
He tested each program and tested each call,
with nary an error, all had gone well.
The system was finished, the tests were concluded,
the users last changes were even included.
And the user exclaimed with a snarl and a taunt,
"It’s just what I asked for, BUT ITS NOT WHAT I WANT!" 

Geotech Services

Geotech specializes in environmental software, database management services and custom programming. We can assist with data loading, reporting, mapping, and other services, or we can train you to do these tasks. For more information about Geotech products and services, please visit our web site at www.geotech.com.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Geotech Computer Systems, In.
12150 E. Briarwood Ave., Ste. 202
Centennial, CO 80112
303-740-1999 (PH)
877-740-1999 (Toll-Free US)
303-740-1990 (Fax)
www.geotech.com
info@geotech.com

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