Mobile Geoengineering: Extending the office to the field
Joseph Vela Product Manager Geoengineering Web and Mobile Technologies Bentley Systems, Incorporated 690 Pennsylvania Drive Exton, PA 19341 Phone: 610-458-2924 Fax: 610-458-1060
Introduction
There are more than 46 million field workers in the United States and less than 15 percent of them work with any level of automation. Compare that to the more than 85 percent of all office workers who use computers regularly in their jobs. To date, most field automation has occurred in dispatch and delivery systems for companies like Federal Express and UPS, or in simple, repetitive field data collection processes, like utility meter-reading. In the geoengineering disciplines, including utilities, telecommunications, public works and transportation, the level of field automation is 5-10 percent-despite the fact that 40 to 50 percent of their entire workforce works in the field. Their field tasks may account for 60 to 70 percent of the work performed by these organizations. Automating these field activities can lead to substantial cost savings and improvements in efficiency. By providing meaningful, useful information to the field, where and when users need it most, mobile engineering systems can bring all geoengineering activities into a unified, collaborative environment that improves productivity and reduces both cost and time. Today, all of the key technology components—the building blocks of a field geoengineering network-are available and affordable. What companies need is a plan for effectively building and deploying a field computing system that increases the efficiency of their field workers, supports their work flow and integrates intelligently with their office systems. Understanding the Field User The first step in developing an effective field computing strategy is to define the users it will support and the types of tasks they will perform. They can be divided into two camps: on-line and off-line users. Much of the discussion in this paper will stem from the fundamental differences in developing solutions for these different types of users. Off-line: Minimal Mobility, Intense Processing Some users rely on their machines for constant work throughout the day. They are typically performing detailed work at one or a few locations during a day. Technically, these users require a thicker client solution. The nature and volume of data they use make constant reliance on the server impractical, so local data storage is necessary. In addition, they need sufficient local processing power and applications to perform complex operations. These users require only occasional communications with the host server. The volume of data they share with the server requires a more traditional, hardwired approach to downloading/uploading. On-line: Maximum Mobility, Lighter Processing Other mobile users tend to require less local processing power. They may move more frequently from location to location and may not even know where their next calls will take them. These users require frequent, quick interactions with the server. GPS provides a direct monitoring of their location and can accommodate automated delivery of necessary data, without requiring an active query to the server. Two-way data sharing is important to these users, but the amount of data transmitted must be minimal, The need for local processing power is also limited. They may use machines with minimal processing capabilities-lightweight and easy to carry-that rely on server-resident applications to manage data and processing. Their tasks may include service calls, routine maintenance, inspection programs, response and dispatch. Enabling Technologies Mobile engineering conditions make for some special needs in terms of both hardware and sollware. Providing computing for engineering/field workers bears Iitle resemblance to office mobility. Mobile engineering is a by-product of the technical tools that make it possible. Deploying a successful mobile engineering system requires four (4) key technical considerations: functional field hardware, wireless communications networks, field-ready software, and core technologies. Functional Field Hardware Many hardware manufacturers are delivering field-ready hardware, especially designed to meet the rugged requirements of the field-computing environment. Ranging from lightweight, thin-client PDAs to full-scale, military-grade computers, a whole generation of field-ready devices is now on the market. PDAs, availablein dozens of configurations, are gaining popularity for lightweight applications, such as dispatching, crew monitoring and service-order scheduling. These thin-client devices won’t stand up to data intensive applications like surveying and project management, but they are effective at capturing simple text data and relaying that information back and forth from field to otice. Pen-based computers have become popular for many field applications because they offer a more natural way to interface with information-especially for field workers who may have little or no previous computer experience. The pen is more natural than the keyboard and provides a better-controlled means of data input, which can eliminate many errors. Pen computers are ideal for (but not limited to) repetitive jobs, like inspections or inventories, for which forms can be developed that guide the user through the data collection processing, eliminating errors and assuring that complete data is gathered. Fully equipped ruggedized notebooks remain the preferred choice for the most complex of applications, like surveying, on-site engineering or project management. With notebooks that can include Pentium II processors, up to 128 MB of RAM and 6-GB hard drives, there’s almost nothing you can do in the office that you can’t also do in the field-in immediate contact with the source of the information being created. These systems can run full-featured versions of most office-bound geoengineering applications. With appropriate replication and synchronization capabilities they can be deployed as fully integrated clients in the n-tiered geoengineering systems architecture. Wireless Communications Networks Wireless communications are now nearly ubiquitous. There are few populated areas that are not well covered by analog cellular networks. Newer digital personal communications systems (PCS) networks are expanding at break-neck speed. The growing satellite uplink for PCS is also expanding and soon every place on earth will be accessible by commercial grade wireless communications. In the near term, bandwidth limitations make full-time connections and the delivery of large data files impractical. That problem will change dramatically over the next two or three years. The market is so large and so untapped that many organizations are working double-time to develop viable solutions, Field-Ready Software Field-ready applications must be designed to maximize ease of use and functional efficiency in the field. They must be more task-specific, simple to operate and built to eliminate potential errors. After all, the objective of mobile computing is to improve field productivity, not displace their current work with computer tasks that produce little or no eficiency gains. Most mobile geoengineering applications must be smaller, simpler and more task specific than their typical office-bound counterparts. They will generally be modular applications that perform specific tasks, but fit together as part of a cohesive whole interfaced to the host server. Core Technologies Certain standardized, core technologies have emerged that make widespread mobile computing viable for the first time. In the long run, proprietary environments are unlikely to be the prevailing technologies in the field. Instead, environments with broader acceptance and more common protocols like ODBC, JAVA, and COM will be the tools of choice for mobile geoengineering development. These standardized environments will make field applications less costly to develop, more flexible, easier to deploy and easier to use. These core technologies include the Internet, Java, Windows and Windows CE, and other micro-operating systems. The Internet. In and of itself, the Internetlintranet paradigm remains the most significant computing advancement since the introduction of the personal computer. It is the nervous system that makes remote field computing possible and affordable for the future, Without TCP/lP, the World Wide Web, HTML and all the other standardized technologies spawned, empowered and embraced by the Internet, mobile computing would still be struggling along as a variety of weak, competing, proprietary, closed systems. With the standardization provided by the Internet, developers can focus on delivering solutions instead of building the infrastructure. Java is without a doubt the best answer for developing client-side mobile geoengineering applications. Java can be used on thin clients (on-line mobile applications) in the form of applets or Web-based applications, or it can be employed as a Web-enabled geoengineering environment for off-line mobile solutions. The objective will be to develop and test applications quickly and deploy them in a manner that requires minimal training or system maintenance. It was built from the ground up, to solve the problems inherent in and unique to mobile computing. Some of the big advantages of Java include:
Microsoft has made strong inroads into the handheld/small device market with Windows CE. Current Windows CE devices have inherent limitations of relatively small amounts of RAM, no disk, etc. that make it impossible to run true desktop applications on them. Whether it will remain a separate product or push the market toward Windows as the hardware matures is yet to be seen. It has the advantage of the same basic user interface as VVmdows, which is known by all and therefore is a familiar start for the first-time mobile geoengineer. Although it is limited as a development environment, it is a suitable platform for Internet-based, thin-client applications. Important for its survival, CE supports Java. In addition, new technology is just being introduced where inexpensive, thin-client devices with large screens (13 inches) run Windows CE. With support of Java and the new large screen systems, CE will continue to evolve as an on-line mobile solution. Other Micro-Operating Systems. Of course, there are other thin-client operating systems from which to choose, such as the PalmPilot, which has its own operating system and development environment. The PalmPilot has become tremendously popular, far outselling Windows CE devices. However, the Palm has a closed development environment. It does not support Java and has no intention of supporting it in the near future. 3Com has spent a great deal of time developing an environment that is highly optimized for small machines. This approach is fine for commercial applications built specifically for the PalmPilot, but presents a problem for developing lower-volume customized applications (or porting existing applications) to these devices. In order for the PalmPilot to be used in the mobile geoengineering world, therefore, development of applications will have to be performed essentially from scratch—an expensive proposition. This type of development will be the case with any closed or non-standard environment. The extra cost in development and the shortened life span of applications will minimize their usefulness in the geoengineering market. They just are not worth the effort, cost or risk. Challenges to Implementation Implementing mobile geoengineering applications poses many challenges that must be addressed in the planning and development stages. Companies can’t just accept an out-of-the-box solution, They need to make sure the hardware and software selected really fit in their workflow. Consequently, these field systems will be customized, much like the office geoengineering systems and other systems they extend. Some of the key challenges to consider include: Proper devices and user interfaces The selected hardware needs to meet user requirements, which can be different depending on the situation. Environment plays a big role: can a device function in temperature extremes, dust and vibration (if used in a vehicle)? Also, if used outdoors is the device readable in the sun or will glare make it impossible to work with? Size can matter a great deal. For certain field engineers, lugging around a laptop computer with all the other devices they need is impossible. In those cases, a pocket-sized device may be best, even if it means sacrificing functionality. Viewing Capabilities On-line solutions will also be driven by the need for screen space. For simple, small-forms solutions that only need to show a map of a very limited region (to help locate a pole for inspection, for example), a PDA device may be acceptable. Applications that need to display more area, either for a more detailed map/drawing or a more complex form, will be driven to one of the compact pen-based computers, The new large-screen Windows CE devices, however, will begin to blur the lines of distinction between PDAs and notebook or pen computers. Reluctance to change Fundamental user acceptance may be the biggest challenge. Many field workers have been doing their job in the same way for many, many years and are likely to resist change. They may be technology-averse, having little or no previous computer experience. The technology will never work unless field users buy in. If they don’t like it, they will find any excuse to prove it does not work. On the other hand, if introduced properly and designed with input from field users, user acceptance is not difficult to gain. While initial resistance may be strong, once they try the devices and see for themselves how easy they are to use and that they can help their productivity, they are unlikely to give them up. Optimizing Data Connectivity Whether implementing a thick-or thin-client system, there will always be some need for wireless connectivity. Digital wireless coverage is far from nationwide, but it is spreading rapidly. In rural areas, coverage is still spotty at best, Even within certain cities it can be tough to get a reliable connection. Another big problem with the current wireless network is the lack of availability within buildings, which can present problems for workers installing pipes through a building, for example. Availability of wireless coverage may play a major role in deciding how a system is designed. An on-line solution will not work without a consistent, reliable wireless connection. Without it, an off-line solution will be the only alternative. It is essential to design a system that minimizes client-server communication and the amount of data flowing between client and server. Even for the best wireless networks, throughput is not as good as landline modems. Expect 10-19kbps throughput, compared to at least 28.8kbps for hardwired connections. Moreover, using a modem in the field can consume excessive battery power. An on-line solution needs to be carefully designed to ensure that only necessary information is brought over from the server. This can often mean more intelligent server side processing than is required for general Internet applications. Synchronization and Duplication Because off-line mobile solutions all require the “checking out” and “checking in” of geoengineering data at periodic intervals that typically are at least a day in duration, the handling of these long transactions is critical. The challenges include being able to properly handle duplication of data when it is distributed to many field workers simultaneously and proper synchronization of the data when it is brought back into the office from the field. Proper conflict resolution and rules designed to handle these conflicts are critical. The bottom line is that all mobile solutions are custom solutions-they need to be highly customized to fit the specific workflow of the organization. Although certain features and functions are true across organizations doing the same process, the different methods in which organizations operate require that the proper customization be done to fit the company’s workflow. Conclusion: Opportunities at the Doorstep Currently, mobile geoengineering applications are far from commonplace. The good news is, however, that the technologies—both for hand-held/portable hardware and wireless communications-have improved to a level that is acceptable in businesses. PDAs, such as Windows CE devices, PaimPilots, or PalmPCs, are becoming ubiquitous and many IT departments are standardizing their companies around one or more of these options. Additionally, many utilities are beginning to develop corporate standards for digital wireless solutions. As the technologies become part of the corporate “mainstream,” their use in mobile geoengineering will grow. Companies are now realistically and seriously discussing mobile solutions, not just “pilots.” In the next 3 years, a majority of utilities will implement some level of mobile geoengineering, Most of these early systems will be off-line solutions, because digital wireless networks will not have the coverage or bandwidth to support more robust on-line applications for several more years. But computer components will continue to shrink in size, allowing for more compact, powerful, and affordable field devices. In the 5 to 7 year time frame, digital wireless networks will become truly useful. With more network infrastructure in place, coverage will be close to universal and bandwidth will increase significantly. However, digital wireless will not yet displace the need for off-line solutions for all heavy-processing applications. Surveying, for example, will still require an off-line solution. Asset management and project management applications, however, may be able run in on-line mode using thinner clients with larger, lightweight screens for better display. For these applications, there will be more of a mixed off-line/on-line solution. Thick clients will continue to become much more lightweight and affordable, so there will bean increasing amount of intelligent caching of information on these devices. Only update information made by the mobile geoengineer or other geoengineers will be passed from client to server. With these advancing capabilities and tight links to the office and enterprise systems, mobile geoengineering will begin to reveal its full potential. Its functionality will support activities that span the entire geoengineering continuum, including preliminary data collection and surveys, project and construction management, operations and long-term maintenance support. The deployment of field geoengineering systems will serve to transform workflow processes, increase communications and improve productivity among a vast portion of the work force that, until now has reaped none of the benefits of information technology. For organizations that must reinvent themselves to be competitive in a new and rapidly changing business environment, these gains in et%ciency will have profound effects on their long-term operational success. | ||
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