ColdFusion has played a vital role in CCCSD’s Geographic Information System (GIS) operations for more than 15 years. I have used ColdFusion to develop several successful intranet web applications: two GIS map portals, the reporting engine for a brand-new GIS web portal, and a workflow tracking and records management tool for CCCSD infrastructure projects. In the first part of this session I’ll share how these applications have evolved and why ColdFusion was crucial to their success. While the ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) is one of the easiest web-development languages to learn, being a “part-time” and self-taught (remember the “CF WACK” books?) developer has made honing my skills quite challenging. Being the sole web developer in my organization has presented additional challenges – I have no co-workers to mentor me or perform code reviews. In the second part of this session I’ll share how I get assistance (as well as offer assistance), which community-developed tools have made my life easier, and how I filter the relevant gems from the ever-growing mountain of “new” and “awesome” web application technologies and methods.

1. ColdFusion Summit 2016

2. Powering GIS Operations
with ColdFusion
Carl Von Stetten / @cfvonner
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
(aka @CentralSan)

3. 10/11/2016 3
Agenda
• Introduction
• ColdFusion Use at CentralSan
• Original GIS portal
• GIS workflow management
• New GIS portal
• Resources for ColdFusion developers

4. Introduction
10/11/2016 4

5. 10/11/2016 5
About Me
• GIS Analyst for Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (www.centralsan.org)
• GIS Technician (2000-2009), GIS Analyst (2009-present)
• Tools I Use:
• ColdFusion, JavaScript, Python, Microsoft SQL Server, Esri ArcGIS Desktop and
Server, Geocortex, Safe FME (spatial ETLs)
• Manager of Bay Area ColdFusion User Group (BACFUG) – on hiatus
• Adobe Community Professional for ColdFusion
• Married, two grown children
• Unreformed DIY remodeler
• Passionate about craft beer!

6. 10/11/2016 6
Where is CentralSan?

7. 10/11/2016 7
What Do We Do?
• “Protecting Public Health and the Environment”
• Wastewater collection and treatment
• Household hazardous waste collection
• Treat 30-50 million gallons wastewater per day
• Produce 600 million gallons a year of recycled water
• Maintain 1,500 miles of collection system pipelines

8. 10/11/2016 8
Dictionary Definition
“An integrated collection of
computer software and data used to
view and manage information
about geographic places, analyze
spatial relationships, and model
spatial processes. A GIS provides a
framework for gathering and
organizing spatial data and related
information so that it can be
displayed and analyzed”
-A to Z GIS, Esri Press
You use or benefit from GIS every day
• Google/Bing/Apple Maps
• Google Earth
• GPS navigation systems
• Product or store locators in
apps/websites
• 911 emergency response
• Package delivery (UPS/FedEx)
What Is A Geographic Information System?

9. ColdFusion Use at CentralSan
10/11/2016 9

10. 10/11/2016 11
2000 - Connect the “Data Silos”
GIS
CMMS
Pipeline
CCTV
Permits &
Parcel
Records
Environmental
Compliance
Hydraulic
Modeling
Scanned
Documents

11. 10/11/2016 12
Planning begins in early 2000’s
• Started planning an Intranet GIS portal
• Requirements:
• Run in web browser
• Interactive
• Easy to use
• Easy to maintain
• Integrate GIS data with other non-spatial data

12. 10/11/2016 13
Departmental Databases to Link Up
• Operations department Sussex Computerized Maintenance Management
System (CMMS) – Microsoft Access based
• Land use, ownership and sewer permits (Sungard ERP on IBM AS/400)
• Pipe flow capacity modeling system – Microsoft Access
• Environmental Compliance enforcement – Microsoft Access

13. 10/11/2016 14
Pilot GIS Portal Project (2000-2002)
• Selected AutoDesk MapGuide for in-browser map interface
• Server component on Windows/IIS
• ActiveX control (Internet Explorer) or Java applet (Netscape Navigator) for browsers
• How do we connect the databases?
• MapGuide bundled with license for Allaire ColdFusion 4.5
• Hired consultant to develop proof-of-concept site
• Developed spatial Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) processes
• Created a map
• Wrote data reports (in CFML)

14. 10/11/2016 15
A Few Silos Connected (2000-2002)
GIS +
ColdFusion
CMMS
Pipeline
CCTV
Permits &
Parcel
Records
Environmental
Compliance
Hydraulic
Modeling
Scanned
Documents

15. 10/11/2016 16
Portal Has Limited Success (2002-2005)
• Infrequent map content updates
• Slow GIS data maintenance process
• Instability of production GIS data files
• Not enough ancillary information linked
• Reports missing key information attributes
• Inconsistent look and feel

16. 10/11/2016 17
We Can Do Better
• Fix the production GIS problems
• Develop/connect more data
• Take over development of MapGuide site/ColdFusion reports

17. 10/11/2016 18
Back-End GIS Overhaul (2005)
• Replaced production GIS with Intergraph GeoMedia in 2005
• Benefits
• Map data stored in single seamless database (SQL Server) – no more data corruption
• Increased efficiency
• New web+print optimized GIS data model
• Frequent updates to the MapGuide data for GIS Portal
• Opportunity to rewrite GIS portal from scratch to match new data model

18. 10/11/2016 19
GIS Portal Rewrite (2005-2006)
• Started rewriting GDI in late 2005
• Switched to Application.cfc
• Main map page with MapGuide interface
• ColdFusion controls behavior of map legend and report linking
• Reports loaded into pop-up child windows of main map page
• Used AJAX to load report content
• JavaScript ties back to parent window

19. Demonstration
10/11/2016 20

20. 10/11/2016 21
ColdFusion Reports
• Report for each primary GIS element:
• Parcels
• Sewer mains
• Sewer structures
• Recycled water mains
• Recycled water valves and fittings

21. 10/11/2016 22
Reports Link to More Reports
• Sewer mains/structures
• Maintenance history (Sussex/Accela
CMMS, now on SQL Server)
• CCTV inspection history (WinCan,
several Access databases)
• Hydraulic capacity analysis (Access
database)
• Construction job data and As-Builts
• Recycled Water mains/structures
• Construction job data and As-Builts
• Parcels
• Assessor Maps
• Permit history (Sungard ERP)
• Environmental Compliance inspection
history (Microsoft Access)

22. 10/11/2016 23
Search Tools
• Search by various criteria:
• Sewer structures (by common structure IDs)
• Parcels (by address components and/or Assessor Parcel Numbers)
• Infrastructure job (by number or name)
• Map grid
• GIS ID number
• Addresses (full-text search)

23. Demonstration
10/11/2016 24

24. 10/11/2016 25
• IBM iSeries server running
AS/400
• Slow performance over ODBC
• Better performance over JDBC, but
still slow due to missing indexes
• System instability + poor error
handling in our CFML code
• Solution: Cache data on SQL
Server
• SQL Server Integration Service
(SSIS) nightly cache rebuild
• Design indexes to support
ColdFusion reports
Data Integration Challenges – Sungard ERP

25. 10/11/2016 26
• Data owned by Collection System
Operations (CSO) department
• Located at separate campus in
Walnut Creek, CA
• Connected by a 10Mb data line
• Originally a 200MB+ Microsoft Access
database
• Copied .MDB file to GDI server
monthly
• Barely adequate performance
• IT migrated Acella to SQL Server
database
• SQL Server physically located at CSO
campus
• Solution: Cache data on our SQL
Server
• Stored procedure to refresh copies
of relevant tables
Data Integration Challenges – Accela CMMS

26. 10/11/2016 27
• Inspection data spread across
numerous Microsoft Access
databases
• Inspections for a single pipe could
be in any database
• Pipelines change over time
• Not always a 1:1 match between
inspections and pipes
• CCTV program staff owned the
databases
• Could add new data, correct
existing data at any time
• Solution: Consolidate into single
SQL Server database
• SQL Server Integration Service
(SSIS) nightly rebuild
• Imported records get tagged with
ID of the origin database (DB_ID)
• Build “bridge” table between
inspections and GIS sewer mains
• Maintain “origin” table with DB_ID
and folder paths for location of
associated photos/videos
Data Integration Challenges – WinCan CCTV

27. 10/11/2016 28
• Laserfiche web client
unsatisfactory
• Document viewer not designed for
large-format drawings
• UI clumsy, hard to zoom/pan
within documents
• Wanted to continue serving
PDFs to GDI users
• Acrobat reader plugin is familiar,
easy to use
• Solution:
• FOSS GNUWin32 TIFF Editor
library – command line tools
• MERGETIFF.exe combine multiple
TIFFs into single multi-page TIFF
• TIFF2PDF.exe convert TIFF to PDF
• <CFEXECUTE> to call command-
line tools to generate PDFs on-the-
fly
Data Integration Challenges - Laserfiche

28. 10/11/2016 29
GDI Usage Takes Off
• Staff adoption factors
• Confidence in reliable access to up-to-date data
• Quick access to the various department data sets
• Savings of 100’s of hours of staff time through:
• Online access to As-Builts
• Research sewer CCTV and maintenance data, parcel data on demand
• Permit counter put in dedicated computers for customer interactions
• Improved customer service

29. Demonstration
10/11/2016 30

30. 10/11/2016 31
ColdFusion Enabled Us To Connect the
“Data Silos”
GIS +
ColdFusion
CMMS
Pipeline
CCTV
Permits &
Parcel
Records
Environmental
Compliance
Hydraulic
Modeling
Scanned
Documents

31. 10/11/2016 32
Treatment Plant Needs GIS Too! (2009)
• Success of collection system web GIS inspired trying to do same for our
Treatment Plant
• Built a pilot Facility GIS site in 2009
• Provided map of treatment plant facility
• High resolution flyover imagery
• Linked to treatment plant’s Computerized Maintenance Management System
(Mainsaver)
• Quick access to maintenance history for treatment plant assets

32. 10/11/2016 33
GIS Department Uses ColdFusion Internally
• Workflow tracking application started as a Microsoft Access app
• 2005/2006: Hired developer to migrate database to SQL Server, build
ColdFusion front-end application
• Developer ran out of budget before completing scope
• We finished application and then continued further development

33. 10/11/2016 34
GIS Department Uses ColdFusion Internally
• Built bespoke document management system for As-Builts
• Later removed in favor of leveraging Laserfiche system
• Automation tools for GeoMedia workflows
• Built scripts for mapbook production
• Synthesized some GIS data

34. Demonstration
10/11/2016 35

35. 10/11/2016 36
Map Change Request Tools
• Writes entry to GIS
Workflow database
• Sends email
confirmation to User
GDI Map Change
Request (MCR) Form
Submitted
• MCR will be
highlighted in
Technician’s GIS
Workflow view
GIS Analyst Assigns or
Closes MCR
• On completion,
notification email
sent to originator
• MCR no longer
highlighted in view
GIS Technician Logs
Completion or Interim
Status

36. 10/11/2016 38
Another GIS Platform Shift Needed (2010-
2016)
• GIS Portal running since 2006
• GeoMedia back-end GIS software frozen at the version 5.1 (released 2005)
• Autodesk Mapguide version 6.5 (released 2005, product discontinued in 2006)
• Sussex CMMS (bought up by Accela, discontinued before 2010)
• WinCan CCTV software (discontinued in U.S.)

37. 10/11/2016 39
CentralSan Chooses New Platforms (2014)
• Everything to be GIS-centric
• Esri ArcGIS platform to replace desktop GIS and provide map services for web
• 2016 - Latitude Geographics Geocortex to provide web map UI and reports
• Azteca Cityworks to replace both Accela and Mainsaver CMMS systems
• 2016 - Infrastructure Technologies ITpipes to replace WinCan CCTV software
• Will ColdFusion have a part to play?

38. 10/11/2016 40
ColdFusion in a Modern Web GIS (2016)
• Complex nested reports beyond capability of Geocortex
• Migrated old GIS Portal reports into new “GeoFusion” site
• Implemented MVC design pattern using Framework/One
• Moved all database and web service interactions into an OOP model
(beans/services)
• Responsive HTML5 design
• Bootstrap 3 JS/CSS library
• Datatables library
• Switched to Laserfiche Weblink interface for scanned documents

39. Demonstration
10/11/2016 41

40. 10/11/2016 42
ColdFusion – Beyond 2016
• Continue to link other departmental “data silos” to GIS
• Rewrite the GIS/CAD workflow tracking system
• Improve UI/UX
• Separate GIS and CAD processes
• Expand scope to track infrastructure jobs “cradle to grave”

41. 10/11/2016 43
ColdFusion – Beyond 2016
GIS +
ColdFusion
CMMS
Pipeline
CCTV
Permits &
Parcel
Records
???
Environmental
Compliance
Hydraulic
Modeling
Scanned
Documen
ts
???

42. And now for something completely
different…
10/11/2016 44

43. 10/11/2016 45
At times being the only
application developer in
the organization can feel
like...

44. 10/11/2016 46
Sometimes you just
need someone to
bounce ideas off…

45. 10/11/2016 47
• 1600+ members and growing
• Channels for various CFML-
related topics and frameworks
• Real-time communication
(think IRC+)
• Free to join:
http://cfml-
slack.herokuapp.com/
CFML Slack Team!

46. 10/11/2016 48
I need a CFML function/tag syntax
reminder:
• Type a question mark and the name of the
function or tag:
• ?cfquery
• Will return this:
Cool Slack Team Features

47. 10/11/2016 49
I need to embed a code snippet or some plaintext
information to get feedback:
• If it’s a single line or less, wrap in single back quotes
• `ValueArray`
• Will end up looking like this:
• If it’s 2 or more lines, wrap in triple back quotes
• ```myStruct = {"num"="123"};
myStruct.setMetadata( { "num": "String" } );
writeOutput(serializeJSON(myStruct));```
• Will give you this:
• If it’s fairly long, put it in a Plain Text snippet, or create a GitHub Gist and paste the link.
Cool Slack Team Features

48. 10/11/2016 50
Slack Alternatives
• Adobe forums https://forums.adobe.com/community/coldfusion
• Try to provide a Short, Self-Contained, Correct, Example (SSCCE, see
http://sscce.org/)
• http://stackoverflow.com/ for code issues, or http://serverfault.com/ for
server issues
• Consider a SSCCE a requirement

49. 10/11/2016 51
Documentation
• Current ColdFusion docs hard to find on Google
• Community docs at http://cfdocs.org
• Each tag or function has basic syntax info and usage examples
• Links to the corresponding Adobe, Lucee or OpenBlueDragon docs
• Adobe links go the current CF10+ documentation!!!
• Additional community-provided reference information
• Entire site’s source is on GitHub so anyone can contribute
• Fork the project, edit online or locally, submit pull request
• Edit any page online in GitHub, automatically creates a fork and submits a pull request
• Or report an issue and hope someone in the community will fix it

50. 10/11/2016 52
Learning & Other Resources
• Learn CF In a Week (http://www.learncfinaweek.com/)
• Free, self-paced tutorial
• Resource links for more documentation and community projects (frameworks, etc.)
• TryCF.com
• Nice playground for testing small amounts of code
• CF 10, 11 & 2016 engines, Lucee 4.5 & 5.0 too
• Can save code snippets to Gists
• Can load code from GitHub Gists or Pastebin
• CommandBox (https://www.ortussolutions.com/products/commandbox)
• ColdFusion package manager (connects to Forgebox, Github, local repositories)
• Can download and spin up multiple versions of ColdFusion and Lucee
• Learn more: Brad Wood’s session tomorrow at 4PM:
• Herding Cats: A new way to manage all your Adobe servers on one dev machine
• What about the ColdFusion Web Application Construction Kit (CFWACK)?
• Honestly, leave it on the shelf

51. Thank you!!!
• Questions???
• Contact me:
• Email: cvonstetten@centralsan.org
• Twitter: @cfvonner
• CFML Team on Slack: @cfvonner
• Don’t forget to fill out session evaluation
• You can do it in the Mobile App on iOS and Android!

52. Thank You!