DSM's Technical Information Management Services (TIMS) is the central information integration and support group within DSM ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES. TIMS staff has primary responsibility for the development, implementation, integration, management, and maintenance of DSM's Technical Information Network in the areas of:

• Tracking and Regulatory Reporting
• Event Management
• Environmental Cost Management
• Record keeping and Document Management

DSM's Information Technology (IT) Network is an integration of state-of-the-art hardware, software, and standard operating procedures designed to provide a seamless and efficient interface for DSM environmental engineers and professional staff. Hardware subsystem components of the DSM Information Technology Network include Local and Wide Area (LAN/WAN) Networks, Magneto-Optical Mass Storage devices, high resolution Image Scanning equipment, and high speed Data Communication Servers. Software subsystem components of the DSM IT Network include environmental reference libraries, cartography and geographical information systems, air and subsurface transport modeling systems, document management / retrieval systems and integrated relational databases. TIMS is staffed with experienced information technology engineers, programmers, and systems support specialists, to provide DSM's engineering and environmental professional staff the resources to efficiently implement Environmental Information Management and Quality Assurance Services. The capabilities of the Technical Information Management Services Group are summarized as follows:

3.3.1 Information Technology
TIMS engineers and support staff are involved with each client Program to ensure efficient, practical utilization of IT Network resources. TIMS engineers coordinate expansion and upgrade of existing systems, as well as the design and implementation of new systems to meet new client data management requirements. TIMS support staff maintains the Information Technology Services, and provides training and support services to both DSM and client staff.


3.3.2 Environmental Reference Libraries
DSM engineers, and professional staff utilize extensive in-house and on-line electronic reference libraries to develop informed recommendations from timecritical information. Examples of electronic reference materials include environmental regulations, pending and proposed legislation, agency bulletin boards and public access EPA / State approved database and modeling systems. DSM is strategically positioned to identify, incorporate and utilize this growing number of electronic database resources as they become available.


3.3.3 Cartography and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
The Cartographic Services provided by DSM are structured to meet all client and regulatory requirements and standards. Powerful, full featured Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) systems, interfaced to digitizers, plotters, scanners, and color printers present clear and precise graphical representations of environmental, geographical, and engineering data. Complex data modeling programs feed Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to provide timely access to both raw and modeled data.


3.3.4 Information Management
DSM's Information Technology Network is designed to allow for the integration, cataloging, indexing, and archiving of a variety of electronic and hard copy information, in a consistent manner, regardless of its format, content, or media type. Environmental compliance traditionally generates an enormous amount of information in a wide variety of media and format conventions. Typical media types include hard-copy (paper) documents, electronic files generated by computer programs and word processing software, CAD maps and engineering drawings. Generic electronic information formats include database tables, spreadsheets, word processor files and graphical images. Compatibility between different data sets often requires format conversions prior to integration. Regardless of the type, format, or medium of the information, DSM's Technical Information Management Services (TIMS) Group insures compatibility, integration, relational integrity, and user-defined retrieval of client information.


3.3.5 Client Communications
DSM clients have access to vast amounts of information contained in the IT Network. A DSM Web page allows client access to a variety of information ranging from personal messaging with DSM technical staff, current project status, compliance calendars, pertinent regulatory information, file transfer, Usenet Newsgroup membership, and Internet E-mail access. Through DSM's World Wide Web Internet connectivity, our Home Page will continuously provide DSM clients with timely information regarding new DSM Environmental Management Services.