Geotech attended three trade shows this Fall – At the Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy, in Amherst, MA in October; Geotech’s President, Dr. Dave Rich presented a talk titled, “Managing Soil and Other Data from the Field to the Map”.  The Brownfields 2009 in New Orleans, LA in November boasted an attendance of almost 200 environmental companies, government agencies, and educational organizations.  Our last show of the Fall was the Annual Tribal Environmental Summit in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM in December, which brought together tribal environmental representatives from Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, to discuss such issues as Site Assessments/ Brownfields, Underground Storage Tanks, and Water Quality Updates, to name a few.  

Geotech is in the process of rolling out a new version of Enviro Data called 2008F. This version has many new useful features relative to the previous major release, 2008D. Here are just a few of the features:

 1. Field Tool - This feature expands on the existing Sample Events capability, adding more detailed specifications for plans and events, including locations to be sampled, QC sampled, and field and laboratory parameters and methods. You can create a file for field data entry, and print a chain of custody for an event, among other things.

 2. Permit Management - Enviro Data now has a feature to store permit information, including which locations are part of which permit, and regulatory limits (also called target levels or MCLs) by permit and permit option.

 3. Validation Module - We have added many enhancements to the existing Validation Module, giving you much more flexibility in analyzing data, while simplifying project setup and improving the workflow.

 4. Stations Graph with Multiple Parameters – A new graph report has been added that displays up to four graphs per page. Each graph shows multiple Y-Axis parameters with an optional second scale on the right axis. The user is presented with a set-up form which enables the choice of automatic or user-defined scaling, a single Y-Axis scale or dual scales, and parameter selections from a drop-down list. Any number of Stations may be included in the report.

For more information on the latest Enviro Data features, visit Geotech's website by clicking here or call us at (303) 740-1999.

This fall, Geotech conducted training for another satisfied Enviro Software client.  This client is an independent refining and marketing company headquartered in El Paso, TX, and with offices around the U.S.  This year’s training took place in the Gallup, NM office.  We assisted this client with data loading, integrating their data into Enviro Data, and helping their labs produce high-quality electronic data.

Once again this year, Geotech Computer Systems, Inc. was pleased to sponsor a table at the annual Envirofest show in Denver, Colorado.  This year’s show was hosted by our good friends at Geotech Environmental Equipment. The mission of Envirofest is to sponsor an opportunity for environmental professionals to network, learn, and share ideas and dialogue with environmental and engineering organizations, consulting firms, government agencies and academic institutions.  This year’s keynote speaker was Tom Plant, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office, who spoke on environmental and energy projects funded by ARRA and stimulus funding.

This month, Geotech trained two more happy clients on its Enviro Software users list.  The first, located in Laramie, WY, was a leading regional consulting firm that provides professional engineering, geological and hydrological services, and other engineering services to its clients around the nation.  The second, with an office in Arizona, was a nationally recognized environmental and regulatory consulting firm, providing hydrogeologic consulting in exploration, development, use and management of groundwater, site assessment, etc.  Both companies are now happily moving forward with managing and displaying their environmental data in Geotech’s Enviro Software.

Re-Name Station Names and Re-Name Parameter Names

Enviro Data helps the user to prevent station and parameter name duplicates during the data import process; however, it occasionally stills happens, especially when importing corrupted historical data. These duplicates may be eliminated in six easy steps, by using the two new Enviro Data tools: Re-Name Station Names and Re-Name Parameter Names.

1.  Select the correct name from a drop-down list. For example station MW-1.

2.  Select up to five duplicate names which were used for the same station. For example MW1 or MW 1.

3.  Compare the data fields for the correct station name to the other selected station names using a datasheet view. Transfer or edit any missing or incorrect field data to the record with the correct name.

4.  Change the station names with the click of a button, and view a list of any station names which were not changed because they would create duplicate records, which are not allowed by Access.

5.  Delete the incorrect names with the click of a button.

6.  Re-name the original, correct name, if desired. For example, now you may change all of the MW-1 station names to MW #1.

New Library feature in Enviro Data simplifies management of valid value lists

Managing lookup tables, or what many call valid value lists or coded values, can be a challenge for companies managing numerous project databases. These lookup tables include parameter names, analytic flags, reporting units, and so on. In some cases, you will want to have completely different lookups for different databases. The lists for a smelter in Montana could be very different from those for a refinery in Texas. Other times, though, the lookups could be the same, but the projects are different. Many Department of Defense projects are like this - the valid value lists are the same for all Air Force ERPIMS projects all around the world. It would be nice to have one set of lookup tables, and only have to manage them in one place, for all similar projects.

The new Library feature in Enviro Data lets you do this. You can store the lookup tables in a separate database file, and then attach each of your data databases to the library. That way you can make changes in one place, and all the other databases attached to that library will respond to those changes. And you can have multiple libraries for different project types. This is just one of the many new features in Enviro Data, and more are on the way. Feel free to contact us to learn more about the Library feature, or other Enviro Data and Enviro Spase features that may be of value to you.

Geotech Computer Systems is working with a Fortune 25 oil and gas company to implement a data management system for their discharge monitoring reports.  By extending the popular Enviro Data software in several areas we were able to significantly improve their workflow.  This includes expanded handling of permit info and more detailed handling of different regulatory limit comparisons.  Geotech is also working with one of the largest international environmental companies to implement the Enviro Data software throughout their company.  This company selected Enviro Data after thoroughly evaluating other options, including a well established in-house system.  They are funding a number of enhancements, including the printing of bottle labels to correspond with a chain of custody. The ease of use of Enviro Data, the expected significant time savings after implementation, and Geotech’s willingness to enhance the software to better suit their needs, were among the deciding factors in their selection.

Geotech prides itself on its adaptability to customer needs.  Without feedback from our clients, we could not expand the software and create new features to meet the demands of an always changing environment.  With a wide customer base and an array of technical knowledge, we are able to provide the tools that clients need to minimize their effort and maximize their efficiency.  For over two decades Geotech has helped to provide a cost-effective way for clients to manage and display their data and help keep the Earth clean. 

Did you know that you can rent Geotech's powerful Enviro Data software? We have a rent-to-own program that keeps your initial investment down, while putting the software to work on your projects, saving time and improving quality, right now. The rental fee is low enough that you can expense the software to overhead or administration, allowing you to purchase now instead of having to wait for a project to expense it to. Contact Geotech for details at 877-740-1999 (Toll-Free).

6/18/09 - Geotech Attends ITEC

Once again this year, Geotech was pleased to attend the annual Inter-Tribal Environmental Conference in Tulsa, OK.  The mission of ITEC is “To protect the health of Native Americans, their natural resources, and their environment as it relates to air, land and water.”  To accomplish this mission, ITEC provides technical support, environmental services, and assistance in developing tribal environmental programs to the member tribes.  Many Member Tribes were in attendance at this year’s conference, including four that are Geotech clients, namely Iowa Tribe, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Pueblo of Laguna, and Pueblo of Santa Clara.  Geotech is honored to be able to assist Native Americans in their goal of environmental excellence.

6/2/09 - Sales Director Joins Team

In mid-May, Geotech added a dynamic Sales Director to its Sales Team, Mike Rich.  Mike brings over seven years of technical and sales/customer service experience to Geotech’s sales team.  Mike was with Hyundai Corporation after majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University.  Mike’s strong science and math background, coupled with his analytical skills, serve him well as a top-notch “problem-solver”.  This ability allows him to talk to clients and potential clients to find out their problems and needs in working with their environmental data, and shows them how the Enviro Software can help them solve these problems.  Geotech is pleased to welcome Mike to our sales team.

5/31/09 - Trade Shows, Training, and Demonstrations

Geotech exhibited at several trade shows and attended a number of environmental meetings in May: the Tribal Nations Meeting, May 4-7, in Albuquerque, NM, sponsored by the US Army Corps of Engineers; NDIA/E2S2 trade show in Denver, May 5-7; the National Tribal Environmental Conference, May 11-14, in Bar Harbor, ME; and a lunch meeting titled “Groundwater Remediation Techniques” sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Association of Environmental Professionals, May 15, in Denver, CO. 

We held two Enviro Data trainings in May: one for the Iowa Tribe May 20-21, and the second May 26-28, for the staff at one of our new clients in Minnesota, and we conducted numerous demos and WebEx’s last month for regional and national environmental companies in over a dozen cities around the country.

5/15/09 - Geotech Client List Continues to Grow

May was another very busy month for the staff at Geotech, with many new software purchases, and new and ongoing service work.  Two of May’s new Enviro Data clients include: a major regional environmental company that implemented Enviro Data for their municipal government and private sector work, and the second is a company that operates several saltwater disposal systems in west Texas and New Mexico.  Geotech also added several new Indian Tribes to their client list last month.

Some of our service work that was done in May included: a major oil & gas company that is implementing Enviro Data for their coal-bed methane produced-water operations; helping one of the largest environmental companies manage their legacy and ongoing data for a major Air Force facility; assisting another very large environmental company expand and implement Enviro Data to become their corporate standard worldwide; and working with a major government contractor to expand their use of Enviro Data on several rocket-fuel clean-up projects.

Check out Geotech’s Summer Newsletter, coming out soon, for more interesting information about Enviro Data and our company.

5/1/09 - Hot Summer Savings on Enviro Data Software

Start your “field season” off on the right foot, by purchasing Enviro Data now, and getting that field data into the best data management software in the market.  And if you purchase one Enviro Data license in June 2009, you will receive a second license for 50% off – that’s a savings of up to $2,500!  Our latest update of this software lets you define your plans and events, prepare field data entry files, print chains of custody, and track container and preservation requirements. And at the end of the event, Enviro Data can run a completeness report so you can see if you got what you expected. This is in addition to Enviro Data’s other strong features, including robust importing and QC, reporting and limit comparisons, graphs, maps, and much more. Save time and money by getting your sampling program right the first time, and managing it efficiently.

4/1/09 - Software News and Events

Geotech finished out the month of March with our attendance at the 19^th Annual AEHS Meeting & West Coast Conference on Soils, Sediments, and Water in San Diego, CA.  Over 600 attendees participated in this year’s conference.  Dr. Dave, our president, gave a talk on “Managing Groundwater and other Data from the Field to the Map”.  His talk was well attended and well received by attendees concerned with developing creative, cost-effective assessments and solutions in working with the regulatory community.

April will be another productive month for Geotech, starting off on April 4^th with an Enviro Data training trip to one of our major petroleum clients in Gillette, Wyoming.  While in this state, we will also be showcasing the 2009 release of our Enviro software to several coal-bed methane producers and various environmental consultants.  This promises to be an exciting week!

The week of April 19^th, Geotech will be exhibiting at the 2009 NGWA Ground Water Summit, in Tucson, AZ.  This event includes numerous short courses, presentations, and field trips, presented to and by, regulators, natural resource managers, ground water practitioners, and those supplying knowledge and technology for our nation’s key water issues.  Geotech is pleased that our software and services can be part of the solution in this increasing demand for improving water quality.

Stay tuned for upcoming Enviro software news and events in May!

3/1/09 - Quarterly Special - Geotech Economic Plan

Geotech is very sensitive to the current state of the economy, and how it is affecting our environmental clients. Geotech would like to help you out by offering you a big savings on your database management needs - buy one Enviro Data Advanced or Concurrent license, and get a second license for 50% off. That's a savings of up to $2,500, plus the technical expertise you will need to make this the year you get ahead on your environmental database projects. So buy your copies of Enviro Data today and see for yourself why so many companies are switching to Enviro Data. Call today for more details and to take advantage of this limited time offer. 877-740-1999 (Toll-Free)

2/1/09 - New Enviro Spase Feature – Radar Plots

Enviro Spase, our GIS tool, has recently been updated with several new features. One of the most interesting is what we call Radar Plots. In the past as we have been discussing our Stiff Diagram feature, clients have said they would like to put their constituents of concern around the outside of the diagram, rather than the major ions. Radar Plots address this. They can be used for multiple parameters, dates, or depths at each location. They are circular diagrams that look like a wind rose or gun sight. The concentrations for each parameter are shown by how far out the points stick. You can also display the regulatory limit for each parameter. This type of display makes it easy to look at the spatial distribution of the constituents across the site. For example, one client says they can use them to track the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons across their facility.

1/21/09 - Enviro software demonstrations start out with a “bang” in 2009

Demand for demonstrations of Geotech’s newly updated Enviro Data and Enviro Spase software remain high, as we begin another New Year.  2009 began with in-person demos in Pittsburgh, PA., Lakewood, Lafayette and Golden, CO; and  WebExes in Great Falls, ID, San Antonio, TX, and Southern CA.  Industries viewing the software included construction, mining, DOD, environmental engineering, and water districts. 

Geotech will have another year filled with trade show attendance beginning in February with a booth at the SME Annual Meeting in Denver, CO, February 22-25 (SME Annual Meeting web site).  Geotech will be at Booth #308; please stop by and see us.  Dr. Dave Rich will be presenting a paper at this show titled, “Gathering and Managing Environmental Quality Data for Mining Projects”.

March 9 – 12 will find us at the 19^th Annual AEHS West Coast Conference on Soils, Sediments, and Water, in San Diego, CA (AEHS Conference web site).  Geotech will also be exhibiting at this show, and Dr. Dave will be presenting a paper titled, “Managing Groundwater and Other Data from the Field to the Map”.  Please visit us at Tabletop E.

Geotech will be attending many other trade shows in 2009, so if you aren’t planning to attend the two above, perhaps we’ll see you in Tucson, AZ, Pittsburgh, PA, San Antonio, TX, Gillette, WY, Detroit, MI, Loveland, CO, or Orlando, FL.  Stay tuned to our website for further details on all these shows, or contact us to set up a personal WebEx demonstration for your company’s data management group.