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From Coding to Running a Company and Everything In Between
Presented by: Jeremy Shaffer, Ph.D.Michael Schellhase
Feb. 15th, 2010
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Agenda
• Who we are and what we do
• Product Architecture• Lessons Learned• Q & A
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
History
• Founded in 2003• Founders have computer science/engineering
backgrounds• Funded by local Economic Development group• Initially focused exclusively on improving the
bridge inspection process via software• Company Growth Stages
inspectt
echIncreasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
InspectTech’s Role
• We are a company focused on providing quality software solutions for structure inspection and management – Provide Inspection Software– Provide Management Software– System Design/Integration– Recommendations on Technology
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
InspectTech’s Approach
• Have flexible core system and products• Work with customers to tailor for specific
needs • Establish consistent, high quality, and
reliable format for collection and management of data
• Allow for enhancements (pictures, sketches, interactive manuals…)
• Provide data for critical decisions in an efficient, easy to use manner
• Integrate with existing business processes• Provide training and continual support
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
InspectTech’s Approach
Proven Core System + Fully Customizable=
Reliable Solution that meets customer’s exact needs
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Benefits of State of the Art System
inspectt
echIncreasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
• Asset Management – leads to better safety, more efficient planning & lower operational costs.– Maintenance (search for & schedule needed repairs)– Programming (search for & schedule improvements)– Run Reports (save time not looking through paper
files)– Store & retrieve correspondence, plans, etc.– Lessen # of problems falling through the “crack”
• Public safety – reduced property damage and personal injuries by resolving problems sooner.
• Less Liability – as a result of better safety.
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Goals for using Technology
• Increase quality, detail, and accuracy of data
• Save time• Avoid mistakes• Catch potential problems early• Everything just flows seamlessly• Instant submission… no lag time• Improve Safety
inspectt
echIncreasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Wide Variety of Structures
• Bridges• Culverts• Over Head Sign Structures• Tunnels• Retaining Walls• Sound Walls• Guard Rail• High Mast Lighting• Many more…
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Core Software System
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Inspection Software
BridgeInspectTM CollectorHigh quality inspections done easier,
quicker, and more reliably!
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Inspection Software Modules
Laptop Edition• Runs on Laptop/Tablet computers in the field• Each person given username/password• Username determines structures and permissions• Electronic enabled versions of all inspection forms• Once done with field work all data can be submitted to
the server computer
Internet Edition• After inspection submitted from field can be
continued/edited from any network computer • No installed software required• All features on laptop available• Allows for anytime/anywhere access
Inspection Management• Start inspection on
laptop/tablet • Submitted to Web-
Server when in office• Report continued
from any computer• Submitted for review• Reviewed and
approved online• Able to run reporting
and searching on data
Overview
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Familiar Web Based Interface
• Very Easy to Support• Access from Anywhere• Usernames drive permissions• Allow Consultant and County/City Access
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Program
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Program
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Reference Pictures
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Pictures/Attachments Easy To Add
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Simple Report Generation
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Inspection Management Software
Powerful ‘Electronic File Cabinet’, turning all your data into valuable information for reporting, analysis, and tracking.
GIS
Cost EstimatesInstant Access
Pictures/Sketches
Work Orders
Prioritization Scheduling
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Interactive Mapping
- Output search results to map
- Full capabilities to zoom, pan, add aerial photos, etc.
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Trending Module
- Much cheaper and safer to fix problems when they are just starting
- Software’s trending tools allow county/city to quickly find new problems early on
- Able to find changes on NBI and Element Level data
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Needs Prioritization Example
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Graphical Summaries of Data
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
New Feature - Photo Editing
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Lessons Learned
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Lesson Learned #1
• Never assume the user knows what they are doing!
– Mouse Functionality– Battery Dead– Screenshot Email– …..
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Lesson Learned #2
• Importance of the UserInterface
– Color Coding– Intuitiveness
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Lesson Learned #3
• If you build it … they mightnot come!
– Importance of good sales and marketing
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Lesson Learned #4
• You gotta live with the code you write!– A.K.A. - the difference between a
school project and a company project
– A.K.A. - Jeremy no longer writes code
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Lesson Learned #5
• Listen to the customers/users!
– Assuming you know what they want can get you in trouble.
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Lesson Learned #6
• Spend the time to do it right.
– It takes a lot more time to fix a problem later rather than sooner.
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Thoughts on Mobile Computing
• Technology is there• User capability often is not
- Trilon failure- Speech to Text - Tablets/Handhelds
• Importance of getting user buy-in• Making the economics works• Wireless possibilities• Slowly revolutionize many industries
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Parting Thoughts
• It is about more than just code• Lots of options for CS/Engineering
Majors• Keep your skills current• Perseverance
• InspectTech is looking for quality people to join our team
inspectt ech Increasing Quality, Enhancing Data Access, Improving Safety!
Questions
inspectt
ech
Is it really safe?