Applications | Page 31 of 66 | Locus Technologies

From the foundations of Rome to global carbon emissions reduction

Does the solution for over 5% of world CO2 emissions lie in the 2000-year-old concrete-making technology from ancient Rome?

Concrete is the second most consumed substance on Earth after water. Overall, humanity produces more than 10 billion tons (about 4 billion cubic meters) of concrete and cement per year. That’s about 1.3 tons for every person on the planet— more than any other material, including oil and coal. The consumption of concrete exceeds that of all other construction materials combined. The process of making modern cement and concrete has a heavy environmental penalty, being responsible for roughly 5% of global emissions of CO2.

Scientists explain ancient Rome’s long-lasting concrete

So could the greater understanding of the ancient Roman concrete mixture lead to greener building materials? That is what scientists may have discovered and published in a 2017 study, led by Marie Jackson of the University of Utah. Their study uncovered the Roman secrets for formulating some of the most long-lasting concrete yet discovered. Our ability to unlock the secrets of ancient concrete formulas is dependent upon interdisciplinary analytical approaches utilized by the Jackson heat group and could lead to further discoveries that would reduce cement-based carbon emissions.

Unlike the modern concrete mixture which erodes over time, the Roman concrete-like substance seemed to gain strength, particularly from exposure to sea water. And most importantly, the process generates fewer CO2 emissions and uses less energy and water than “modern”, Portland cement-based concrete.

Read the full article here.

Locus Technologies adds XML export capability to Locus Platform

The new XML export capability in Locus’ GHG application simplifies submissions of reports to EPA and CARB

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., 6 June 2017 — Locus Technologies (Locus), the leader in cloud-based environmental compliance and sustainability management software, is excited to announce the addition of XML exports to the greenhouse gases (GHG) application in its Locus Platform software.

As the only software vendor that is an approved GHG verifier under the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and having performed the highest number of GHG verifications in California in 2015, Locus has prioritized enhancing its GHG application to make it easier for customers to manage greenhouse gas emission inventory tracking and reporting requirements. Locus’ GHG application is fully integrated with compliance tracking, asset management, and automation (including remote sensing). The ability to generate XML reports will further streamline customers’ report submission process to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB).

The newly developed XML report generation capability allows facilities to upload their greenhouse gas data directly, instead of having to complete the complex web forms in the EPA Electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (e-GGRT) and CARB reporting worksheets (Cal e-GGRT).

Data entry for EPA and CARB is consolidated in the GHG application, eliminating the need to maintain separate agency spreadsheets and software. This supports robust trend tracking and reporting, also reducing data entry and reporting time and opportunities for error. XML reports can be generated for many greenhouse gas subparts, including Subparts C,D, W, and NN, and they can be easily configured for any greenhouse gas industry segment.

“Many of our customers have experienced frustration with the speed and difficulty of entering their data into the state and federal GHG reporting tools. Our new XML reporting tool lets you bypass those clumsy interfaces completely,” said J. Wesley Hawthorne, President of Locus. “This not only saves time, but also helps you avoid transcription errors and ensures consistency with GHG data submitted to multiple reporting programs. As more and more regulatory programs embrace automated report submittal through the XML format, Locus will continue to expand this functionality to simplify reporting for our customers.”

ABOUT LOCUS TECHNOLOGIES
Locus Technologies is a leading sustainability software company that has been helping companies achieve environmental and compliance business excellence since 1997. Public and private companies, such as Chevron, Honeywell, Monsanto, DuPont, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, rely on Locus to manage their water quality, air, and soil data to calculate emissions including greenhouse gases, discharges, and environmental impacts. Locus provides mobile and multi-tenant SaaS and PaaS (Software as a Service/Platform-as-a-service) software solutions to build end-user configurable solutions.

For more information, email info@locustec.com.

Top 10 cool features in Locus Platform (that you probably didn’t know about)

1. Create a custom view of any data with the click of a mouse

Users can create their own views to filter their data the way they need to without impacting others. Just click on “Settings” on the main app screen to create custom views for yourself or your team.

Pick which columns to display and how to filter or order the data. This is an easy way to see all the records that you need to address and filter out other users’ records, or look at records from a certain date or location.

2. Quick exports from the application view screens

Export your view data to Excel to share with colleagues who may not have access to the system, or if you or someone else might need to review or analyze the data offline.

3. Easy edit tracking

Track user edits to any record based on a workflow process in the transaction log. Users can see which person edited the workflow of a record or made updates, and exactly what they edited. Now you won’t ever need to ask “who made that change?!”

4. Bookmark anything in Locus Platform

You can bookmark any page in the system— an app, a dashboard, etc. Now when you log in, you go directly to the app you want without needing to navigate.

5. Search really works across all applications

The Applications > Search Records function works across all applications. For example, you can do a single search for any records added within the past week, and you can see incidents, tasks, permits, waste containers, etc.

6. Use intelligently auto-named records to make searching and reporting very easy

Ask your configurator to auto-name records. This makes it incredibly easy to find records in search and saves the time of creating record names. You can use any of the fields in the entity to create a unique, yet meaningful auto-name without any additional work on your part.

Then, if you want to search for “all equipment purchased in 2016”, for example, it’s very easy to grab the data and download a report.

7. You really don’t need Locus to create special apps for you— you can do it yourself!

Yes, it’s true— you can build your own apps if you have access to the Configuration Workbench tools in Locus Platform.

Locus provides tools, documentation and training to let you access the Workbench, make dashboards, create entire custom apps, build forms and rules, and make edits to existing apps. It takes a bit of learning, but for those that like to dabble in software configuration, it’s a great set of tools to build exactly what you want at your own pace and schedule.

8. Any form in any application can be mobile-enabled

That’s right— any form can be mobile-enabled. So all your custom or off-the-shelf forms can be instantly sent to your mobile device for mobile data collection, then sent back directly to the Locus Platform with the push of a “sync” button.

9. Integration with other databases is built-in

When Locus built the Platform, we included into the base product a quick and easy way to link to other data systems (either ours or someone else’s). This means we can hook into your SAP system with our incident data, or we can grab regulatory updates from other service providers.

10. Get notifications when scheduled reports are automatically generated

You can schedule reports and get notified with a report link once the report is run, so it’s easy to keep up to date on your information without manually running reports every time. You can send reports to yourself or to groups of users, which makes keeping your team up to date a simple as a one-time setup.

Top 10 cool features in EIM (that you probably didn’t know about)

1. “Show locations on map” from a grid

In many locations in EIM, you can make a map directly from your query results. Click on the “folded map” icon on a results grid anywhere in EIM to open the GIS application, where you can then view and save your results as a map query layer.

So if you’re looking at TCE in specific locations, you can quickly map them and see what other parameters are present.

2. Save custom grid configurations

When you see a pushpin icon below a grid, that means you can name and save your current configuration in the grid, including column visibility, column order, sorting, and column width.

So if you use certain grids all the time, and prefer to view the data in a specific way, just click the pushpin and save your configuration for future use.

3. Save and share maps and reports on the dashboard

You can share saved maps and formatted reports with your colleagues and team members on the Project Manager Console dashboard. Saved maps and quick reports will show up under the sections “Quick Reports” and “Quick Maps”.

See Tip #4 to learn how to make this dashboard your default homepage.

4. Set your homepage and your preferred default grid row count

EIM user options includes some very cool features. You can access your user options from the EIM menu: just click [your username] > Manage Profile.

Here, you can set your preferred homepage, enable filter options for easier login, and— our favorite— the option to adjust the default number of records to display in all EIM grids (20 is just never enough!)

5. Lab Invoice Tracking

Full invoice tracking down to the parameter delivered level, to help you confirm that the lab gave you what you ordered, and that they’re charging you for exactly what they gave you.

You can find these forms at Input > Analytical > Lab Invoices.

6. Simple or complex query building in a drag-and-drop interface

For users wanting to go beyond the standard “out-of-the-box” queries, EIM has an advanced query builder that lets SQL lovers go wild and share their results with other. You can even query data across multiple EIM sites to which you have access.

7. Easy data preparation for annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs)

If you have the Locus EIM Water configuration, you will be able to prepare data tables for the CCR reports that all water providers are required to prepare annually. This is a huge timesaver compared to manually preparing these data summaries that are required by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

8. Send your sampling plan directly to your mobile device

With EIM’s integration with mobile, you can create a sampling plan in EIM and send that plan to one or more people to perform field sampling. This saves mountains of time and ensures your field teams have the correct information they need to collect their field data.

The sampling team can sync anytime to have team members back in the office review the interim data.

9. Create NetDMR submittals directly from EIM

If you have to submit EPA NPDES DMRs, EIM can create the electronic NetDMR output, saving you time and effort and banishing (hopefully) those old, complex, and overly difficult paper forms.

10. Support menu alerts you when new user guides, cheat sheets, training videos, or FAQs are posted

Locus is always busy creating new guide documents and help materials for our users, but it was hard to know when we added some new content. Now, our Support menu itself will flag you as soon as something new is posted so you can check it out!

Locus Technologies adds EPA WQX export capability to Locus EIM

Submitting to EPA’s Water Quality eXchange (WQX) from EIM just got easier

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., 25 April 2017 — Locus Technologies (Locus), the leader in cloud-based environmental compliance and sustainability management software, is excited to announce the release of the WQX Export Tool for EIM. The tool, exclusively in Locus’ EIM environmental information management software, provides users with simple intuitive interface to load data with the EPA’s Water Quality eXchange (WQX) into the EPA Storage and Retrieval (STORET) data warehouse, following the standards and protocols of the National Environmental Information Exchange Network.

Locus customers that need to share water quality data with EPA via WQX and STORET, such as Tribes, States and their data partners, now have an easy way to translate EIM data to WQX-compatible formats for simplified data submission. This allows customers to take advantage of the many benefits of a sophisticated environmental data system and still easily provide data to EPA per their agreed upon requirements. They can use EIM to seamlessly integrate laboratory deliverables, manage time series field data, complex analytical data, spatial data, and also take advantage of Locus Mobile for field sampling.

“We are pleased to add this export capability to EIM to expand its utility to a wider range of customers”, said Wes Hawthorne, President of Locus Technologies. “By taking a defined set of export requirements and simplifying the submission process, we have enabled a range of new customers to be able to use EIM for all their regulatory reporting needs.”

Locus celebrates 20 years of innovation in EHS cloud software

Silicon Valley’s oldest EHS cloud software company reaches a major milestone

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., 11 April 2017 — Locus Technologies (Locus), the multi-tenant Software as a Service (SaaS) environmental compliance and sustainability management company, today celebrates the 20-year anniversary of its founding and, with it, 20 years of customer success. Two decades ago, Locus was founded with a bold vision to lead the EHS software space. Today, the company’s cloud computing model has enabled new levels of success. Locus has more net paying subscribers in its single instance multi-tenant SaaS platform than any competitor and has over 600,000 locations around the world.

Locus was founded in 1997 with a vision for three new revolutionary models: a new technology model where customers access EHS services via the cloud rather than buying and installing software; a new subscription-based business model where customers pay as they go; and integrating mobile technology in its cloud offering from the get-go.

As a result, Locus is largely responsible for the creation of the emerging technical sector of EHS&S management software at the intersection of two major trends at the time of the company’s creation: the rise of the Internet and corporate attention to environmental compliance management. Locus not only defined and pioneered the new space of environmental information management in the cloud, but it also became a leader, leaving many well-funded startups with borrowed ideas and established ERP software companies behind. The company introduced many industry firsts, including: first cloud-based EHS system in 1999; first EHS mobile application in 2000; first integrated EHS portal in 2001; first web-based GIS in 2003; first user-configurable, drag-and-drop platform (Locus Platform) in 2013, and first IoT (Internet of Things) integration in 1999, before it was called “IoT”.

Locus’ distinction comes both from harnessing the cloud and from a unique perspective on how to address the complex issues of environmental compliance and information management. Multi-tenant SaaS technology offers Locus’ customers numerous advantages such as improved data collection, aggregation, visualization, business analytics, advanced analysis, and the cost reduction inherent in multi-tenant web-based software. These features translate into a competitive advantage and increased profitability for customers.

As the industry continues to evolve, competitors merge or disappear, and new markets emerge and grow, Locus continues to stay independent and lead innovation in a space littered with failures.
“Twenty years is a major milestone for Locus,” said Wes Hawthorne, President of Locus Technologies. “I have watched our software evolve and expand to cover all aspects of environmental information management— from our latest configurable platform where customers can design any application, to integrated mobile apps that truly streamline field data collection. I can’t predict the next 20 years of technological innovation, but I am sure Locus will continue to innovate and push the envelope to serve a market we understand so well.”

“I’d like to thank our customers, who have created an unprecedented record of success and inspired our best innovations, and our employees to making it all possible,” said Neno Duplan, founder and CEO at Locus. “As we look forward to the next decade, we see not only applications, but integrated platforms, powered by AI and running in the cloud. The age of enterprise multi-tenant cloud EHS computing is here.”

Locus adds Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) module to Locus EIM Water

Streamline and simplify annual CCR preparation with powerful and intuitive tools

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., 28 March 2017 — Locus Technologies (Locus), the leader in cloud-based environmental compliance and sustainability management software, is excited to announce the release of the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) module as an addition to Locus EIM Water.

The Locus EIM Water configuration is designed for water system owners and operators to simplify the sampling, management, tracking, and regulatory reporting of drinking water data. With the addition of the CCR module, the system now streamlines a complex and often tedious process of preparing the annual calculations required for the report.

The module guides the user through the steps of calculating the required statistics for the various analytical groups, as specified in the regulations. This tool also provides access to both the raw data that was used in the construction of the report as well as various intermediate calculations. Additionally, it addresses contaminant groups not sampled in the current year, making complying with the requirements significantly easier.

The EPA Safe Water Drinking Act requires that water system owners and operators annually prepare the Consumer Confidence Report for their customers. This report is something most water consumers are very familiar with throughout the U.S., as in most cases the local water provider directly provides a copy of the report to consumers. By design, the CCR is simple and easy to read, and conveys a detailed view of drinking water quality for consumers. What is not apparent in the report that consumers see is the complex process behind creating the report, including a structured review of one or more years of compliance data. This is where Locus EIM Water makes a difference for water system owners and operators.

“We are excited to add this key module to Locus EIM Water”, said Wes Hawthorne, President of Locus Technologies. “We know that Locus EIM Water is a great tool for managing the routine sampling and reporting needs of water system owners and operators, but we knew the CCR was one area where our customers often requested help. With our simple and intuitive module, the CCR preparation process will be greatly streamlined, which is a win-win for the water system owners/operators and consumers.”

Locus Technologies releases new Query Builder tool in Locus EIM

Advanced querying in Locus EIM just got much easier and much more powerful

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., 8 March 2017 — Locus Technologies (Locus), the leader in cloud-based environmental compliance and sustainability management software, is excited to announce the release of the EIM Query Builder tool that is one of a kind in the environmental data management industry. The tool, exclusively in Locus’ EIM environmental information management software, provides users with a graphical “drag-and-drop” interface to design, save, and share customized SQL queries with their teams via the EIM interface. This powerful tool will transform the user experience for Locus EIM customers.

EIM has always allowed users with advanced access and expert knowledge to write custom SQL queries against one site in the database. However, the existing tool required the user to be extremely knowledgeable in both SQL and EIM’s database structure.

The new EIM Query Builder tool allows all users, even those with less knowledge of EIM’s structure and the SQL language, to access their data via an interactive tool for one site, multiple sites, or across a site group. The Query Builder tool saves users’ time through a number of new, useful functions, such as including lists of EIM tables and columns, automatically populating table relationships, joins, and on-the-fly query debugging. It even includes “friendly names” to make table querying even easier. Additionally, users can leverage this new querying efficiency by saving and sharing queries across all user levels. The new version of Query Builder will be available to all customers in Spring 2017 and is included in the basic subscription pricing.

“We believe our EIM users will love this new tool, as it provides the flexibility to dive into the data in any way users wish”, said Wes Hawthorne, President of Locus Technologies. “Many times, experienced data managers need to extract very specific data sets that previously required the use of complex SQL queries. This new tool elevates the experience and provides many extras— including cross-site query and sharing that will greatly streamline advanced querying.”

Locus Technologies releases new Waste Management in Locus Platform

The Locus waste management application is fully integrated with the dynamic Locus Platform and will automate waste management for small and large enterprises.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., 28 February 2017 — Locus Technologies (Locus), the leader in cloud-based environmental compliance and sustainability management software, introduces a powerful waste management application to Locus Platform. Our new waste management app redefines how companies organize and manage their waste profiles and support EPA reporting requirements for hazardous and non-hazardous waste. With the click of a button the platform will be able to generate waste manifests, shipping labels or other documents populated with data from your records. The Locus Platform, a true multi-tenant SaaS, presents a highly flexible, user-friendly interface to meet individual organizations’ environmental management needs.

Nearly everything that doesn’t leave your facility as a product eventually becomes waste that needs to be tracked, managed, disposed of, and reported. Regardless of hazardous, universal or recycling waste stream, Locus Platform is ready. Locus’ waste module brings an organized approach and workflow process to schedule, sample, and analyze results.

One of the standout features that Locus Platform offers is the ability to generate new waste profiles. The flexibility of the platform allows users to create these manually, link to Locus’ EIM system or a third party’s testing results. You will be able to quickly reuse existing profile sheets, only updating the changed information. The platform will help consolidate your profiles in containers or whole areas, and features built in maps to help your transporter know exactly where to go to pick up the ready waste. Users are able to manage the composition of profiles through adding multiple chemical components to the profiles and accounting for their make-up of the whole profile.

Locus Platform is ready out of the box to track waste at any number of locations. You are able to add or remove waste containers, storage locations, etc. from your generating facilities, and allow any user to create their own way of organizing their data by generating filtered dashboards. At the enterprise level powerful dashboards will help you understand how each facility is generating waste, and how it is being handled. With the platform’s flexibility, facility information can be automatically populated based on the user credentials, saving your team time and frustration.

With Locus Platform’s waste management module you will also have real-time insight into your generator status. If your facility is expecting growth we can help you understand when you may reach small quantity generator status, setting up notifications when you approach the threshold limit. Forms will also automatically adapt to a change in status, prompting users to provide different data points when your generator status has changed. The new waste application is fully mobile-enabled to track container location and ensure storage compatibility in satellite accumulation areas. When paired with Locus’ EIM system, the tool can also track all of the waste sampling and characterization processes, and use that information directly to generate waste profiles.

“Waste management processes require coordination between EHS managers, field staff, laboratories, TSD facilities, and other parties. For compliance purposes, it is critical to make sure that information is exchanged correctly and comprehensively between all of these entities in a timely manner. The Locus Platform gives you the notifications, mobile tools, and reporting tools to make waste management processes seamless for any organization. For companies that need to characterize hazardous waste and track detailed analytical data for profiling, this solution integrates directly with the Locus EIM system, giving an expanded toolset for validating and reviewing laboratory data.” said J. Wesley Hawthorne, President of Locus.

Locus Technologies performs a record number of GHG verifications in California

Locus takes the lead in GHG verification services for California Air Resources Board AB32 Program

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., 8 February 2017 — Locus Technologies (Locus), the industry leader in multi-tenant SaaS environmental compliance and information management software, performed 74 verifications for the reporting year 2015 for the California Air Resources Board AB32 Program — more than any other accredited verification body. With six full-time accredited verifiers, Locus has been providing verification services since 2010 for reporting entities across California. Even more notably, after completing hundreds of these verifications and complying with several routine audits by ARB, Locus has never had a single verification statement overturned. This means that facility operators using Locus’ verification services have high confidence that their participation in the cap and trade program will not be affected by potential delays related to questions on their verification statement.

The GHG verification services cover facilities in California that are regulated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) under the Mandatory Reporting Rule (AB32). Locus is accredited as a verification body through CARB and has Lead Verifiers certified in all reporting sectors, including process emissions, oil and gas, and transactions. Over the past eight years, Locus staff have completed verifications for several industries and have become experts on reporting for most covered product types which translate into emission allowances under the cap and trade program.

GHG emission reports are coming under increased scrutiny from regulators, stakeholders, and financial auditors. Choosing the right verifier plays a critical part in remaining compliant with these rapidly evolving requirements and regulations. Locus verifiers have noticed that many companies struggle with complex GHG calculations. Some ‘black box’ calculation tools in the market have not been sufficiently stress-tested and are generating errors that cause enterprises to fail their GHG verifications. Locus’ calculation engine addresses these deficiencies and capitalizes on the architecture of the highly scalable Locus platform. All calculations performed by Locus SaaS are viewable and traceable through the tool to the original data inputs.

“We are very pleased to lead the California verification program and that so many Fortune 500 firms selected Locus for verification services. Locus continues to expand its carbon practice at a rapid pace. Coupled with our software services and domain expertise in all three key AB32 reporting sectors, Locus is becoming a partner of choice for all companies wishing to be credible in their carbon reporting needs,” said J. Wesley Hawthorne, President of Locus. “Our growth in this market has been largely fueled by referrals from existing customers, and it speaks volumes about the quality of our service that so many of our customers speak highly of Locus to their colleagues.”