Untitled Document

Introduction

TraCS (Traffic and Criminal Software) is a form system that can be used by law enforcement and police agencies nationwide. TraCS along with a Software Development Kit (SDK), allows agencies to design their own forms. Agencies can also build forms for their unique needs.

The software architecture takes into consideration that each agency does business in a unique way and should not have to change its business practices to conform to a particular software application. An agency will be able to shape TraCS into a tool that enhances the way it does business.

TraCS consists of two related applications, TraCS Field Uint and TraCS Workstation, which are used to collect incident data, and the TraCS Office Database, which is used to store data at the local Agency.

Back to the Top

TraCS Field Unit

TraCS allows officers to collect, validate and print information in the vehicle using a notebook type of computer. Information gathered with the TraCS field unit can then be transferred to the TraCS workstation.

TraCS field unit consists of a laptop with a mag stripe reader, a GPS, and a printer. The mag stripe reader reads the driver information from the Driver's License eliminating typing. The GPS used to get location of the crash from GIS data. TraCS Florida forms look exactly like the paper forms the replace.

Back to the Top

TraCS Workstation

TraCS Workstation is an agency-based workstation database application used as a repository for data collected by TraCS Field Uint. There are numerous reporting and analysis tools available for agency-level decision making depending on agency specific needs.

The desktop displays all pertinent information transferred from the mobile application and provides menus and buttons to easily maneuver throughout the system. All the functions of the mobile, including data entry, are also present in the TraCS Office application. The desktop offers a database and an export function to facilitate movement of TraCS collected data to the agencies’ legacy records system.

Back to the Top

TraCS Functionality

TraCS includes these features and functionality:

Small Footprint – Maximum Performance
Streamlined Interface and Navigation Features
Forms Browser
Modular Plug-and-Play Component Based Architecture
The Data Bar
Flexible Table Driven Edits
Enhanced Wireless Communications
Windows ’98, Windows 2000, Windows NT and Windows XP Compatibility

Local Records System Interface
Software Development Kit (SDK)
AAMVA PDF417 Bar Code Reading
Image Capturing
Database Independence
GIS Location Tool
Security

Back to the Top

Validation

TraCS provides for data validation to ensure that reports are complete and accurate. Users receive immediate feedback regarding incorrect data and are prompted to correct any errors. State agencies can specify the validation requirements that meet their own needs for each type of report.

Back to the Top

Diagramming

TraCS offers these diagramming options:

A simple to use, drag-and-drop diagramming tool which provides the user with a series of templates that store images of crash elements including vehicles, road templates, people, animals, trees, text and other objects. The user may move, rotate or size these objects as needed. In addition, the user may incorporate free-hand drawing into the diagram, providing the ultimate flexibility in depicting a crash scene. TraCS diagrams are stored in a compressed format that can be transmitted efficiently over a wireless network.
Capability to scan a hand-drawn diagram into the report by utilizing a flatbed scanner or a bar code scanner/imager.
Ability to open Visio 2000 or Easy Street Draw from the form, complete the drawing; the drawing is then displayed and saved with the TraCS form when Visio or Easy Street is closed. The third party software license is purchased and installed separately.

Back to the Top

Attachments

Images files can be stored with each report component. This includes digital images captured with the imager of the bar code scanner, images from digital cameras and images scanned in with a flatbed scanner.

Back to the Top

Signatures

Signatures may be captured by writing on the screen when using a pen-based computer screen or by capturing the signature using the bar code scanner/imager. In addition, the officer may choose to store his/her signature in the application for the duration of their shift or permanently, depending on how it is configured when the form is developed.

Back to the Top

Data Transfer

TraCS provides for multiple methods of electronic data transfer. The user may select one of several ways from which to transfer data from the field to a host database repository. These transmission methods include wireless, direct connect, diskette or other memory devices, and dial-in modem. The Mobile application uses a layered architecture to enable compatibility with a wide variety of communication technologies.

Back to the Top

Back-End Database

One of the goals for a mobile data collection application is to provide more accessible, quality data. TraCS includes an agency level database repository which stores all data collected in the field. In addition, the back-end database provides for a complete, accurate, timely and efficient tool for data analysis.

Back to the Top

Expandability

TraCS provides an architecture that allows for additional forms and technologies to be incorporated. TraCS takes mobile and administrative level data collection to a new level of ease and portability.

The TraCS solution provides the foundation from which an agency can build a data collection tool, based upon their unique needs and requirements. TraCS does not restrict the agency by conforming to a pre-packaged software application. TraCS users have received national awards and media recognition for their rapid and successful deployment of incident reporting based on this reusable toolkit.

Back to the Top

Software Development Kit

The SDK is a set of tools used to convert a paper form to an electronic form. The SDK currently consists of six tools:

Forms Builder to create forms and report
Validation Builder to create rules for use within the form
Database Builder to build the underlying database tables for data storage
TraCS Utilities Toolset used to integrate forms and reports into the TraCS framework
Number Builder to create auto number definitions that automatically create and place a number on a form
Auto populate Builder to create rules for replicating and auto populating forms

TraCS allows for online rules and batch rules to be set using the SDK. Online rules execute automatically as data is being entered into the TraCS form. Online rules include:

Graying Out Rule – subset of an online rule where a field or fields appear gray on a form depending on the data entered into a related field. When a field is grayed out, data is not entered in that field and it is skipped to speed data entry.
Auto populate Rule – subset of an online rule where a field or fields will automatically be populated based on the value of a related field. The rule will automatically insert data values into other related fields.

The other type of rule is Batch Rule, which activates only when a user activates them. The Batch Rules include:

Validation Rule – subset of a batch rule that creates relationships between one or more fields. In a validation rule, the related fields are dependent on one another and thus determine each other’s values.

The SDK is provided with a Workbook. The SDK Workbook includes:

A planning guide providing a series of worksheets
A step-by-step process guide for converting a paper form into a TraCS electronic form
A reference manual to use while developing the TraCS forms
The graphical image, data definition and reference tables needed to add a new report to the system

The SDK contains all of the form display, validation, printing and workflow process information needed to implement a form into the TraCS architecture.

Back to the Top

Printing

The application includes a utility to print a report, or a subset of a report (i.e. Driver Exchange Information). This report may be formatted to look like your existing paper reports. Several versions of a form may be designed for printing to meet specific needs.

Back to the Top

Introduction to Traffic and Criminal Software