Case StudyNYS DEC

Scaling Compliance: A Secure Online Certification Platform for Petroleum Safety

A custom, high-security online testing system that certifies thousands of Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) operators, ensuring they possess the knowledge to prevent environmental hazards.

Services Provided

Custom Application Development

Industry

Government

The Challenge

Under federal and state law, operators of Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) tanks play a critical role in environmental safety. To manage the risk of spills and contamination, these operators must be rigorously trained and certified.

The DEC faced a logistical bottleneck. Certifying thousands of operators via paper exams or static online forms was inefficient and insecure. They needed a robust "Online Exam" component that could handle high volumes of users while maintaining strict testing integrity.

Key Challenges

Paper-based exams and static online forms couldn't scale to certify thousands of operators efficiently
Maintaining strict testing integrity and preventing cheating in an online exam environment
Meeting federal and state compliance requirements for environmental safety certification
Building a system capable of handling high-volume concurrent testing sessions

The Solution

Our Solution

TWC acted as the technical architect, working alongside the DEC and Stantec to design a secure testing environment. We moved beyond simple form-filling, engineering a dynamic system that draws from a vast database of questions to create a unique exam for every single user.

Six months before going live, we conducted a massive pilot study with 300-400 users, who spent days evaluating the effectiveness of each question. This rigorous validation phase allowed us to refine the logic and user experience, ensuring a flawless statewide rollout.

Dynamic Question Pool

Unique randomized exams eliminating answer-sharing possibilities

Rigorous Pilot Testing

300-400 user validation study before statewide launch

Real-Time Grading

Instant pass/fail feedback streamlining the licensing process

The Results

Outcomes & Impact

This project demonstrates how custom software can modernize regulatory compliance, transforming a bureaucratic hurdle into a streamlined, data-driven process that actively protects New York's environment.

1000s

Operators Certified

Validating competence of operators handling tanks over 55 gallons

100%

Unique Exams

Dynamic database generating randomized questions for integrity

Instant

Grading

Automated pass/fail feedback reducing administrative burden