Smithsonian Environment Research Center 

The Smithsonian Environment Research Center (SERC) is a global leader in the study of ecosystems in the coastal zone, focusing on three core business functions: education (k-12), research, and training. There are currently 17 research labs, each with their own senior scientist (PI) supervising a total of approximately 180 researchers. There are currently 30-40 interns and approximately 100 fellows.

The Challenge

SERC launched a redesigned web site, taking advantage of the Smithsonian OCIO Interwoven TeamSite (5.5) environment. The resulting site was a much cleaner, more organized site while retaining all of the content from the old site. It was built within a very short time frame and at the time only used TeamSite as a file repository. SERC wanted to accomplish the following:

• Allow SERC staff to update their own content on the web site, leveraging content management functionality
• Provide Labs the opportunity to own the content only within their lab
• Clean up the formatting of select application components of the web site

The Solution

Ironworks Government Solutions was responsible for web site development/enhancements, TeamSite configuration and implementation, user experience enhancements, functional development, deployment support, and customized training. TeamSite implementation included the following:

• Authentication
• One editorial workflow model
• Four content types
• Five presentation templates
• Six dynamic listing pages

The Results

• SERC staff -- including more than 15 research labs -- is able to update their own content on the web site
• SERC web site implemented within Interwoven TeamSite content management framework including templating, business process management (workflow), deployment, and version control
• One-on-one training of super user/administrator to support SERC staff with web site and content administration
• Developed training reference guide
• Improved user experience through new creative design for tactical functional site components
• Improved functionality for tactical functional site components
• Corrected functional bugs in current code base
• Strengthened relationship with OCIO by successfully supporting OCIO with deployment enhancements