GREENSBORO, N.C.-The inspections division of the Greensboro Engineering & Inspections Department and BellSouth Mobility DCS have teamed to develop Mobile Inspector, a technology that allows inspectors to work entirely in the field, BellSouth said.
Mobile Inspector combines a handheld computer with APRIL (Automated Attendant for Permits, Plan Review, Inspections & Local Ordinance Enforcement), an automated system that assigns inspections, provides an itinerary for the inspectors and offers callers access to scheduled inspections and results.
BSMDCS’s Global System for Mobile communications technology supports the wireless transfer of information from the inspector’s mobile office to the main system.
Walter “Butch” Simmons, code enforcement manager, engineering and inspections department, said Mobile Inspector is enabling better service by giving inspectors more time to do inspections.
Prior to Mobile Inspector, the first two hours of an inspector’s workday were spent driving, getting assignments and filling out paperwork, Simmons said. Now inspectors report directly to their vans where they can access electronically their itineraries for the day and enter the results of their inspections.
In addition to allowing more work time, the APRIL system will call or send a fax to inform the builder or homeowner that an inspection has been approved or rejected, and in the case of a final inspection, the appropriate utility company will be notified that an inspection is complete so the utilities can be turned on, BellSouth said.
