Bridge engineers got rid of paperwork:

On April 28th, 2006 Amli presented a software for a corporation named Kiratek Oy who, among other services, executes bridge inspections. With the software it is possible to convert the current paperwork-heavy inspection procedure into a process involving real-time mobile phone based inspection and management. The software product includes three applications:

1) Server and administration application.

2) Mobile device enabled application for monitoring on-site maintenance programme procedures (Maintenance manual acknowledgement application). The application is meant for maintenance service providers. The mobile device in question may be a mobile phone, PDA device or a laptop.

3) Mobile device enabled on-site maintenance manual application. The application is meant for consulting condition inspectors. The mobile device in question may be a mobile phone, PDA device or a laptop.

"You do no longer have to fear that wind will tear the papers out of your hand," says Mr. Timo Lauri, the managing director of Kiratek corporation. Kiratek is one of the two dozen companies in Finland that inspect the condition of bridges. The main body of Finnish bridges, approximately 14,000, is governed by the publicly funded Finnish Road Administration. Other big owners of bridges and other similar constructs are municipalities and towns, the Finnish Rail Administration, Metsähallitus (managing forests) and port authorities, for example. Some bridges are also privately owned.

"The objective of an IT based application was to develop the inspection process so that the bridges would get a registering and management system with a real-time information updating capability," Mr. Lauri states. Kiratek employs about a dozen engineers specialized in condition inspections. Up until recently, the inspection data was written on paper and later transferred to computer at the office. "With a mobile phone it is possible to type the information straight to the register where it is ready for further processing. This saves valuable working hours," Mr. Lauri concludes.

Kiratek conducted an international market survey before launching the development process. "We received positive feedback from Sweden and Russia. So we are also planning to sell the programme to others as well," says Mr. Lauri.

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