Posted by Caitlin Zerman on Friday, May 30, 2025
Form-centric and mobile data collection tools are transforming infrastructure assessments. Infrastructure is the backbone of any community, supporting everything from transportation to utilities. Ensuring its integrity and functionality is critical to public safety, the environment, and economies. Regular infrastructure inspections are needed for several reasons, some of which include:
- Inspections protect public safety by identifying potential hazards before they escalate into serious issues, thereby protecting the public from accidents and injuries.
- Inspections allow for early detection of problems and can lead to significant cost savings by preventing costly emergency repairs and extending the lifespan of infrastructure assets.
- Inspections play a vital role in environmental protection by preventing damage caused by infrastructure failures, such as leaks or collapses.
- Inspections help maintain service reliability.
Sounds easy, right? Well, by its very nature, inspecting infrastructure comes with its own set of challenges:
- It's vast: It encompasses streets, neighborhoods, towns, and even regions.
- It lasts: It spans years – even centuries – usually longer than the careers of those charged with its stewardship.
- It hides: You’ll find it underground, overhead, in the woods, or, sometimes, just hidden in plain sight.
- It changes: It grows, shrinks, and moves with any new construction or maintenance.
While this can certainly be a daunting task for infrastructure owners, advancements in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) have enabled powerful tools to overcome these challenges.
Revolutionizing Infrastructure Assessment
These GIS advancements are revolutionizing infrastructure assessments, including form-centric and mobile data collection tools. Mobile data collection provides a map-centric approach, allowing users to visualize and interact with spatial data directly in the field. This is particularly useful for tasks that require precise location tracking and real-time updates. Form-centric data collection is ideal for gathering detailed information through customizable surveys. Both support offline data collection so assessments can continue even in areas without internet connectivity or mobile service. Together, these tools enhance data accuracy, streamline workflows, and improve decision-making processes by integrating spatial and survey data flawlessly.
The Sky is the Limit!
Mobile data collection can be used for sewer system manhole inspections, providing optimal efficiency by loading the system directly in the field to identify structures accurately. How does it work? A sanitary sewer system is preloaded onto an online map and a mobile data collection app is employed via a tablet to conduct inspections. Photos of the manholes are attached directly to the inspection in the field, along with quick sketches, notes, and other resources completed on the device. A GPS receiver is also utilized to accurately map the system, aiding in PA 1-calls and system marking. While this is just one application of the mobile data collection app, it can also be used for smoke testing, general maintenance inquiries, and creating a sanitary system from scratch.
Form-centric data collection also has various applications. Recently, this application was used as part of a wastewater system survey for homeowners to schedule home inspections. The process automatically pinpointed the homeowner's location via the address entered in the survey and allowed the team to view this information in a spreadsheet, streamlining scheduling for inspectors. Form-centric data collection is also utilized during the actual home inspection, providing inspectors with an easy-to-follow layout and including homeowner signatures upon completion.
The Revolution is Here
Using form-centric data collection and mobile data collection for infrastructure assessments not only enhances the efficiency and accuracy of data collection but also plays a critical role in maintaining the safety and functionality of our infrastructure. By leveraging these tools, communities can make sure their infrastructure remains robust and reliable, ultimately supporting a safer and more sustainable future. For more information on how these tools can assist you with your Infrastructure Assessments and management, please reach out!
Categories: Municipal Infrastructure
Tagged: Municipal Engineering | GIS Mapping