Overview

Management Information Systems (MIS) Department Overview

The Management Information Systems (MIS) Department is the City of Lowell's central technology provider whose mission is to provide systems, technologies, and services that develop and support City personnel with information relative to their operations and respective missions, support day-to-day operations and strategic planning, promote effective data and technology resource management, and enhance customer services.

Technology

MIS strives to ensure that the technology employed by the City is effectively utilized, operational, and current. As technology continues to evolve, MIS continues to be called upon to increase support and integration of additional services.

MIS delivers quality technical solutions and support services to City departments by focusing on several key operational activities / areas:

  • Help Desk - Responsible for supporting City personnel's use of MIS systems, services, and technology (e.g., computers, printers, phones, software, etc.) on a daily basis.
  • Systems Administration - Responsible for the support and administration of the numerous MIS systems, servers, services, and technologies which City personnel interact with on a daily basis (e.g., server/system build out, system authentication, security, disaster recovery activities, VoIP servers, etc.).
  • Network Administration - Responsible for the support and administration of the City's enterprise infrastructure (e.g., cabling, switches/routers, wired and wireless connectivity, network management system, etc.) allowing City personnel access to MIS systems, services and technology. Note that this area of responsibility includes interconnectivity among and between all Lowell Public School, Public Safety, and other municipal sites on our wide area network.
  • Application Systems - Responsible for the support, administration, and development of the City's key systems and applications.
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Responsible for coordinating the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of geographically defined data (often referred to as spatial or geo-referenced) for City departments and the public.
  • Technology Administration - Responsible for providing continuous coordination and project management of MIS activities, and strategic technology planning/support to all technology-related aspects of the City's government.

Services

With services ranging from day-to-day internal operational support, to maintaining the City's various websites, network and server infrastructure and security, and numerous applications, MIS is increasingly called upon to be involved with much more than "just computers" as modern telephony systems, cable television, video technology, security/access, and other new and emerging technologies have been integrated and linked into the City's various MIS systems.