Web-Based Real Property Management for Contingency Properties
U.S. Department of the Army
The U.S. Army Forces Central Command (USARCENT), in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Infrastructure Intelligence Reachback Center (EI2RC), Savannah District and Construction Appropriations Planning and Execution System (CAPCES), has developed and implemented a user friendly, self-service, web-based real property management, tracking and reporting capability for contingency environments.
This capability has three distinct operating mechanisms that standardize field data collection processes, property management module and data fusion/visualization supporting lifecycle management of contingency bases.
The three mechanisms are the:
- Ike 304 with Geospatial Assessment Tool for Engineering Reachback (GATER),
- CAPCES Contingency Facilities Module, and,
- Infrastructure Spatial Intelligence Portal (ISIP).
Development of this initiative was spurred by AR 405-45, Real Property Inventory Management, that states property in an officially designated combat zone will not be reported to the Army Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM), but rather “property acquired or constructed for contingency operations or property of a classified nature where public knowledge of location could pose a threat to military operations or cause endangerment to life and/or safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel. This information will be gathered and maintained by Third Army…”
Contingency operations create unique challenges to real property asset accountability and management that require unique but standardized processes to meet the intent of Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Army (DA) regulatory guidance. Standard DA real property systems like the Integrated Facilities System (IFS), designed for management of Continental United States (CONUS) based facilities, do not work in a contingency environment. Enemy action, rapid personnel turn-over, training, experience and other competing requirements required USARCENT to develop a realistic and simple approach to real property asset management- sustainable in fast moving and hostile environments. Field data collection processes accomplished with the GATER and CAPCES management module ensures data is collected and shared using standard processes and formats.
Prior to the development of the CAPCES capability, expeditionary real property assets were tracked using locally developed Microsoft Excel spreadsheets or Microsoft Access databases; otherwise known as “stove piped” solutions. Using spreadsheets to track real property inherently creates non-standard products that are difficult to integrate and analyze. The CAPCES Facilities Module eliminates disparate databases and allows for data integration through a user friendly on-line application. ISIP is an Enterprise Geospatial solution that integrates the collected property data with other facility based information providing a Common Installation Picture (CIP) via the internet to authorized users worldwide.
The capabilities developed for USARCENT are transferable to any contingency environment, and are not exclusive to the United States Central Command Area of Operation (AOR). These developments mean that combat forces are no longer required to develop their own methodologies and capabilities to manage contingency real property; given these three tools (GATER, CAPCES and ISIP) they now are able to conduct their real property mission with less distracters to their combat and peace keeping operations worldwide.
Contact:
Major David Foster, Chief, Real Estate Branch
United States Army Forces Central Command (USARCENT)
Operational Maneuver- Engineers, Facilities and Construction Division
david.foster@arcent.army.mil.
