Texas Board of Professional Engineers Annual Financial Report: 2015 Page: -18-
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examinations in the fundamental principles of engineering and a specialized exam in their area of
expertise. Applicant ages range from the mid 20's to the 60's and 70's for those who are beginning
second careers. Individuals licensed in other jurisdictions can apply for licensure in Texas and are fairly
evenly distributed in age.
Technology Innovations
The Board continues to use technology as a tool to offer better customer service while keeping expenses
to a minimum. Although the agency has a relatively small IT department, all programming, database
administration, email maintenance and desktop services are handled by the internal staff.
The Board's SDSI status has allowed the IT staff to upgrade and optimize agency systems as necessary
and utilize both innovative and industry standard technology solutions. The Agency uses DIR's
cooperative contracts for bulk purchasing discounts and approved technology vendors whenever
possible. Technology projects utilize the DIR Project Delivery Framework for documentation and are
achieving the maximum return on investment while minimizing risk.
The agency utilizes industry standard database systems with custom applications programmed to meet
the business processes. These applications, outlined below, are written in standard programming
languages such as Microsoft Access and Visual Basic for internal applications and Microsoft ASP for
Internet applications. This software does not require exorbitant software license agreements or
expensive vendor maintenance contracts.
All IT assets are tracked using real-time, open-source software. This enables the staff to track software
installations, monitor hardware usage and ensure that licensees are in check with usage and the devices
are being used to their full potential.
As part of our focus on improving communications with our customers and the public, the agency is now
using several social media systems to distribute information quickly and efficiently. Using Twitter,
Facebook, Linkedln, and RSS News Feeds allows users to get up-to-date information and augments the
agency's website, newsletter, and other communication channels.
TIDE (Texas Informational Database of Engineers)
TIDE is the agency's custom database and information management system. This system has been
used to improve agency processes and increase efficiency by making data more accessible, integrating
the database with other desktop systems such as Microsoft Word or Excel, and reducing time-consuming
duplicate data entry.
Web-Based Improvements - Secure Online Transactions
A significant part of doing modern business and government efficiently and effectively is to handle many
processes and transactions online. TBPE has developed many online processes that meet our changing
-customer-needs. TBPE has utilized-an internally-developed-online-payment -process--system- since 2005,-
and has continued to refine the application as more functionality has been added while expanding
services to customers. The system allows license holders and registered firms to pay their license
renewal with their credit card and update their record information online 24/7. Approximately 85% of all
P.E. license and firm registration renewals are processed through this system. In the past ten years, over
430,000 online payments have been processed.
In addition, an online system was developed to allow licensure applicants to submit their applications
electronically. This interactive web-based. technology has reduced turn-around time for processing new
applications, reduced errors caused by redundant data entry, and has allowed the agency to reduce the
amount of paper and cash handling. The IT staff is in the early stages of developing an online complaint
system for the Compliance & Enforcement Division.
Internal Software
Wiki technology, similar to that used for developing the online dictionary Wikipedia, is the preferred
platform used by TBPE to document agency processes and procedures allowing ease of change and
tracking of versions. Each staff member is empowered to make edits as necessary, allowing them to-18-
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Texas. Board of Professional Engineers. Texas Board of Professional Engineers Annual Financial Report: 2015, report, 2015; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth838388/m1/43/: accessed June 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.