San Diego, July 12 — Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) introduced today a new version of its Trimble® Field Inspector solution for utility infrastructure and smart grid asset maintenance and inspection. The solution is comprised of the Trimble Field Inspector software for handheld computers and Trimble Field Inspector Desktop software. Scalable and easy to deploy, the solution leverages Trimble Global Positioning System (GPS) and handheld computing technology to automate a wide variety of field applications for electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities—from smart meter deployments to routine asset maintenance inspections.
The announcement was made today at the ESRI International User Conference.
Trimble Field Inspector Software for Handheld Computers
Trimble Field Inspector software for handhelds provides a robust GPS-enabled mobile solution for optimizing smart grid and utility field operations, including asset installation, maintenance, and inspection.
Using Trimble mapping and Geographic Information System (GIS) handheld devices, the software allows utility field workers to capture GPS time and location information along with 1D and 2D barcode data, digital images, digital sketches and electronic signatures. The GPS data can be used to route jobs, locate workers and assets, and provide a valuable validation of where and when work is performed to support regulatory reporting.
Whether performing electric, gas, water, or wastewater maintenance inspection tasks, the Trimble Field Inspector software helps streamline operations with automated field workflows, easy-to-use smart handheld data collection forms, and the ability to interactively view jobs and assets using a map display. Through a single listing of all jobs and their status, users can quickly and easily locate and identify job assignments and priorities.
By putting utility maintenance inspection technology directly in the hands of the mobile workforce, Trimble Field Inspector allows field crews to complete their work faster and more accurately, enhancing utility service quality, improving system reliability, and reducing cost.
Trimble Field Inspector Desktop Software
Trimble Field Inspector Desktop software leverages existing GIS, asset, and work management databases and workflows to deliver a complete end-to-end handheld maintenance inspection solution for field workers.
The desktop software can connect to an existing ESRI ArcGIS or Open Database Compliant (ODBC) back office system, Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) utility database or the Trimble UtilityCenter® Maintenance-2 module. Field maintenance tasks can be defined, grouped together as jobs, scheduled, assigned, and automatically transferred to handheld computers running the Trimble Field Inspector software.
Utility field workers can then perform maintenance tasks using the predefined workflows and easy-to-use smart data entry forms. Field captured data is then returned to the utility’s existing back office GIS, CMMS database or Trimble UtilityCenter Maintenance-2 module to update and track utility and smart grid field asset maintenance work status and history.
The Trimble Field Inspector solution is expected to be available in August 2010 through Trimble’s Utilities Field Solutions group. For more information about Trimble Field Inspector solution, visit: www.trimble.com/fieldinspector.shtml.
Trimble’s Utilities Field Solutions group specializes in implementing enterprise GIS and mapping, mobile workforce management, asset maintenance, Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), field data collection, staking and inspection solutions for electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities. Trimble’s UtilityCenter, Fieldport®, eRespond™ and Utility Fleet Manager enterprise solutions automate utility operations which enable increased field worker productivity, enhanced customer service and faster emergency response.
For more information about Trimble’s utility enterprise solutions, visit: www.trimble.com/ufs.
About Trimble
Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. For more information, visit: www.trimble.com.