Handheld PDA keeps everyone in the loop

An ICON product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Feb 27, 2009

Handheld PDA used to record vital information about building projects is the latest initiative from construction information management specialists ICON.

The system, part of the ICON information management solution, reduces the need for paper-based data collection and allows instant updates to be made to ensure that the many aspects of building projects remain on target, including health and safety reports and other legal obligations that must be accurately recorded and managed.

There are multiple fields that can be updated to the main ICON system and the PDA can take and also upload photos to the master system for later analysis and review.

"We've been working on ways to improve the way that projects run and are managed," said ICON's technical Director Joe Davies.

"The added value of a mobile PDA to upload data means that personnel can be onsite and enter data directly to the system, wherever they are in the world," continued Joe.

The PDA connects to the system via 3G and in areas where there is no reception, data is stored within the device until the signal improves.

"Health and safety managers, facilities managers, architects, contractors and other consultants have many issues that need to be addressed efficiently to ensure the successful delivery and ongoing management of a construction project.

"The ICON solution enables all the data relevant to a building project to be brought together in one place with access only granted to authorised personnel".

One of the many applications of the ICON PDA solution is the ability to capture building condition information.

Following a pro-forma dictated by the system, a surveyor logs the state of repair of a building.

This process can be undertaken by a number of surveyors across an entire property portfolio, each following the exact same format.

The results are reported back to the ICON system where the data can be analysed and reports generated for future expenditure, by region, property type or repair type etc.