Many companies provide mobile phones to their outdoor staff. This has partially been driven by Health and Safety legislation, so that staff have a means to call for help in an emergency. Typically these have been simple mobile phones, that are rarely used.

However, with the advances and widespread adoption of smart phones with GPS, 3G, WiFi, cameras, etc; there is now an ever increasing range of ways for outdoor staff to make better use of their phone. The phone has become a powerful, multi-function and indispensible item of equipment; and it is always in their pocket! Some of the new tablet devices are also suitable for outside use.

Benefits for outdoor workers

• Emergency phone calls for themselves, colleagues or members of the public.
• Text messaging and email keep staff and managers in communication when they are on site. When away from the office, you can monitor the incoming messages and respond immediately to the important ones.
• Some phones have apps that can tell you where the user is. You sometimes need to find a colleague, but they are not answering their phone; maybe they are driving or otherwise occupied and cannot respond. The phone can be setup to automatically reply on their behalf and let you know where they.
• The inbuilt cameras are invaluable for recording and reporting incidents, vandalism, storm damage, accidents, wear and tear, etc. An on-the-spot photo can save a lot of time and explanations.
• Location aware phones (with GPS) and online maps are invaluable to staff when surveying and recording issues for further attention. For example, our survey app displays maps with icons for trees, field assets, park and street furniture. Users simply tap on the icon to view or update the inspection data.
• The new phones have large memorys and contain small databases to store photos, previous inspection data, maps, etc – almost anything you might need to have on hand. They can also rely on the local storage when the mobile signal is weak – so you are not cut off from your important information. Our AssetSurvey and TreeSurvey application store the previous and new inspections locally and then uploads the data later.
• Internet connections (with 3G and Wifi) means that staff can immediately communicate a wide range of data, maps, photos to/from the office.

 And much more…

Around the world, peoples imaginations have been fired by the possibilities that these smart phone can offer. They have created many useful, intriguing and entertaining apps. Here are some that we have found useful for outdoor workers.

• A small torch for peering into crevices and dark places.
• A spirit level and inclinometer.
• Clocks, alarms, stop watches, etc.
• Voice input when filling in forms, your words are converted into text on the screen.
• Tree identification guides and keys.
• Tree safety inspections for monitoring risky trees.
• Site furniture surveys for recording and reporting issues…
• CAD apps for sketching out diagrams, e.g. SiteCAD, AndCAD. Note these are app for CAD users – not simple drawing tools).
• This list will grow and grow…

Use the Android menu above to learn more about how OTISS software will help you to use your Android phone or tablet to survey trees and site furniture.