Aspen CRM Solutions provides services in Archaeology, Historic Preservation, National Regester nominations

The Integrated Resource Management System (IRMS)
The Database: The database portion of IRMS uses Microsoft Access to track resources and
budgets. Any type of resource, whether natural or cultural, can be listed, the details of that
resource described, and a history of condition assessments developed. The budget tracking
allows users to create cost estimates and to track their funds as they relate to different
projects or account numbers. Government users can track them relative to different GPRA
goals, and print DI-1 forms as well. Pre-formatted reports make sorting, querying, and
viewing data about resources and budgets easy even for people unfamiliar with Access.
Links to the archive and geospatial component make accessing additional information about
the items in the database straightforward.

The Archive: Archives are built using Adobe Acrobat. They can contain any documents,
photos, maps, or other graphic materials the users want easy access too. This is a good way
to make fragile historic materials available without subjecting the originals to greater wear or
placing a large burden on curation staff. The design and content of any archive is up to the
staff who will use it; in the past archives have been built for individual archaeological and
historic sites that include documentation forms, maps, and photographs; for colections of
paper archive documents on different subjects including management documents, historic
correspondence, and past scientific studies; for collections of historic photographs of
buildings and people of the past; and many other uses. If listings in the database correspond
to an archive file, a link can be made between them so that, for example, photographs of a
historic building can be easily viewed while examining the written data for that structure.

The Geospatial Component: The GIS part of IRMS in ArcMap 9 is similarly flexible, depending
on the needs of the users. It is closely linked to both the database and the archive, however.
In the past, many users have benefited from a GIS interface that allowed them to view maps of
their lands and click on the locations of particular resources to link either to the database
information or to open the related archive files. To use the same example, a map of a historic
property would allow the user to click on different structures or archaeological features to view
written information on its descriptions and condition in the database as well as photographs
or other materials in the archive. Another example is a map of a region that includes utilities,
roads, and archaeological sites that would allow not just a view of any superimposition, but to
view information about those utilities or sites in order to make more informed management
decisions. In addition, the usual geodatabase querying capabilities for more advanced GIS
users are available as well.

The system is meant, above all, to be flexible, customizable, and meet the particular needs of
its users. While all the components are linked, they can be used independently and if only
one or two of the three are needed, the rest need not be built. We are happy to provide
demonstrations of the program on site to interested groups, and we take the time to
understand the requirements of the users before installing the program in order to design a
system that best suits their needs.

The IRMS program components consist of off-the-shelf software commonly used and easily
available. The IRMS user interface that links them all together is available from Aspen CRM
solutions. The cost depends on the requirements of the users as far as any need for Aspen
CRM solutions staff to enter information into the database or build an archive or GIS
component. Cost will vary based on the size of the project. Regardless of how much is done
by Aspen staff up front, it is highly recommended that we install the program in person and
provide training based on the needs of the users.