Inspection Management with ArcGIS Online [Webinar] | Q & A’s

Below you will find the Q & A from the webinar, Inspection Management with ArcGIS Online

Q1: Who had the overall responsibility for reviewing the videos and in what report format was the information provided back to the client?

A1: Infrastructure Technologies and Gadberry Group both provided video inspection review for QA/QC. Reports were submitted, at KCMO’s request, in a viewer application from the contractor’s software. This included an ITpipes “viewer only” app that included an access database with attached snapshots, videos, and PDF reports. Snapshots are jpg files and videos are WMV files.

Q2: Are the video files also stored in AWS and accessed directly from the cloud?

A2: For this KCMO project, managed through Ace Pipe, videos are stored in AWS and accessed direct through the cloud. In this case, from a workflow standpoint and because Ace Pipe wanted backups in case cloud storage had issues, Ace Pipe also wanted internal server storage. So, mobile systems/CCTV units synced nightly to an “in-house” server. That server then synced automatically to AWS. Flexible options for this include:

Videos stored on a local server only
Videos stored on online only syncing from the mobile systems/CCTV units direct to the cloud
Videos stored online and a local server and synchronized regularly

Q3: What is the name of work order system do you use? What is CCTV System name?

A3: This project did not use a work order system. The CCTV camera equipment is a mix of Cues, Envirosight/Ipek, and Aries.

Q4: Are there any limitations on the scale to which ITpipes can be implemented?

A4: ITpipes uses OAuth credentials to tie into ArcGIS Online, this is very easy to set up with an ArcGIS Online organization account. As far as limitations, there are ITpipes clients with thousands of assets, multiple inspections of each asset, and terabytes of associated media. Licensing is concurrent, so limitations would only consist of purchasing on ITpipes licensing and/or storage for data and media file sizes.

Q5: How does IT pipes work with software like Granite XP? And is the App already developed for the data interoperability and pipe inspection analysis?

A5: (for above 3 questions that are similar): If a client is using different application software in the field to perform inspections and the developer allows that data to be accessed by other applications (such as ITpipes), the ITpipes sync tool can pull data from that mobile inspection database into an ITpipes centralized inspection database repository. This can happen automatically, just as if ITpipes were used in the cctv unit. This would require implementation and setup for the Granite XP software settings and inputs to match the ITpipes software template settings and input requirements.

That repository can be internally or cloud hosted and work with ITpipes Web and ArcGIS Online.

Q6: What is the advantage of this system vs CUES Granite XP?

A6: We’ve listed a few of the key advantages below:

ITpipes is a fully open architecture database and has flexible, configurable, tight integration with ArcGIS Online and ArcMap.
ITpipes has comprehensive, flexible, configurable integration with CMMS/AMS systems such as Lucity, Cityworks, IBM’s Maximo, and others.
ITpipes is developed by Infrastructure Technologies and is agnostic towards camera equipment manufacturers, working with all camera equipment suppliers with full cross compatibility.

ITpipes is developed by a company that is focused on inspection software and inspection data management, we provide computers on occasion but rarely provide any kind of computer hardware and no camera hardware.

Q7: Does this have the capability of keeping a history on each line. Example each time you inspect a line do you keep that history or is it overwritten.

A7: ITpipes has the ability to store unlimited inspections for any asset. Along with this you can select to display and review inspections side-by-side for comparison of asset condition between inspections. ITpipes also has tools to help you organize data and media if you choose to later archive multiple inspections of the same asset.

Q8: How far back do you keep historical data in your archives?

A8: ITpipes allows unlimited storage of assets and asset inspections, with the ability to store unlimited, multiple inspections for any asset. Based on that, a user can select their preference and based on our experience, this varies for each client. This also is dependent upon related legal compliance, environmental regulatory compliance laws in the area, any agreements between the agency storing the inspections and compliance agencies, and preference based on the client’s needs and processes.

Q9: I feel like this seminar is mostly for the contractor side. How can this be used on the engineering side?

A9: This presentation was definitely focused on scheduling of crews and related mapping. ITpipes SmartTabs, very briefly mentioned, give a user pre-defined reports available with a single click. Inside a SmartTab a use selects the fields displayed and filters applied. By selecting a SmartTab, the list shows the applicable assets or inspections and auto-zooms to the coordinating map location with the same assets highlighted. For project planning on rehab or design, this is quite valuable and users can have unlimited SmartTabs. As new inspections are performed, any asset that meets that SmartTab’s criteria dynamically displays in the SmartTab. An example would be, for an Engineer to review all pipes assigned an overall pipe value of 100 points, that is over 300’ length, that also has at least one “pipe break”, and within the Northeast Quadrant of the City. This is one of many ways ITpipes could be used from an engineering role.

Q10: If the connection is lost, can the user in the truck still work offline? Then sync back when connection is re-established?

A10: Definitely. ITpipes “data collection” tool for CCTV units is a disconnected desktop application, only when a user wants to use ITpipes web or see the map, is when they are using an internet connection. Users can also store maps offline so they are available when disconnected.

Q11: In the schematic for data flow chart, how is the organization's GIS fit in to the chart?

A11: ITpipes has flexible options to integrate with GIS and so data flow varies based on client options in use, including options as follows:

Review inspections from GIS using key identifier(s)
Assign inspections using asset attribute data for supervisor to organize work
Create inspections using asset attribute data for operator to minimize data input and/or potential errors
View SmartTab dynamic reports via highlighting and selection
Asset attribute data comparison and update (requires edit permissions)

For this project with Kansas City, there was a published feature service with layers and data was accessed by ITpipes Web. Data was accessed to create inspections, display visual locations, manage multiple asset locations simultaneously, review inspections and other features. The GIS, from a database standpoint, wasn’t integrated in this project for attribute data comparison or updates.

Q12: Is this integrated with a Maintenance Management System?

A12: ITpipes has comprehensive, flexible, configurable integration with CMMS/AMS systems such as Lucity, Cityworks, IBM’s Maximo, and others.

Q13: Is ITpipes replacing a CMMS function? Do you need a CMMS?

A13: ITpipes can be used for scheduling but is not a comprehensive work order, budgeting, management software application. We recommend contacting an ITpipes representative or sending in a request on our website for us to contact you and learn more about your needs so we can answer this more accurately.

Q14: Is ITpipes Web part of the core license or is a separate module/license required?

A14: ITpipes Web is an add-on to the ITpipes core license.

Q15: ITPipes, is it possible to integrate ArcGIS online with IBM Maximo Asset management?

A15: ITpipes does have full integration with IBM Maximo for automation of inspection assignment, completed inspection reporting, and access to inspections. ITpipes Web could be established as a hyperlink in a URL field inside Maximo’s inspection screen to launch review of completed inspections for review and/or editing.

Q16: ITPipes, is all the GIS asset info stored in the cloud?

A16: Yes.

Q17: ITPipes, are all maps stored and accessed through an AGOL account?

A17: Yes, this must be an ArcGIS Online Organization account to integrate with ITpipes web.