Posted on: 20th March 2004, United Kingdom E-mail this page to a friend

Warrington BC has become the first local authority to use a new system that extends the full range of office computing functions into the field. Developed by Mayrise Systems and using specially-developed rugged tablet PC's from Itronix, Warrington's Neighbourhood Services Department has started using the system to manage the council's 25,000 street lights.

Warrington had already embarked on a major overhaul of its IT systems and this includes the introduction of MAYRISE software to improve street lighting management and customer services. The new mobile office system gives staff working in the field all of the advanced functionality, including computerised mapping, previously only available in the office.

Street lighting engineers are equipped with the rugged Go Book tablet PC's that mirror their desktop systems. On site, inventory records can be verified and updated, locations can be corrected using on-screen digital maps, and faults can be pinpointed and logged. The system helps to eliminate paper forms and office data entry and promises substantial gains in efficiency.

"Portable field computing has been revolutionised with the Itronix Go Book as we can literally take our office computer to any street light and update records there and then. Coupled with MAYRISE, we can verify the core records accurately straight away and it is more efficient" says Dave Vasey, Warrington's Street Lighting Manager.

Warrington's street lighting section is also pioneering other developments. These include the integration of their MAYRISE system with a corporate MapInfo Geographic Information System (GIS) and Internet developments that will eventually provide live information on street lighting to other departments, contractors and to the public for reporting faults.

The system provides a customer care module for logging faults reported by residents calling in and the addition of mapping is proving invaluable for identifying faulty lights during these calls. Dave Vasey said "One of the key benefits of the new MAYRISE system is improved customer service. As well as the customer care facilities, the mobile office development ensures our records are more accurate and up-to-date so we are much better informed of problems and what action is being taken".