Offline plan generation - project update
Further to Landwrap articles in September 2008 and January 2009, work has now commenced on the system build for offline plan generation.
The following diagram provides an updated overview of how plan generation data will be communicated between the online and offline systems:
Figure 1
Functional overview
Offline plan generation means that plan layout and diagram creation can be performed without being connected to Landonline. Landonline security protocols will only be apply when uploading and downloading data.
A fundamental feature of the new functionality will be the flexibility to switch between working in the two modes; offline or online. All or part of plan generation will be able to be completed either offline or online.
The 'package' shown in Figure 1 above is key to this process. It can be created by either the online or the offline application and then loaded into either application. While the exact content of the package is still being defined, however, the intent is that it will contain one or more XML files, and will be fully documented so that third parties have an opportunity to provide alternative offline options if they wish.
The most visible change in Landonline itself will be the creation of a new 'Plan Generation' tab in the Manage Survey Transactions screen, see screen shot 1:
Screen shot 1 - a mock up only
The Generate Plan button will be removed from the Submit tab and added to this new tab. This is the only change that will affect users who choose not to use the offline plan generation functionality.
The six additional buttons and other text facilitate the import/export process for offline plan generation.
If the enabled user chooses the offline option, i.e. selects the Export Plan button in the plan generation tab, the survey will be checked to ensure that it passes the same eight-step validation that is performed when opening online Plan Layout. If the survey passes the checks, a screen will open to indicate the extent of the survey capture data, any diagrams already defined in Landonline, and the likely size of the extract.
Screen shot 2 - a mock up only
The window, shown in screen shot 2, will provide a choice of exporting the data directly via their current Citrix connection, or to have the export done in the background and sent to a secure data server for later download via a File Transfer Service, see screen shot 3.
If the direct option is chosen, the export and download will commence immediately to a mapped Citrix drive, i.e. onto the user's PC or their local network. The user will need to wait while the export and download occurs.
If the indirect option is chosen, the export will be scheduled via a batch process and the user will be requested to exit from the survey so that the batch process may be initiated. The user may continue to work within Landonline on other surveys or related tasks.
In the indirect option, the user who initiated the export will receive an email when the file is available for download from the data server. This email will include a URL link to access the File Transfer Service via an internet browser. They will not require a Citrix connection, however, they will still require their Landonline Digital Certificate, user name and password to log on to the File Transfer Service and download the package.
Screen shot 3 - a mock up only
The indirect upload option has been introduced to allow:
- data transfers that are not restricted to normal Landonline hours of operation (actual exports will, however, need to be initiated within Landonline operational hours)
- unattended exports/imports, i.e. so that users may log off or continue with other Landonline activity while Landonline is performing the actual export/import (if they wish)
- avoidance of Citrix timeouts for extra large files
- significantly greater chance of success where a user is experiencing an unreliable internet connection.
Initial estimates suggest that exports will be relatively fast but that uploads will take significantly longer due to the required processing by Landonline. It is therefore assumed that most users will choose the direct option for downloads and the indirect option for uploads.
The offline application will use a local database for storage of offline plans (one for each survey). These databases represent the offline copy of the plan. They will be automatically created the first time an offline plan generation package is ‘opened’ for a survey and, once created, the application will interact directly with the database. If required, subsequent exports from Landonline may be used to update the offline database. The database(s) may be stored on a user's PC, or on an office network, and may potentially be stored on any connected data storage device.
The offline application itself will have similar functionality to that currently provided by online plan layout. Where practical, it will have a similar look and feel so that users can quickly become proficient in its use, see screen shot 4. There will also be some minor additional functionality where it is likely to improve productivity and is easily provided by the development toolset.
Screen shot 4 - a mock up only
Once the user preparing the offline plan is ready to transfer their work back to Landonline, they will perform a 'save package' to create the necessary data extract for transfer to Landonline. The package creation process will include a set of checks and will warn the user if the file is likely to have issues when imported to Landonline.
Once created, the package may then be uploaded to Landonline directly through the normal Citrix connection, or indirectly via the File Transfer Service. The indirect upload may be done by anyone who has an internet browser, a valid Landonline Digital Certificate, username and password. The actual import to Landonline will, however, be prevented if at the time of import, the user who performed the upload is not enabled for the survey (in Landonline).
Security and privacy
Data stored within the user's environment will be considered to be outside the Landonline system. Prevention of unauthorised access, accidental deletion or corruption and routine backups will be the user's responsibility. Data will be validated when it is received back into Landonline.
Data stored in the Landonline environment will be protected by the Landonline security system and firewall. When using the File Transfer Service, users will require the URL, a current Landonline Digital Certificate, user ID and password to be able to download or upload plan generation data packages from the secure data server.
All access attempts to the File Transfer Service will be logged.
Requesting or enabled users will only be able to access their own exported packages on the data server. The upload directory and all other user download directories will be off limits.
The plan generation dataset will be compressed, but not encrypted for the download and upload processes.
Licence costs
The chosen software development toolkits have minimal ongoing licence costs. Any person may install the offline application and then work on a plan while it is offline, i.e. they do not have to be an enabled user or hold a Digital Certificate. While in this mode the offline application has no dependencies on Landonline or associated licences.
The only requirement is that the offline application is installed and that the PC or laptop meets the necessary hardware and software requirements (see below).
A Digital Certificate and Landonline credentials (i.e. user name, password and enabled access to the survey) will, however, be required to transfer packages to and from Landonline.
Hardware and software requirements
The offline application is likely to be made available as a download from the Landonline website. It is likely to be self contained, but will require the following to be pre-installed:
- Microsoft .NET v2.0 minimum
- Windows XP, or Windows Vista 32 bit
- Internet Explorer v6 or higher.
The offline application should run adequately on a system with a 1Ghz processor and 1GB of memory. However, increased memory and processing power will improve the user experience, particularly when working on larger plans. Minimum system requirements, installed size of the application, and typical size of created databases will not be known until closer to the roll out date.
A broadband connection for downloads and uploads is not required, but strongly recommended.
Estimated delivery date
Surveyors can expect delivery of offline plan generation in 2010. Changes required to the internal Landonline environment and online application to support the offline application are currently targeted for inclusion in Release 3.3 (anticipated in late 2009).
Completion of the offline application that surveyors will use will be targeted for Release 3.4 (anticipated in early 2010), to coincide with any amendments implemented for compliance with the new Surveyor-General rules.
