City of Ventura - Wireless infrastructure project
Background:
The City of Ventura Public Safety Department (PSD) was in the process of upgrading the connectivity between it’s various geographical sites. The PSD had an existing network of data T-1 line through their telephony provider, Pacific Bell.
The network consisted of 11 sites, including the connectivity between City Hall and the PSD Headquarters. The PSD was proposing that all existing T-1 telephony equipment and connections be upgraded at a proposed cost of approximately $90,000.00 plus. This did not include the recurring T-1 cost that would continue at $2,000 per month or $24,000.00 annually. The proposed project at a cost of $114,000.00 for the fiscal year was submitted to the City Council and approved.
Proposal:
During this same time frame the City hired a new Information Technology Manager to head the IT Division. The new manager reviewed the overall city technology infrastructure and proposed that a wireless sub-net be built to not only replace the PSD project but to also incorporate all of the City’s remote geographical sites that were currently connected through data T-1 lines. After site visits and needs assessment were done a total of 10 sites other than PSD would need to be connected for a total of 21 sites.
Through research it was decided that the Aironet Wireless Bridge System would meet the City’s needs. The IT Manager contacted Aironet directly for a recommendation of vendors that would be qualified to propose a project cost. The company recommended two contractors, one in the Bay Area and one in Southern California. Both contractors were CMAS qualified, which meant that a formal bid process was unnecessary. The City chose the local contractor, The Wireless Guys, for ease of contact.
The process involved an initial contact and meeting with the vendor to decide if a formal site survey would be required, at a cost, or if a “design-as-you-go” concept could be used. After discussing the initial needs assessment it was agreed upon to use the “design-as-you-go” concept. The City and the vendor spent several days on site visits and a design was proposed. The design incorporated the topology of the area and increased the number of bridges needed to 23 by incorporating to two hilltop sites to enable the sub-net to cover the sites proposed. A formal estimate was given to the City by the contractor of approximately $130,000.00 to install the design.
Project:
The City IT Manager did a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Return on Investment (ROI) study of the project proposal. A TCO for the project, with contingency, was approximately $145,000.00 with a yearly recurring cost of $3,000.00 for staff maintenance time and spare parts/vendor call out. The system, using the TCO numbers, would have a ROI of 24 months based on the earlier proposal for PSD of $90,000.00 plus $24,000.00 recurring. The ROI improved to 14 months if the T-1 costs alone for the existing non-PSD sites were factored in. The ROI improved even further if equipment upgrades were factored in at the existing non-PSD sites. A report was submitted to the City Council to revise the approved PSD project to expand and incorporate all of the City’s remote sites. The City Council approved the revised project and a contract was entered into with the vendor.
The project began in late January. The design remained, basically, the same as proposed. The vendor encountered a problem with one of the Fire Stations after installation due to a curvature of the topology in the area. The solution arrived at was to create a “hop” situation to the next nearest Fire Station. This caused an increase in the original equipment list but one of the Park sites was judged to be impossible to connect so equipment designated to that site was reallocated to the “hop” configuration. The project proceeded without delay and was completed within 45 days. The connectivity attained was far beyond the original expectations. After the implementation of two lowend routers at City Hall and PSD Headquarters the throughput of the wireless sub-net was considered a great success. The City was now connected to all of its remote sites with an average speed of 5.5 megabits per second (half-duplex). With the routers in place to filter network chatter the look and feel of the sub-net was 10 + megabits per second.
Conclusion:
The project was considered a great success. With the implementation of the wireless sub-net all of the City’s remote sites are now able to access the City’s main file and e-mail systems. The users are also capable of working on the City’s financial system on its mid-frame VAX system in real time rather than in a batch mode. The availability of overall system access has improved the productivity of City staff. The added value of this sub-net to the infrastructure is its stability and robustness.
