In the Palm of Your Hand: Digital Assistants Aid in Data Collection

Abstract

Collecting construction inspection data helps owners document such things as quantities installed to justify progress payments, project field conditions, and project status. Inspection data have traditionally been recorded on paper inspector's daily reports (IDRs). When the field information is needed (often months or years after the end of construction), the owner must search for the records manually. Although transferring to a computer database improves the record keeping process, it still requires double manipulation of data. Another solution was clearly necessary. To solve the redundancy and time consumption problems, minimum criteria were developed for research and testing and were ultimately incorporated in Florida by the Miami-Dade Transit Agency. The Palm III PDA was chosen as the solution for eliminating data redundancy for its popularity, price, size, simplicity, efficiency, reliable synchronization between PDA and PC, and unmatched third-party software support.