Using Wikis to Organise and Share AM Knowledge2013 International Local Government Infrastructure and Asset Management Conference

Wednesday 29 May – Thursday May 30, 2013

Wayne Eddy, Strategic Asset Planning Coordinator - Whittlesea City Councilhttp://lgam.wikidot.com/lgam:using-wikis1

My HypothesisA wiki-based encyclopaedic knowledge base is the best value for money IT project that a Council could possibly implement or support.

What is a wiki?

A wiki is a collection of web pages designed to enable anyone (or specifically designated users) to contribute or modify content, using a simplified markup language.

What is a Wiki-based Encyclopaedic Knowledge Base?

A wiki-based encyclopaedic knowledge base is a wiki that is organised so that each page is about a single subject that matches the name and title of the page.

What’s so good about wikis, and why do I think they are a great way of sharing AM knowledge?

Advantages of Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

Advantages of Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

• they can be edited by many people simultaneously,

Advantages of Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

• they can be edited by many people simultaneously,• the most up-to-date version of a page is always available,

Advantages of Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

• they can be edited by many people simultaneously,• the most up-to-date version of a page is always available,• in most cases, videos, slideshows and interactive maps can be

embedded in a page, as well as text and images,

Advantages of Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

• they can be edited by many people simultaneously,• the most up-to-date version of a page is always available,• in most cases, videos, slideshows and interactive maps can be

embedded in a page, as well as text and images,• hyperlinks to related pages allow users to find information without

knowing a specific term,

Advantages of Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

• they can be edited by many people simultaneously,• the most up-to-date version of a page is always available,• in most cases, videos, slideshows and interactive maps can be

embedded in a page, as well as text and images,• hyperlinks to related pages allow users to find information without

knowing a specific term,• they are easily searchable,

Advantages of Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

• they can be edited by many people simultaneously,• the most up-to-date version of a page is always available,• in most cases, videos, slideshows and interactive maps can be

embedded in a page, as well as text and images,• hyperlinks to related pages allow users to find information without

knowing a specific term,• they are easily searchable,• some wikis (e.g. MediaWiki) can read and display content stored in

databases,

Advantages of Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

• they can be edited by many people simultaneously,• the most up-to-date version of a page is always available,• in most cases, videos, slideshows and interactive maps can be

embedded in a page, as well as text and images,• hyperlinks to related pages allow users to find information without

knowing a specific term,• they are easily searchable,• some wikis (e.g. MediaWiki) can read and display content stored in

databases,• they have excellent versioning tools that record the history of

every page, ensuring that information is never lost,

Advantages of Wikis Wikis are a great tool for managing and disseminating information;

• they can be edited by many people simultaneously,• the most up-to-date version of a page is always available,• in most cases, videos, slideshows and interactive maps can be embedded in

a page, as well as text and images,• hyperlinks to related pages allow users to find information without knowing

a specific term,• they are easily searchable,• some wikis (e.g. MediaWiki) can read and display content stored in

databases,• they have excellent versioning tools that record the history of every page,

ensuring that information is never lost,• they provide a means of linking and adding context to all of an organisations

other AM tools,

Four Knowledge Bases

http://www.lgam.info/blog:how-bundaberg-regional-council-uses-its-wiki

http://lgam.wikidot.com/

http://lgam.wikidot.com/asset-management

Search for

LGAM

https://www.google.com.au/

What does it cost?

How much does it cost to set up and operate a wiki-based website with hundreds of members and thousands of users?

Wiki software is typically very cheap compared to other software systems

• AM System - $100,000 per year• Microsoft Office - $10,000 per year (50 users using Microsoft Office 365)• Wikidot - $10 per year• MediaWiki - Free

Wikis are easy to use

1. It is possible to learn the basics in a couple of hours.2. My six year old son has a wiki.3. Mark up is better than WYSIWYG.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if someone accidently deletes content or deliberately adds incorrect or inappropriate content?

What happens if I’m hit by a bus?

Won’t I reduce my value to my organisation if I document all my knowledge?

How can I justify spending time sharing my knowledge with other Councils?

What wiki software should I use?

Homework1. Sign up to LGAM2. Edit a page3. Tell someone else about the site4. Set up your own personal wiki

Questions?