Census Information Systems
Field Data
Collection
Automation
(FDCA)
Census Information Systems
Field Data
Collection
Automation
(FDCA)
Overview
The U.S. Census Bureau Field Data Collection Automation (FDCA)
program will provide advanced, automated systems that will streamline the Decennial Census field operations. These operations include
deploying over 500 interconnected, temporary, local Census offices,
12 Regional Census Offices, and over 500,000 mobile enumerators
in the field. Harris Corporation is serving as the systems integrator, as
well as providing overall program management for the FDCA program,
as it delivers the following systems and services for the 2010 Decennial
Census:
Mobile Computing—Applications and custom mobile computing
hardware that enables data collection, GPS address verification,
and administrative applications
Office Computing—Large, nationwide, reliable office and backoffice infrastructure deployment; geographically prioritized
workforce management and operational status; automated
decision workflow and dissemination
Security—Applications, procedures, and protocols necessary
to secure confidential Census data
Telecommunications—Wireless and wireline connectivity to
all Census offices and enumerators in the field
Support Services—Procuring, deploying, and maintaining all
IT equipment
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Mobile Applications
Telecommunications
Our FDCA Mobile Computing Environment (MCE) provides the equipment
and applications for the 2010 Decennial Census field staff to conduct
and manage field data collection. MCE hardware consists of the custom
designed and manufactured, fit-for-purpose Mobile Computing
Devices (MCD, seen right), laptops, and a centralized mobile server.
The FDCA mobile computing solution will maximize efficiencies and
productivity of over 500,000 enumerators through the following
system applications. Our mobile computing solution is
designed with usability, security, and reliability at
its core to ensure that a large workforce maintains
maximum productivity.
Harris is responsible for procuring, deploying, and maintaining the secure, reliable, and appropriate telecommunications
network needed to accomplish the FDCA mission. Harris has
partnered with Sprint to provide nationwide wireless cellular
and dial-up connectivity to over 500,000 field enumerators,
who will connect via mobile computing devices and laptops.
Sprint will also provide all wired landline circuits to the over 500
temporary Census field offices. Dedicated Network Operations
Centers (NOCs) and Security Operations Centers (SOCs) will manage all aspects of the nationwide, mission-critical network throughout the 2010 Decennial Census operations.
FDCA Telecom Services:
FDCA MPLS network
Cellular network for connectivity to the mobile workforce
Application/Functionality
Description
Dial-up network connectivity for the mobile workforce outside
cellular coverage
Enumerator (Field Worker)
Review and manage assignments, data collection questionnaires, time and expense entry, text
messaging, verifying and updating address lists from maps and lists
Crew Leader (Field Manager)
Reviewing enumerator work and time and expense forms; case management (assign/reassign);
view status reports; text messaging
Core System
Operating system, alerts, icons, security, communications, database, and data synchronization
Geographic and Map Processing
Displaying block/address data; capturing GPS points for addresses; updating street information
via digital maps
Mobile Services
Mobile server applications that manage data synchronization; device management functions
(e.g., software upgrades, asset management)
Office Infrastructure and Applications
The FDCA Office Computing Environment (OCE) is user/missioncentric, extensible, and scalable, offering the Census Bureau a
solution that can easily accommodate workload and requirements
changes without redesign. The OCE provides the computing and
communications infrastructure required to operate the Census
Bureau’s 500+ temporary field offices and Data Processing Centers
(DPCs) and to seamlessly interface with the Mobile Computing
Environment. OCE applications will support recruiting, training,
tasking, managing, and paying the field workforce in both
English and Spanish. These applications provide the capability to control and status a large, diverse workforce
and support all automated and paper-based operations. The OCE
will seamlessly integrate COTS, custom, legacy, and GFE applications into a cohesive system with common user interfaces, consolidated data, and optimized performance. Our user interfaces are
designed to be intuitive and easy to use with minimal training.
Telecommunication circuits
l
a
i
t
n
e
d
i
f
Con
Security
Protecting private Census data is paramount on the
FDCA program. To ensure confidentiality, systems
security is provided at the very beginning of the
system design phase and continues throughout the
entire life cycle of the system until its final disposition. The result is a less-expensive, more-effective
security solution that ensures accountability, availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the data.
The Harris Team uses a multilayered approach for
providing an in-depth security defense for facilities,
Key Features of Office Computing Applications
Users to access data based upon their level of responsibility,
providing accountability
Integrated reports/dashboards tailored to users’ roles
Support Services
Near real-time status available to authorized users
Supportability is the keystone of the Harris Team’s FDCA solution. The
FDCA system solution has been designed to ensure maximum operability
through ease of support. Our support philosophy focuses on maximizing
Census Bureau personnel productivity by minimizing equipment downtime. Harris and our teammates will provide end-to-end support for the
FDCA program including:
Portal-based user interface allows user interface to be rapidly
tailored to each user role for maximum usability to the entire
user community
Use of common, mature, integrated tools and applications
User interfaces designed for simplicity and ease of use
Application framework with standard APIs allows FDCA
applications to share data, workflow, and user interface
Fully integrated with legacy back-office payroll and HR systems
Workflow-driven processing facilitates incorporation of evolving
business requirements with minimal impacts and manages,
automates, and tracks flow and completion of tasks to staff
Enterprise-wide information sharing allows better oversight,
visibility, and status of ongoing field operations, single data
entry, and rapid reporting and metrics monitoring
Facilities management
Infrastructure deployment
Asset management
Help Desk support
IT hardware maintenance
Software upgrades
System disposition
Training
personnel, equipment, documents, data, and communications. Our FDCA solution ensures the confidentiality of each U.S. citizen’s private census data
through appropriate, robust, best-of-breed security
solutions for:
Physical/facility security
Personnel security
IT/data security
Telecommunications security
Mobile Applications
Telecommunications
Our FDCA Mobile Computing Environment (MCE) provides the equipment
and applications for the 2010 Decennial Census field staff to conduct
and manage field data collection. MCE hardware consists of the custom
designed and manufactured, fit-for-purpose Mobile Computing
Devices (MCD, seen right), laptops, and a centralized mobile server.
The FDCA mobile computing solution will maximize efficiencies and
productivity of over 500,000 enumerators through the following
system applications. Our mobile computing solution is
designed with usability, security, and reliability at
its core to ensure that a large workforce maintains
maximum productivity.
Harris is responsible for procuring, deploying, and maintaining the secure, reliable, and appropriate telecommunications
network needed to accomplish the FDCA mission. Harris has
partnered with Sprint to provide nationwide wireless cellular
and dial-up connectivity to over 500,000 field enumerators,
who will connect via mobile computing devices and laptops.
Sprint will also provide all wired landline circuits to the over 500
temporary Census field offices. Dedicated Network Operations
Centers (NOCs) and Security Operations Centers (SOCs) will manage all aspects of the nationwide, mission-critical network throughout the 2010 Decennial Census operations.
FDCA Telecom Services:
FDCA MPLS network
Cellular network for connectivity to the mobile workforce
Application/Functionality
Description
Dial-up network connectivity for the mobile workforce outside
cellular coverage
Enumerator (Field Worker)
Review and manage assignments, data collection questionnaires, time and expense entry, text
messaging, verifying and updating address lists from maps and lists
Crew Leader (Field Manager)
Reviewing enumerator work and time and expense forms; case management (assign/reassign);
view status reports; text messaging
Core System
Operating system, alerts, icons, security, communications, database, and data synchronization
Geographic and Map Processing
Displaying block/address data; capturing GPS points for addresses; updating street information
via digital maps
Mobile Services
Mobile server applications that manage data synchronization; device management functions
(e.g., software upgrades, asset management)
Office Infrastructure and Applications
The FDCA Office Computing Environment (OCE) is user/missioncentric, extensible, and scalable, offering the Census Bureau a
solution that can easily accommodate workload and requirements
changes without redesign. The OCE provides the computing and
communications infrastructure required to operate the Census
Bureau’s 500+ temporary field offices and Data Processing Centers
(DPCs) and to seamlessly interface with the Mobile Computing
Environment. OCE applications will support recruiting, training,
tasking, managing, and paying the field workforce in both
English and Spanish. These applications provide the capability to control and status a large, diverse workforce
and support all automated and paper-based operations. The OCE
will seamlessly integrate COTS, custom, legacy, and GFE applications into a cohesive system with common user interfaces, consolidated data, and optimized performance. Our user interfaces are
designed to be intuitive and easy to use with minimal training.
Telecommunication circuits
l
a
i
t
n
e
d
i
f
Con
Security
Protecting private Census data is paramount on the
FDCA program. To ensure confidentiality, systems
security is provided at the very beginning of the
system design phase and continues throughout the
entire life cycle of the system until its final disposition. The result is a less-expensive, more-effective
security solution that ensures accountability, availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the data.
The Harris Team uses a multilayered approach for
providing an in-depth security defense for facilities,
Key Features of Office Computing Applications
Users to access data based upon their level of responsibility,
providing accountability
Integrated reports/dashboards tailored to users’ roles
Support Services
Near real-time status available to authorized users
Supportability is the keystone of the Harris Team’s FDCA solution. The
FDCA system solution has been designed to ensure maximum operability
through ease of support. Our support philosophy focuses on maximizing
Census Bureau personnel productivity by minimizing equipment downtime. Harris and our teammates will provide end-to-end support for the
FDCA program including:
Portal-based user interface allows user interface to be rapidly
tailored to each user role for maximum usability to the entire
user community
Use of common, mature, integrated tools and applications
User interfaces designed for simplicity and ease of use
Application framework with standard APIs allows FDCA
applications to share data, workflow, and user interface
Fully integrated with legacy back-office payroll and HR systems
Workflow-driven processing facilitates incorporation of evolving
business requirements with minimal impacts and manages,
automates, and tracks flow and completion of tasks to staff
Enterprise-wide information sharing allows better oversight,
visibility, and status of ongoing field operations, single data
entry, and rapid reporting and metrics monitoring
Facilities management
Infrastructure deployment
Asset management
Help Desk support
IT hardware maintenance
Software upgrades
System disposition
Training
personnel, equipment, documents, data, and communications. Our FDCA solution ensures the confidentiality of each U.S. citizen’s private census data
through appropriate, robust, best-of-breed security
solutions for:
Physical/facility security
Personnel security
IT/data security
Telecommunications security