Florida field inspectors improve code enforcement with wireless Tablet PC system

Ft. Lauderdale, FL, April 4, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- Inspection officers for a Florida city and county are trialing wireless Tablet PCs and a web-based code-enforcement application to schedule, track and monitor the life cycle of all inspections directly from the field.

Inspectors and authorized administrators for the small city of Lauderhill are using INKforce, a suite of automated government software tools developed by Fort Lauderdale-based Calvin, Giordano & Associates (CGA). Lauderhill -- located west of Fort Lauderdale -- is the first municipality in the country to use the application.

Joan Fletcher, GIS Manager for Lauderhill's Department of Engineering Services, says the system is "very intuitive" with the ability to acquire and update information on the spot. "It also saves huge amounts of time cutting down on the paper trail and can digitally capture the signature of the person being cited right then and there," she says. "Our officers, though they have had very little computer experience, said it was very user-friendly and easy to pick up. CGA has been very supportive in making adjustments."

Lauderhill, according to Fletcher, has phased in INKforce over the past three months, and has been in full operation with its nine code enforcement officers since mid January.

CGA's Data Technologies and Development team created the proprietary code enforcement application using ArcIMS, ArcSDE and SQL/Oracle and web technology as the main platform to deliver an inspection process using realtime GIS (Geographic Information Systems) enabled data.

Carrying a Panasonic Toughbook Tablet PC and a wireless connection, each code enforcement officer in the field can access schedules and directions, property and complaint histories, and city and county ordinance specifications. Officers can also secure signatures and issue compliance notices on the spot or automatically initiate a certified mailing to the property owner.

"Code enforcement is really just the tip of the iceberg as far as the suite of government applications that can be customized and put into place," says CGA President Dennis Giordano. "Finance, administration, building permitting and inspection, police and fire rescue would all be potential beneficiaries of a wireless GIS enabled system that would allow users to tap into a seamless stream of data and to effect a realtime response."

The base cost of INKforce is US $25,000 for the first five licenses, which includes software plus 40 hours of training. Customization, a GIS module application and service updates would be additional. Standardized software modules are available. Development of a customized INKforce program would take approximately one month, according to Giordano.

For more information, see the INKforce web site.

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