Mobile Handheld Inspections System

Project Client

Client Name:	New York City Department of Administrative Services (DCAS)
Project Title:	Mobile Handheld Inspections System Project
Client Location:	New York, NY
Project Start Date:	2001
Project End Date:	2002
Contract Value:	over $5,500,000

Description of the System

• Fijitsu LTP 600 Pen Tablet
• Visual Basic
• Microsoft Sequel Server, MS Access
• Sprint PCS Wireless Card and Service

Description of the Project

The Department of Administrative (DCAS) is responsible for providing a variety of citywide support services to Mayoral agencies, which include a number of inspection functions: fleet auto body repair, vehicle acquisition and maintenance, fuel inspections, facilities and real estate property management.

In order to increase inspection productivity and reduce operating expenses, DCAS embarked on a project to automate these field inspection functions using a handheld wireless computer. The wireless applications enable inspectors to collect data in the field, transmit data remotely to the central office, expedite inspection review and approvals, and upload data to a variety of backend production and reporting systems.

Description of the Overall Outcome of the Project

DCAS is piloting the initial inspection applications and testing the telecommunication infrastructure. The benefits identified with this project include:

• Automating estimate and inspection report forms on mobile handheld computer
• Providing remote field access to central office using mobile handheld device
• Reducing inspector travel time
• Reducing inspection/repair time
• Increasing capacity for new inspections
• Eliminating duplicate data entry and reduce error rate
• Storing and retrieving all related documents in central electronic case folder

Exporting inspection information from handheld computer directly to central database to support DCAS and Mayor's Management Reporting and legacy systems.