HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-21-2006-7bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 21, 2006
Action Agenda
Item No. ~%-L~
SUBJECT: Report on Field-grade Mobile Computers and Printers for the
Building Inspections Division
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
PowerPoint Slides -Mobile Field Grade Craig Benedict, Planning Director/
Computers Susan Mellott, Cade Enforcement
Supervisor, 919-245-2585
Commissioner Steve Halkiotis, 245-2125
Pl1RPOSE: To receive a report from the Building Inspecticns Division on a proposed system
of mobile field grade computers with integrated (CPS) Global Positioning System, printers, and
associated docking devices.
BACKGROUND: The Building and Inspections Division processes around 20,000 field
inspections per year, handwrites the results of the inspections while in field, and then manually
enters this same data into the permit system at the end of each day. Approximately 2,500
employee hours per year are spent in the office typing inspection results. Field grade
computers would allow the results to be typed and printed one time, while in the field. A legible
copy of the inspection results would be left for the customer, and the data would be downloaded
into the database automatically at the end of the day.. This more efficient reallocation of staff
time would be used for absorbing additional inspection workloads and enhancing customer
service.
The Inspections Division would be able to assist in the maintenance of the Emergency
Management/911 address field verification program, which is nearing completion at a cost of
about $200,000., As Inspections staff goes to all construction sites within Hillsborough and
Orange County jurisdictions, they can capture geographic coordinate data about the exact
locations of new structures and update the 91 1 address database accordingly. Additionally,
Inspections offered to capture the well GPS locations that ERCD had been plotting, when time
permitted for Environmental Health, as well as septic system sites, as the Inspection staff is
regularly on site and can save ERCD staff site visits specific to GPS capturing.
The field grade computers would improve customer service, staff efficiency, communication and
public safety, through sharing of data through the enterprise GIS and Permits Plus (Orange
County permitting software). Further details of customer service, efficiencies, etc. are outlined in
fhe PowerPoint presentation.
The Building Inspections Division proposes the purchase of nine (9) mobile field grade
computers with integrated GPS, printers, and associated docking devices. Office personal
computers would no longer be necessary for the Inspectors and would be returned to the
County information technology equipment inventory for redeployment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The estimated cost for hardware and associated equipment for this
undertaking would be approximately $50,000. Funding for this project would be included in the
Manager's Recommended 2006-16 Capital Investment Plan, tentatively scheduled for
presentation to the Board in April 2006.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) receive the report as information;
2) direct the Manager and staff and in concert with Commissioner Halkiotis to conduct
further assessment of this project (to integrate it with similar initiatives in other
departments to ensure compatibility of software and efficiencies in data capture and
creation of a shared database); and
3) direct the Manager to incorporate funding within the Information Technology project of
the 2006-16 Capital Investment Plan for the best way to implement this undertaking.
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Permit
Address
Inspector
Notes
Please complete the above items
before calling for reinspection.
~r Do not remove this notice ~4
INSPECTION NOTICE
Orange County Building Inspections
Phone: 245-2600 ~ Building
~ Electrical
# Date ^ Plumbing
^ Mechanical
c®range ~'Cuuntp Manning & ~fn~~ection~
Building Inspection Division
306 F Revere Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
~•..u u o.
y^~
V Y
~fl !~M1"f
Inspection Result
Request Id: 8000064202
Inspect Date: 01/26!2006
Permit Number. C605-00898
Comments:
Inspection Result: REJ
2000-006 Exterior
2000.008 Exterior All
2000-004 Exterior
Description: BFO; BUILDING FOOTING
Enter Date: 01!26/2005 Inspector. D. Bruce
Item ID: 2000
# of Violations: 3
TABLE 403.1
Y SIZED TO APPROVED
FOOTING(S) GRADE STAKES NOT IN PLACE,
FOOTING(S) NOT BELOW FROSTLINE -MUST BE MINIMUM
12" BELOW GRADE.
I''1'+~11~
I~i~ Dirt InOre herd
~1
T403.1A
REJ ADMIN
REJ 8403,1,4
RpUnspectResultLocalNolmag Page 1 of t
Ruggedized Vs. Conventional Mobile Computing Devices ~'a
In planning for the pilot project for Mobile Field Inspections, one of the first considerations made was the selection
of devices to be used by field staff. These devices come in various sizes and have a wide range of functionality,
The main criteria used were:
• Accurate and reliable global positioning systems (GPS)
• Multiple functionality in one device; Integrated (GPS) vs, external components
• Outdoor viewable screen in direct or indirect sunlight
• Reliability in harsh environments, heat, dust, moisture and vibration
• Digitized /touch screen capability
• Modular device construction to allow upgrading without replacing complete unit
Two types of units were considered; Ruggedized and conventional laptops/pen tablets:
Ruggedized Price ranges from $4,200 to $5,400 with vehicle mounting equipment
o Pros
• Fully ruggedized to MIL-STD 810E military standards
• Sealed against dust and moisture intrusion
^ Fully integrated GPS with dual helix antennae for 120 deg of overhead reception,
accuracy of 1-3 meter range (3-7 feet)
• daylight readable screen
• Convertible from laptop to pen tablet with handwriting recognition
• Lightweight; 4,5 Lbs,
• Gel mounted shack resistant removable hard drive
• Internal CD
^ Full size, backlit keyboard
^ Touch screen
• Operating temperatures; min -'10°, max 140°
o Cons
• Keyboard smaller than normal laptop, a little harder to type with
• Most expensive model tested
• Some units weighing up to 91bs.
• Conventional Price approximately $2,600 with vehicle mounting equipment and GPS add-on
o Pros
^ Unit is convertible tablet PC/laptop
• Hand writing recognition
• Internal CD
• Lightweight; 3,5 Lbs
o Cons
• Non-ruggedized, not designed for mobile environment; subject to damage from dust,
moisture, vibration, etc.
• Operating temperatures, min 41°, max 95° (On a 93° da,y, a vehicle can reach 125° in
20 minutes.)
^ No integrated GPS, must use PCMCIA slot with separate, handheld external antenna
• External GPS does not provide the accuracy required by the 911 address database
(required is 3 meters, most accurate found is 15 meters)
• Screen view-ability diminished in direct or indirect sunlight
In the mobile computing environment there is vibration, moisture, dust, and extreme temperatures, Vibration can
damage the hard drive, moisture and humidity and electronic components are incompatible, dust can damage
drives and circuit boards, and the extreme temperatures in a vehicle are outside the parameters of a commercial-
grade, non-ruggedized mobile computing device, This alone would void any warranties on a conventional laptop.
Additionally, the add-on GPS feature, while inexpensive ($500) does not provide the accuracy required by the
911-address project. The accuracy parameters required by the address project are 3 meters (10 feet), the add-on
GPS delivers a 15 meter accuracy (49 feet).