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TO: |
Mayor and Members of Council |
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FROM: |
Peter Loukes, Director,
Operations and Asset Management |
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PREPARED BY: |
Bob Penner, Supervisor, Business
Systems Improvement, Asset Management |
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DATE OF MEETING: |
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SUBJECT: |
GPS Hand-Held Presentation |
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the report entitled “GPS Hand-Held
Presentation” be received;
PURPOSE:
That the presentation by Robert Penner, Supervisor, Business Systems
Improvement, regarding the GPS Hand-Helds be received. This report is to inform
Council that GPS Hand-Held technology has been implemented by the Asset
Management and Operations Departments for compiling new sign inventories, sign
attribute updates and sign maintenance history tracking.
BACKGROUND:
In
2002, the Operations and Asset Management Department identified a need to
compile a data base and GIS layer of their street signs in order to improve
sign replacement procedures and to assist with the creation of the signs’
maintenance history and inventory tracking.
In
order to capture sign maintenance and new sign data, the Department choose to
implement hand-held GPS computing. As the sign crew in the Operations
Department, visits a sign, GPS readings,
work activities and the sign’s attributes are recorded and updated in the
hand-held unit. For newly installed signs, data is added in a new blank record.
The accuracy of recorded signs is with-in a 1 metre radius. All data captured
in the field is transferred to the Town’s corporate databases at the end of the
day. Reports are produced on a weekly basis listing the signs, poles and
brackets taken out of inventory.
Efficiency Improvement
The
use of the GPS unit and associated business processes has improved the ability
of the field crew to capture the locations, attributes and work history of the
Town’s signs. It is no longer necessary to manually measure the location of
signs using inadequate reference points. Recording activities and attributes on
paper work orders has been eliminated through the use of drop down menus and
pick lists on the hand-held unit. Updates of Corporate data bases and GIS
layers is completed electronically thereby eliminating the opportunity for
error through incorrect key punching. Inventory levels are continually being
kept up to date through reports generated electronically from the Hansen
maintenance history records.
Cost / Benefits
The
purchase price of the GPS unit, accessories, software and training was $22,200.
Assuming an estimated 2,000 signs to be processed each year and a 20 minutes
saving per sign in data processing and location compilation, a savings of 666
person hours per year can be estimated.
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Peter Loukes. P.Eng Director, Operations and Asset Management |
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Jim Sales, Commissioner, Fire and Community
Services |
Document1
