Through water industry contacts, WLLS’s Andrew Mackenzie identified eviFile as a UK-based technology provider that might help it deliver its field data capture and reporting requirements (eviFile’s mobile application had, for example, been deployed on a United Utilities project in northwest England, helping project teams capture detailed site information during construction of a major water pipeline).

eviFile offers a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application that combines data capture by conventional mobile devices (smartphones or tablets) with secure cloud-based reporting tools. Depending upon customer needs, standard forms are created for field use, helping the operator to capture all relevant information (text, photographs, time/date, geolocation, sensor data, etc) about an issue in a consistent, complete and structured manner (and it works offline too – useful in remote or congested areas where telecommunications reach is poor). Each individual inspection or issue is accurately logged, and multiple records can be quickly explored through Google Map interfaces, or by drilling down from online summary reports.

Mackenzie commissioned eviFile to deliver a proof of concept that would allow WLLS to replace its conventional industry-standard spreadsheet-based reporting with access to its mobile and SaaS-based platform (‘a single source of truth’). eviFile worked with WLLS to configure its mobile application so that it captured field data logically, consistently, completely, efficiently and securely.

The eviFile technology automatically time-and date-stamps all records along with their GPS coordinates, and for regulatory and compliance purposes, every site record is given a unique digital signature, helping maintain a secure audit trail of all work undertaken. For WLLS, this was invaluable, as it also helped the company provide its customers with a complete account of all records captured when and where, while also ensuring WLLS billing accuracy.

eviFile helped WLLS to provide a complete and coherent view of leakage issues at its customer sites, aggregating all field-captured data into detailed reports supported by databases of individual records. As this data could also be accessed by authorised client contacts through a cloud-based portal, information could be shared in real-time, dramatically accelerating decision-making. Any additional WLLS investigations could then be quickly authorised, efficiently conducted and reported upon. For customers, the data-driven eviFile platform also dramatically reduced the need for paper or PDF-based reporting; any further analysis could also be quickly managed using the stored data.

Data held on eviFile can potentially also be reused. For example, WLLS’ customers may use the field-captured survey data to specify physical works on their water network assets. Geolocation data and other information in eviFile records can then be reused by designers and contractors to ensure location accuracy while providing benchmark data against which futureof time would be spent compiling information from different locations and manually creating reports, thus only adding to the time spent in the office, and not on the ground.

While moving these processes to a digital platform would help significantly and reduce the amount of admin time, SPL Powerlines were up against resistant attitudes towards using technology – much like other contractors.

Many engineers were happy with the traditional process and did not see the value in using a digital system to compile everything into one place. However, key stakeholders knew that such a solution would improve efficiency, reduce costs, and produce higher quality work.

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