We are in the midst of a mobile device revolution. Smartphones and tablet mobile devices are proliferating and having a strong impact on facility management.
Smartphones versus tablets
According to Nielsen, just more than one-third of cell phone subscribers in the U.S. now have smartphones, which is a cellphone with operating systems resembling those of computers. Their share of the mobile phone market is increasing rapidly. Popular models include Apple’s iPhone, RIM’s Blackberry devices and the Droid. In essence, these are mini computers that provide a range of tools and Internet access anywhere, via cell or direct broadband access. The primary function of the smartphone is communication, both by voice and text. Their small size means they are easy to transport particularly compared to the tablet.
Tablet mobile devices are relatively new. The Apple iPad was the first major tablet launched and remains the most popular. The Samsung Galaxy and BlackBerry Playbook are two recent releases and more are planned by the end of 2011. Tablets are less communication devices and more mobile computers. They have more computing power than smartphones, a larger screen — between seven-to-nine inches versus three-to-four inches on a smartphone — no voice phone, but Internet access via 3G or direct broadband.
Many applications have been built for mobiles. IPhone and iPad applications are available from Apple’s App Store, BlackBerry has their own App World and even Amazon provides mobile applications. The small screen size and low computing power means that smartphones are suitable for some but not all applications. As an example, reading detailed text on a smartphone has its challenges. Tablets provide a new platform for application development without some of these smartphone restrictions.
Let’s consider these device types individually, starting with the smartphone and discuss applications that potentially will help facility management professionals.
Smartphone applications for FM
Applications running on smartphones, which are both portable and Internet accessible, will provide key benefits in a number of areas of facility management. These include:
Data collection;
Field worker reporting and tracking; and
Asset maintenance and location.
Field data collection still relies on paper and pen. It also involves the use of printed maps, drawings and various forms. Both smartphones and tablets will dramatically change field data collection, not only allowing direct digital input, but a single device to access all supporting tools. Smartphone data input will be for limited data sets, maybe utilizing list or check box selections. Visualizations will be snapshots, such as summary data shown on maps or graphs. The built-in voice recording and camera capabilities provide key ways to collect data that quickly can be uploaded directly to a centralized computer system. All data collected can have GPS location and timestamps attached to any and all uploads. Texting and video conferencing capabilities can be tied into smartphone applications to help coordinate workers in the field. The portability of smartphones is an important benefit.
To field technicians, smartphones will become essential tools. Coordination and management of these field workers also will be revolutionized by smartphone adoption. Let’s walk through a potential scenario. A field technician starts his day by logging into the company system via a smartphone. His schedule for the day will be shown, but not just listed, mapped. Beyond that, an optimized route based on the location of each call is provided so the tech has the most efficient route to service each respective call. He drives to his first call and on arriving, again using his smartphone, logs into the company system. The smartphone passes his current location, using the built-in GPS and timed to the company server. This then maps or signs him into his first call. When the tech is finished, he again uses his smartphone to communicate the call is finished. This system is both simple and cheap to implement. From a coordination perspective, companies can both improve the efficiency of field workers, through optimum routing for example, and easily track their field workers location. Having sign-in, sign-out and time stamp data provides a new level of field worker tracking and accountability.
In the near future, sensors or data chips will provide an easy and inexpensive way to track assets. It is now possible to place a sensor on all assets individually. These sensors can provide both location and asset metadata. Picture a hospital. Assets need to be found sometimes in emergency situations. Imagine being able to open an application on a smartphone and a map of the floor appears. You search for a specific type of respirator and immediately all respirators of this type are shown on the map. Checking the metadata on the closest respirator, again using the smartphone and you see that it is beyond its replacement date. You check and finally use the next closest option. This type of mobile application could not only dramatically improve efficiency, it also could save lives.
Facility management tablet applications
Tablets provide the potential for more in-depth data collection. Not only are tablets equipped with similar tools to smartphones — camera, video, GPS, voice recording — but they have larger screens and greater processing power. A larger keyboard makes data input easier. Screen real estate is such that methods of inputting data are more varied than for the smartphone, so detailed data input is easier. Visualization will also be improved, so viewing the data in more complex and varied ways is possible. Collected data can be uploaded quickly to a central server or stored on the device to be uploaded later.
Geographic information systems (GIS) are used extensively in facility management. These systems often are crucial for both long- and short-term facility planning and management. A GIS provides the ability to store, query and visualize spatial data. Both geolocation and context are two key advantages to using a GIS in the field. Geolocation provides the ability to query based on current location. Using a GIS in an office lacks context, but imagine managing a military base. You have a requirement that certain key buildings on the base need a buffer or defined zone inside which no vehicles can be parked. Using a mobile tablet, you open your ArcGIS application. It zooms immediately, using GPS or geolocation, to the current location. Three of these high security buildings are in front of you. Using the buffer tool, you buffer each of the buildings in the GIS viewer. By comparing what you see in the field with what the GIS viewer shows, you can quickly and accurately plan this buffering implementation.
Technical considerations for developing mobile applications
Mobile application development in FM offers the potential to dramatically improve current workflows and provide additional tools. But there are a number of issues one needs to consider before developing a mobile application:
- Hardware — As outlined, smartphones are quite different from tablets. Build applications that are suitable for the hardware. Simple data input works well on a smartphone, but more in-depth detail might work better using a tablet.
- Platform — Many of the mobile device manufacturers (Apple, RIM, Nokia) offer mobile devices that run with different operating systems. The operating systems or platform impacts what can be run on individual devices. For example, the Apple iOS will not allow installation of the Adobe Flash player. Web applications built using Adobe technology will not run on the iPad or iPhone browsers.
- No cell or Internet access — Users may enter areas where there is no network access. Applications need to be designed to allow for this possibility. Some mobile applications may not function if network access is required, for example, using a viewer that relies on an external ArcGIS server. But storing data on the device for later upload, when in network range, can be built into a mobile application.
- GPS, SkyView and accuracy — To take advantage of GPS or geolocation, a “sky view” usually is required. Indoor geolocation, relying on cell triangulation, is possible, but often a check-in application will need activating outdoors. GPS accuracy is also a much discussed issue. There remain errors with current satellite systems reporting device location. This can be mitigated in an application, but needs consideration.
Conclusion
These examples only touch the surface of the potential uses of mobile devices for facility management. Both smartphones and tablets could revolutionize the workflow and tools available to companies involved in facility management. Mobile application development is relatively new, therefore careful consideration needs to go into the design and building of new mobile applications. The combination of mobility and geolocation offers exciting future possibilities for the industry. FMJ
