By Lisa Burroughes, 26 April 1999 00:20
NEWS Tadpole Technologies has today launched a Java-based geographic information system for utility companies and the public service industry. Cartesia, which makes use of Internet technologies, gives fieldworkers detailed mapping and job-specific information through a handset, and allows them to track work in progress. The system is designed to replace the traditional paper-based methods of working and Tadpole CEO, Bernard Hulme, believes it is more practical than Wintel-based laptops. "It can be run on a windows-based device - the only problem is you are asking the field operator to become a computer operator as well and we wanted to avoid that. They would have to deal with disks, or CD ROMS and they would have to reboot the machine if it goes wrong. That is fine in an office environment but not a lot of fun if you are trying to fix a cable 100 feet in the air," Hulme said. He also believes the system can offer huge potential cost savings for utilities. "In this particular instance Java enables utilities to reduce total cost of ownership running field systems by at least a third, we believe. Simply because you can deliver a network centric application and can control things from the centre, the data, the network and so on and all you are asking the workers out in the field to do is to use simple appliances." One utility that has been piloting Cartesia is Bristol Water - a company that had been reliant on the paper-based method of working. Paul Fanner, technical manager at Bristol Water, said he is confident that it can offer cost benefits. "The cost of installation is quite high but overall there is a cost benefit. What we have seen is improved productivity, fewer returns to the depot and the ability to do more jobs in one day whilst at the same time improving customer service."
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