ROK Blog

Hello folks! Yvonne Jones here, Marketing Manager, with ROK. We will get back on schedule with our newsletter frequency.  For this month's update we have decided to pick the brain of our President, Mike Murphy and discuss his thoughts on the latest service that ROK is providing - Infrastructure as a Service.
 
YJ: Good Morning Mike, glad to have you on board this morning!
 
MM: Good Morning Yvonne, great to be here.
 
YJ: First of all, what does ROK's Cloud Based IT Infrastructure for the ArcGIS Platform provide to someone considering this service?

MM:  If you don't have the IT resources in house, you are able to leverage our thin client technology via citrix to deploy your desktop licenses of ArcGIS for editing and maintaining your GIS data.  Expending valuable time and resources to keep your software applications secure, fully maintained, and up-to-date is one thing you shouldn't have to worry about.

YJ: How does the service work?

MM:  The client realizes the highest levels of security and reliability for their ArcGIS for Desktop applications and data. Our expert technical team will deploy, maintain, update, and optimize your ArcGIS for Desktop applications, as well as provide the infrastructure required to run them.  No more keeping up with all the latest hardware specifications.  We take care of that.  At the same time, you will maintain complete control over your applications and your data.

 

YJ: What kind of feed back are you receiving for this service?

MM:  Because GIS falls under the IT Department often, IT Directors love this service as it frees them up to focus on mission critical tasks.  GIS users also enjoy this service because ROK acts as their back office for GIS support.  Users consider ROK as their "hands-on" GIS Cloud.  It is a win-win for everyone. 

 

YJ: Is this service hard to implement?

MM:  The process is fairly straightforward. First, we work with our clients to migrate their databases, applications and map services to our private cloud. Once everything is configured and tested internally, we provide temporary access using ArcGIS (ArcMap, ArcCatalog) through Citrix for the client to perform testing of the business processes. Once acceptance has been given, we can transfer the client's ArcGIS desktop licensing to the Citrix server and provide secure access to their data or desktops. At this point, it is business as usual for the client with ROK providing technical support and maintenance as needed.

 

YJ: Thank you so much for taking the time and letting me pick your brain.

MM: No problem, my pleasure.

 

 

Hello folks! Yvonne Jones here, Marketing Manager, with ROK. For this month's update we have decided to pick the brain of our Sales Director Carey Jenkins and discuss her thoughts on customer service and its impact on the GIS community!

 

YJ: Good Morning Carey, glad to have you on board this morning!

 

CJ: Good Morning Yvonne, great to be here.

 

YJ: With all the options customers and potentials customers have for hosting GIS maps and/or data in the cloud, why choose ROK Technologies? What sets you apart from the others?

CJ: Let’s set product discussion aside for now and simply focus on service. What good is a product or service without support behind it? At ROK we focus on a custom experience. Every client is different and ever client has different needs. We pride ourselves on developing unique quality options for every client. Not only are the applications and maps unique per client, but every client gets personalized support for their services. Our team is thorough with the setup and will guide each client through any problem they may have. You are never without support from the ROK team. I think that makes us unique.

YJ: What about the product quality itself?

CJ: As an Esri business partner we are equipped with great knowledge of ArcGIS server and ArcGIS Online. Our team is well versed and can streamline the process for many clients. Not only that but we can create custom maps and applications as well. Whatever the client may need in regards to GIS map hosting we can handle with practiced care. With our team’s expertise and great customer service the clients are in for a great experience with our products.  

YJ: So you mainly focus on GIS Map hosting and development?

 

CJ: We do emphasize our map hosting abilities but like I said we can create custom maps and applications as well. We can also create mobile applications. That way the clients can pass on their product to their customers in an easy to access form. Not only that but we are now partnered with eGroup and can host IT solutions and data in the cloud for our clients. We are evolving every day and finding new ways to bring solutions to our valued and potential clients. It is truly an exciting time for ROK technologies!

 

 YJ: Wow! Ok so could you provide the readers with a scenario of a happy client and how they utilized your services?

CJ: Absolutely. We just received a raving testimonial from Franklin County in Alabama. This past summer, the Franklin County GIS Consortium used ArcGIS Online, together with map services hosted by ROK Technologies to create web maps for two local events.

The City of Russellville hosts an annual 4th of July celebration, attracting thousands of spectators. Also, in August, the City hosts a downtown festival, attracting dozens of vendors and thousands of patrons. Interactive web maps were used to display the locations of vendors, parking, first aid, attractions, and roadblocks, along with many other features. Public safety personnel and event organizers had access to maps showing the locations of emergency personnel, vehicles, and facilities.

ArcGIS Online was used because of the ability to embed the easy to use application within an existing website, use it in a mobile device, display map services hosted by ROK Technologies, and access a great variety of base maps.

 They were very happy with the results!

 

YJ: You heard it best from our Sales Director. ROK Technologies really delivers in customer service and product. Way to go ROK!

GIS Training in Charleston, SC:

Back by popular demand, we're happy to announce that on October 9th – 11th, we will be teaming up with Panda Consulting again to bring you an in-depth look at the effective GIS tool known as: The Parcel Fabric. What is parcel fabric? How does it relate to GIS and custom mapping? How can you best implement it into your technology services? This comprehensive, three day training program will answer these questions, and cover all aspects of the Parcel Fabric, and it's applications to GIS.

Frank Conkling of Panda Consulting will provide an intensive examination of the Parcel Fabric structure, the inter-dependencies of the sub layers, how the Parcel Fabric really works, what you need to do to make the transition, and how to integrate the Parcel fabric into your daily work flow, to ensure that you are getting the most out of your Geographic Information Systems.

Meet us at the College of Charleston on October 9th – 11th to expand your GIS knowledge, and more fully understand the capabilities of the Parcel Fabric. For $1,200 per attendee, this three day class is a must for anyone in the GIS industry:

 

The instructor was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and very conscientious in making sure that everyone was engaged and had an understanding of the material presented.  He not only was knowledgeable, but was a good teacher as well, understanding that the learning process is an interaction rather than a one-way conversation.  I also appreciated his flexibility in being willing to go off on a tangent to explain something in detail when the situation required it.  The class has given me an excellent head start in preparing to transition to the parcel fabric and I am grateful for this opportunity.  

 

Jack Drost, Henderson County, NC

 

Contact us to find out more or to register for the Parcel Fabric training.  For a more complete description, you can download the training PDF below. Or, check out our Services page to find out more about our Geographic Information Services. 

The Parcel Fabric Training October 2012 (92 KB)

ROK Global Applications Group, LLC is pleased to welcome Mike Spivey and Don Stephens to the Boad of Directors. Their addition to the ROK team is a great step forward for our GIS and custom mapping endeavors, ultimately allowing us to provide even more quality within the Geographic Information Systems industry.

Mike Spivey graduated from Clemson University with a Master’s degree in Architecture in 1976. Michael began his career at one of Charleston’s most respected design firms, now known as LS3P. His experience eventually led to the formation of Michael Spivey and Associates, Inc. Architects in 1983. In addition to running his own business, Michael is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the South Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, etc. He has served as a director for the Charleston section of the AIA, and is a member of the SC chapter, as well as the National AIA. He has also served as a board member and President of the Charleston County Public Facilities Corporation. His participation with ROK is invaluable, and his contributions will greatly enhance the overall GIS services we provide.

Don Stephens, CPA, provides comprehensive financial consulting and business services to a wide range of clients in the Tri County Area. He graduated from Charleston Southern University in 1980, and provides special insight on our Geographic Information Systems operation.

Additionally, both Mike Deignan and Bill Craver serve on the Board. Recently, David "Mike" Deignan has been named Managing Director of ROK Global Board of Directors. He is the Managing Partner of DMDCONSULT LLC, which provides Executive Coaching, strategic plan development, and execution guidance to small business owners in the Southeast United States.

Mr. Bill Craver, Law Partner at Craver & Current, engages in a strategic business practice which includes planning, consulting and counseling, business operations, business formation, change of ownership transactions, general business representation, commercial real estate, commercial loans, and resolution of shareholder/partner disputes. With such a wide skill set, and such an extensive history in business, Bill Craver is an essential part of providing the highest quality custom maps available.

With their leadership, ROK Global continues to grow and improve ArcGIS server hosting, and the GIS Cloud services that have established us as a Geographic Information Systems industry leader here in the Lowcountry. Mike and Bill provide a depth of experience to our management team, and add to our vision, allowing us to be the best we can at providing custom maps, GIS data, and ArcGIS server hosting.

Here at ROK Global Applications Group, LLC (ROK Global), we are bringing a whole new level of service to ROK GIS Cloud customers, who rely on ROK (www.ROKTech.net) to host their online mapping systems. Founded in 1997, we here at ROK  Technologies, Inc. have developed a solid reputation as a full service Internet and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications development company. ROK has specialized in ESRI's product line for the desktop and Internet/Intranet  environments. Its new ASP designation allows us to save its on-line mapping clients thousands of dollars in software, hardware, personnel and related resources.

By bringing such effective minds into ROK, we are more excited than ever to develop our technology services, and ultimately bring a higher-quality, more productive GIS product to our customers. There has never been a better time to take advantage of Geographic Information Systems, and all of the capabilities offered. Contact us today to learn more about our ArcGIS server hosting, and the ROK GIS Cloud services.

It seems that apps are all the rage these days. With hand-held technology quickly becoming the norm for most Americans, it only made sense that ROK should develop a Geographic Information Systems application to help the user with all their GIS needs on the go. That is why ROK recently developed an Android application for use on the Motorola Xoom tablet. The app was designed for Davie County, NC, and developed with Adobe Flex and ArcGIS Server Flex API. This application takes advantage of Adobe Air - which allows you to write once, and deploy to many. This means that one code base can be compiled for use on Apple iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, etc), Android devices (Droid phones, Honeycomb tablets, etc), and Blackberry devices, thus making it one of the most versatile GIS apps available today.

This GIS application allows users to view and identify utility features, such as water meters, water mains, valves, and parcel addresses. Several search options are included for users to quickly locate Water Meters by Account, Owner Name and Meter ID. In addition to the Water Meters search, there is an Address search that allows users to quickly find a particular address. Finding your current location on the map is a snap, thanks to the integrated GPS capabilities. This has been very handy for field workers to view their current location in relation to map features. No more searching for that buried valve cover!

With this application, we are bringing Geographic Information Systems and Custom Mapping straight to the palm of your hand. It is now easier than ever to capitalize on the finest GIS Mapping resources available. Feel free to contact us today for more information on the brand new ROK Geographic Information Systems application.