ROAM is an integrated IT system that supports rights of way management and area management through features like path, asset, and issue tracking. It is a cloud-based system that is accessed entirely through a web browser, requiring no local installation. ROAM's design principles emphasize ease of use, accessibility from anywhere via the internet, and low IT costs through a cloud-based architecture with no local servers required. It provides functionality for path and area management, asset inspection, issue logging and management, and integrates spatial data and structured information in a single database. Current and planned developments include expanded support for promoted routes, volunteers, and improved mobile access.

1. Grounded system designed for the cloud
ROAM
Rights of Way, Open Access and
Area Management
Integrated Area, Path, Asset and Issue Management
Simple to Use
100% Browser Delivered
Zero local install
Designed for the Cloud
Proven system already in use

2. Grounded system designed for the cloud
 Path Management (including Permissive Paths)
 Area Management (Open Spaces, Authority
Owned Land, Common Land, English Coast
Path)
 Asset Management. 15 different Path and Area
Furniture types specifically supported
 Issue Management. Direct public reporting, Full
life cycle support for managing Issues
 Extremely flexible filtering of map display.
 Custom map display preferences for each user
saved as their personal preferences
 Search engine connected across all data and
accessed from a single search box.
 Asset Inspection regimes and ad-hoc inspec-
tions
 Def Map Applications and public register
 Section 31 and Section 15A Deposits and reg-
ister
 Annotations. Temporary or permanent addi-
tional notes added directly to a Path or Area at
a specific location
 Viewpoints. Capture information from a specific
point. Show assets groups or a path section,
 Photographs connected to Issues, Assets,
Annotations and Viewpoints
 Direct Public Access. Technically the public
access exactly the same system but their view
is limited to public domain information.
 The public can directly report issues along with
photographs against paths or assets. These
immediately appear within the system for as-
signment or self-assignment
Key Activities Currently Supported
What is ROAM?
ROAM is an integrated IT system that supports the full range of activities of
Wardens and Rangers in Rights of Ways Services and National Parks.
Based on an Open Source (and therefore free) technical architecture con-
sisting of a Spatial database (PostGIS), Mapping Server (Geoserver) and
(Web map rendering).
Spatial data and structured information are held together in one database
system that meets and enhances the BS7666-1 2006 British standard for
Rights of Way data.
Completely delivered over the Internet via a Web Browser such as Google
Chrome or Internet Explorer.
Internet delivery means it is available anywhere in the world where there is
an internet connection. It has been tested as working very well from Van-
couver, Canada!
Initially Designed to work best on PCs or tablets it will work on mobile
phones. A current development stream is looking at ways to make ROAM
more phone friendly including for public users
Keep to the point. Hold only the information that is necessary.
Got to be easy to use. There is no time or money for people to spend time
getting to know an IT system these days or to operate it. ROAM is proved to
be something that can be just picked up and used quickly.
Accessible from anywhere. The initial users of ROAM work in many differ-
ent organisations. They are often mobile workers who work at home or literal-
ly in the field. So internet access to the full system is a given.
As simple as possible. Keep it simple: Make the user responsible and so
allow them to get on with their job. There is data validation and business rules
to ensure data is coherent but this is deliberately kept to a minimum. The flex-
ibility to accommodate the ‘exception to the rule’ is built in. So if you really
don’t want the public to see a particular path then you can make it so. Re-
member everything that is changed is recorded along with who changed it!
Reduce IT costs. ROAM has no software installed on the PC or tablet that
accesses it. It is as simple to access as the BBC website.
Further Reduce IT costs! There is no need for local IT servers. ROAM is
designed to run in a Cloud computing environment remote from your local IT.
There is no extra burden or dependency on your IT provider.
Guiding Design Principles

3. Grounded system designed for the cloud
 Landowner details associated with Paths, As-
sets, Areas
 Contact/Interested Parties for individual Issues.
 Email updates to interested parties at different
stages of an Issue or whenever the Warden/
Ranger requires
 Re-assignment of specific issues between War-
dens/Rangers
 Bulk re-assignment of issues for when people
leave or start
 Dashboards dedicated to different user roles,
Senior Manager to Public User
 Status management supports life cycles for all
items and change history records every
change
 Warden/Ranger areas. An area can be allocat-
ed to a specific Warden/Ranger. This allows
them to manage their own “patch”.
 Custom preferences for individual users such
as your chosen default backdrop maps, which
additional mapping data is to be on by default,
a home location to always start from
 Complex password with forced change after 60
days
 Reporting. Dashboards reports plus scope to
create ad-hoc reports.
 Selection for the user to choose whichever
background maps such as aerial pictures or OS
maps and organisation wants to use.
 Overlay other mapping. Add other mapping
information to view via ROAM. Users select
what they want to see
 Map Printing. A print or a print to pdf can be
made for any area displayed
More Activities Currently Supported Path Management
Paths. Typically authorities like to maintain their electronic path network as
path links using the accuracy of desktop mapping tools. ROAM can import
the path geometry from these layers and then manage all other information
including path statement, landowner, status etc. Any issues/faults relating to
the path are listed with links directly to the issue.
Path Types. ROAM supports four path types. Rights of Way, Permissive
Paths, Unofficial Diversions and a catch-all, Other. For Permissive Paths
details of any agreement can be captured. Of course the standard legal
types of path are recorded and all combination of path type and legal status
have a different map style.

4. Grounded system designed for the cloud
 Assets can be easily moved around the map.
An asset picks up the link or area idea of the
new locations
 Any issues relating to a moved asset stay with
the asset
 Assets can be moved between Path and Area,
Area and Path, Path to Path, Area to area
 Issues can be moved independently of an as-
set.
 Issues can be moved between Path and Path,
Path and Area, Path and Asset, Area and Area,
Area and Asset, Area and Path, Asset and
Asset, Asset and Path, Asset and Area
And More Activities Currently
Supported
Area Management
ROAM imports the special Geometry of Areas from local sources as typically
at least some of this information is supplied by third parties
Using the same consistent interface, information can be maintained covering
a variety of areas. At present these are Access Land, Common Land, Au-
thority Owned land and the English Coast Path. It would not be difficult to
support other types of managed area.

5. Grounded system designed for the cloud
 A warden/Ranger can re-assign an issue to
another Warden/Ranger but that person can
choose to reject it if they wish!
 Issues can only be altered by the assigned
Warden/Ranger or their manager
 Issues can be re-opened if necessary. But all
changes are recorded in change history!
 A Warden/Ranger has details on their dash-
board of their issues to allow quick access.
 Unassigned issues can be self–assigned by a
Warden/Ranger from the dashboard but only if
the Issue is within the patch assigned to the
Warden/Ranger concerned.
Yet More Activities Currently Support-
Issue Management
Issues are comprehensively managed entirely within ROAM.
Typically issues can be first recorded by
 Direct public access
 Customer Services user role
 Wardens/Rangers or anyone granted the Create Issue ability by sys-
tem admin
Four types of Issues with related sub-types are supported: Defects, Nui-
sances (non physical problems), Improvements (not broken but an alter-
native might be better) and Route Queries (the map seems to be wrong).
Apart from Core Information and Status information the Issues module
contains extensive opportunities to capture information on Contacts/
Interested Parties, Actions taken, Photographs and
Landowner information.

6. Grounded system designed for the cloud
 An asset can have as many sub types as is
needed.
 Adding or removing sub types are controlled
locally via system admin
 System admin is an end user controlled envi-
ronment allowing full control over local data
requirements and user management
A few More but not all Activities
Currently Supported
Path Furniture - Asset Management
15 types of Path Furniture (called Assets in ROAM) are completely creat-
ed and managed within ROAM… Bridges, Stiles, Gates, Signposts,
Steps, Walls, Barriers, Boardwalks, Cattle Grids, Handrails, Fords. Tun-
nels, Drains, Signs and Waymarks.
Assets can be created against Paths or directly against Areas such as
Access Land.
ROAM uses a consistent interface to break down information about an
asset into Core Information, Status, Photographs, Inspections, Landown-
ers and Issues.
Core Information typically includes the sub-type of the asset, dimensions,
construction materials and textual descriptions
Inspections can be an ad-hoc record or the result of an inspection re-
gime. An inspection regime can be set up for assets that require a regular
inspection pattern. Reminders that an inspection is due are shown on the
dashboard for the Warden/Ranger assigned and overdue Inspections
show on Manager dashboards. So it is hard to miss one!
Issues past and present are listed for the Asset with a hyperlink to see
more. Issues can also be created against an asset directly from within the
asset
Simple to use and yet detailed in information with associated photographs
the Assets module represents a solid inventory database to support the
work of Wardens and Rangers.

7. Grounded system designed for the cloud
 Promoted Routes. A detailed Promoted routes
modules is due for completion during the first
few months of 2017. This will completely inte-
grate with the existing path and asset data and
will allow route descriptions and waypoints
 Volunteers are increasingly important in the
management of paths and areas. The existing
capabilities of ROAM will be supplemented
with the means to allow volunteers to comple-
ment the work of authority. Areas such as up-
dating and creating assets especially photo-
graphs and adding extra information and pic-
tures about Issues will be included. Volunteers
will get their own logon with information tailored
to whether they support areas such as a parish
or have adopted a path or act as a trail watcher
 ROAM will be made more useful on more types
of mobile devices and improvements aimed at
that for both internal and public users are
scheduled for 2017.
Current and future Developments
There is more….
Features…. items such as waste bins and art work that are not main-
tained as official Path Furniture
Annotations…. Notes that Officers can add to clarify and supplement
core information
Plus Viewpoints and simple but powerful searching and much more…
ROAM has been developed for local use but from the start the view
has been held that as it is a public sector system it would be wrong if
the possibility of the benefits offered could not be more widely ex-
plored within the public sector. That opportunity now exists

8. Grounded system designed for the cloud
For more information
please contact:
Edwin Loat
eloat@somerset.gov.uk
01823 356647