01138098

Component

http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/161920.aspx

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) recently conducted a feasibility study on the use of personal data assistants (PDAs) to collect employee and equipment time, work accomplishment, and work location information for input into their maintenance management systems (MMS). The application first allowed a crew leader to set up a crew (including personnel, equipment, and material), and download tasks (work orders) onto the device in an online mode. It then allowed the creation of tasks on the device in the field together with recording of the location, accomplishment, and durations for the crew for each task. The durations were then converted to editable “day cards” for crew and equipment that could then be uploaded along with any newly created tasks in online mode. The study involved two types of mobile devices: one small and compact, and the other larger and more rugged. An external Global Positioning System (GPS) device was attached to each device to determine locations. The study was conducted with a total of 15 PDA devices being used in the field for a total of between 5 and 8 weeks by five field units (for a total of almost 100 PDA weeks of use). A number of aspects were studied including general device preference, GPS use, and comparison of scheduled work orders versus those created in the field. The paper presents the study method, surveys, analysis of the data, and conclusions. In general, participants preferred the smaller PDAs to the larger and more rugged device. Of the total number of tasks that were uploaded, roughly half were scheduled in the MMS office and downloaded onto the PDA, and half were created directly on the PDA. It was possible to obtain a GPS location approximately 80% of the time and these points had reasonable ground accuracy as shown by the fact that 95% of the time the point fell within 50 ft of a mapped road centerline with 80% within 10 ft. Study results show that despite early problems, most respondents found the GPS devices easy to use overall. The study was such an overwhelming success that the mobile application has been enhanced and NCDOT planned to purchase about 1,100 new PDAs for distribution to field crews in 2009. This purchase has been delayed due to a budget shortfall within NCDOT. The study also supports the development of an interface to use MMS data to populate timesheets in SAP.

01138080

MMC09-022

English

pp 177-190

2009-7

Transportation Research Circular

12th AASHTO-TRB Maintenance Management Conference

Web

References (4) ; Tables (1)

Data collection; Feasibility analysis; Global Positioning System; Maintenance management; Pavement maintenance; Personal digital assistants

North Carolina Department of Transportation

Field data; Work orders

North Carolina

Administration and Management; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; I10: Economics and Administration; I60: Maintenance

TRIS, TRB

Aug 4 2009 3:57PM

• A Wireless Sensor for Monitoring Chloride Ingress in Concrete
• Asset Management Plan for the Ambassador Bridge
• Concrete Pavement Preservation and Rehabilitation to Meet Sustainability Demands
• Cost–Benefit Analysis of the Pooled-Fund Maintenance Decision Support System: Case Studies
• Development of a Comprehensive Framework for the Efficiency Measurement of Road Maintenance Strategies Using Data Envelopment Analysis
• Implementation of a Pavement Preservation Program in Illinois
• Integrating Maintenance Management Systems with Maintenance Decision Support Systems
• Long-Term Performance of Failed Flexible Pavements Stabilized with Cement
• Management of Environmental Features and Assets
• Maximizing Resource Use to Meet the Maintenance Management Challenge: As Demonstrated by Traffic Signal Maintenance Management in the City of Norfolk, Virginia
• North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Performance-Based Contracting Experience in Charlotte
• Performance-Based Contracting—Yes or No: An In-Depth Analysis
• Solving Maintenance Issues in Design and Construction
• Transportation Supervisor Workforce Development for the North Carolina Department of Transportation
• Use and Cost–Benefit of Weather Information in Winter Maintenance
• Use of Monte Carlo Simulation to Evaluate the Kansas Department of Transportation's Maintenance Quality Assurance Program
• Variable Speed Limits Signs: Effects on Speed and Speed Variation in Work Zones