Who We Are

Spatial Systems Associates Inc. (SSA) is a full-service Geographic Information Systems (GIS) implementation and support provider based in Columbia, Maryland along the I-95 corridor between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. The principals of SSA have been implementing GIS technology since 1987; our staff of thirty has expertise in many related disciplines. Clients have included federal, state, county, municipal, and private sector organizations throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

SSA is an authorized Esri developer and reseller. Esri is the world's leading GIS software provider; their products are the de facto industry standard. Building on the Esri platform, we provide services and support to our clients in the following areas:

• Consulting
• Internet Map Service and Web site Development and Deployment
• Application Development
• Data Services
• Analysis and Cartographic Production
• Training

Our Services

Consulting
For those organizations that are not yet familiar with GIS/FMIS technology or its business advantages, SSA offers consulting services. These services include the ability to sit down with staff, understand the mission of a particular office, and make recommendations regarding how GIS or FMIS technology can be brought to bear to assist in meeting mission requirements:

• Interviews with selected staff
• Development of a business process analysis
• Establishment of goals/objectives related to the integration of GIS technology and its expected benefits
• Development of alternatives to integrate GIS technology (i.e. workstation-based versus web-based)
• Presentation of study results to management

In addition, SSA is available to provide services to assist in the identification of GIS-compatible data products or applications that could support mission requirements and the acquisition/integration of these products into mission workflows.

Internet Map Service and Web Site Development and Deployment
SSA has been providing internet-based GIS services to our state/local clients since 1999. Beginning with Esri's first implementation of IMS (Internet Map Services), SSA initiated a service of offering online access to GIS data for those clients who were not at the time interested in investing in the technology, or who did not yet have the necessary infrastructure to offer access at acceptable performance levels.

SSA has continued to provide access to web-based GIS functionality and to provide implementation of web-based GIS to our clients when they were ready to accept that role. We have programmer and integration experience in the implementation and support of all technologies necessary to meet these requirements, including the newest Enterprise Server technology from Esri that allows online editing as well as analysis of data in a GIS environment.

Application Development
Spatial Systems Associates maintains a staff of professional programmers experienced in customizing all aspects of Esri-based GIS technology. We deliver client specific applications in desktop, server, internet and database environments.

SSA's programming services include software design, database design, geodatabase design, complete coding and error-checking, programmer and user documentation development, installation, training, and continued support services in the following areas:

GUI Development
Customization of the graphical user interface to meet specific needs of the client, thus eliminating unneeded tools from the interface and developing tools that perform specific repetitive tasks.

Coding Utilizing Current Programming Tools
Programming of new techniques to facilitate the development and maintenance of GIS datasets utilizing Esri-based technology. This programming capability includes the development of new ArcGIS Extensions that are specific to the needs of the user community or to a particular client, or the development of web-based applications utilizing Microsoft SilverLight technology.

Conversion/Integration of existing programs
Conversion of existing code when necessary to conform to new standards and integration of the functionality of the original software into GIS technology.

Data Services
Data is the foundation, and usually the most costly component, of our clients' GIS systems. We assist clients in collecting data of various forms—from researching archival material to field collection of data, using our staff to selecting third party vendors to provide remote sensing and photographic services that meet our clients' needs. To ensure that our clients are well served by third party vendors, we offer quality control services to review the accuracy and contract conformance of the products delivered. In addition, we offer complete in-house or on-site conversion services, including scanning, registration, vectorization, attribution, and integration of converted data with our clients' existing databases. We also provide data maintenance services to ensure that costly GIS datasets remain current.

Database/Geodatabase Design and Implementation
GIS technology has become increasingly complex as the amount of information stored has increased, and Esri has adopted a generic approach to the use of standard commercial databases. SSA assists clients in the adoption of these new tools by providing best practices knowledge derived from other clients, designing and implementing the geodatabases and integrating these technologies into the practical applications used on a daily basis by individuals not trained in database design.

Scanning
SSA's complete large format scanning services meet all of the needs of the GIS community. Scanning can be provided in binary, grayscale, or full color in widths up to 40" on virtually any media. Scanning resolution is available in true-resolution of up to 600 DPI. Scans can optionally be registered to any specified coordinate system and datum, and provided on CD-ROM or DVD media. Scanned images to be utilized in a GIS environment can be provided in any of the Esri-compatible raster formats. These scanning services can be provided on-site in a classified environment if required.

Registration
Occasionally, the raster files produced by the scanning equipment will meet the needs and expectations of our clients. More often, however, scans need to be registered to a specified coordinate system in order to be useful in a GIS or FMIS environment. We can provide registration to coordinates that are shown on the original documents, to any other standard coordinate system, or we can register the images utilizing either other registered imagery (photography or satellite imagery) or existing vector files that depict features shown on the scanned documents. The registration process may, at the client's discretion, include "clipping" of the images to eliminate unnecessary border or other information that is captured on the original scan. Registration services may also include mosaicing of images to form a composite and seamless image.

Vectorization
Often it is necessary to develop feature datasets from the underlying raster images. Most often, the conversion includes an assessment of the location of elements to be captured relative to other vector or image datasets to assure spatial consistency and the elimination of conflicts between feature types. Our vectorization efforts therefore, require an understanding of GIS technology, as well as of the intended purpose of the final product. Vectorization and attribution are accomplished concurrently, with attributes collected at the time the features are captured. Resulting feature datasets are then checked against a rules table to ensure that required attribution is completed properly. In addition, we perform QA/QC procedures to guarantee conformance with client specifications and consistency with GIS standards. Final datasets may be provided in Esri, AutoDesk, Intergraph, or another "standard" GIS or FMIS software format.

Analysis and Cartographic Production
Once data is developed in a format compatible with GIS technology the real benefit of utilizing GIS can be achieved. If a client elects not to employ trained GIS professionals or needs to supplement those individuals during periods of increased demand for analysis, SSA can provide services to perform analysis of data and prepare cartographic workproduct in a format acceptable to the client. SSA maintains complete in-house production hardware/software utilizing the entire line of Esri technology, and our staff is familiar with its use. In addition, SSA regularly provides staff for temporary or long term assignment within client offices to either supplement client GIS staff or to provide complete on-site GIS production capability that our client may otherwise not have available.

Training
In many cases, standard training classes simply do not provide sufficient exposure to the tools or datasets that clients expect to utilize on a daily basis. Standard training utilizes a pre-defined curriculum, pre-defined exercises with datasets that are normally unrelated to the client's needs. While these courses are valuable in teaching the basic tools available in Esri's software, we have found that it is sometimes difficult for novice users to make the connection between standard training and its relationship to daily use of the technology. For this reason SSA offers customized training classes—either as a separate class or as integrated into a standard curriculum— that incorporate client data. These classes ensure that clients can quickly become productive in their use of the technology.

How to Contract for Our Services
Spatial Systems Associates, Inc. provides its services both on a time-and-materials basis and a firm fixed-price basis, depending on the task and our client's needs.

SSA's services are available to Maryland state agencies and county and local governments, via a Department of Budget and Management Consulting and Technical Services (CATS) contract. Details are available at http://www.
dbm.state.md.us by clicking Contractors. Federal agencies, as well as state and local governments are invited to use our GSA Schedule 899. Virginia state and local government agencies and Washington COG members may prefer to use our Fairfax County IT Services Open Task Order Contract.

Non-government clients are invited to discuss their service requirements with us. Please contact sales@spatialsys.com for further assistance.

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