Deploying Mobile Construction Inspection Forms as a Case Study for Technology Adoption

Within pipeline construction field inspection data collection relies mostly on archaic systems and processes. For almost all projects, paper-based or at best word processor and spreadsheet reports are manually collected, reviewed, aggregated and archived. The effort and error in this typical process is reduced using a mobile inspection form system that simplifies the field data collection workflow, increases data accuracy and quality, and can be used to generate dynamic project management dashboards. An evaluation of two case study projects provides insight to overcoming technology adoption for pipeline construction as well as performance, quality and forecasting benefits witnessed during these projects. The use of a mobile inspection form system creates the ability for improved analytics such as detailed construction tracking, dynamic forecasting and spatial overlays of construction progress. Improved data standardization and data integrity from the use of tablet forms produces detailed and functional key performance indicators (KPIs) delivered on-demand through a project dashboard. When both field data quality is improved and project managers are provided timely KPIs, projects have the opportunity to be delivered safer, faster and with higher quality, which is a win for the entire pipeline industry.