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Denver Fire Department Dispenses With Forms

Devices will increase paperless productivity and efficiency.

DENVER -- The Denver Fire Department wanted to eliminate several time-consuming steps in the various inspections conducted on buildings and structures.

The department is deploying 70 rugged TDS Recon handheld computers from Tripod Data Systems to streamline its fire safety inspection process, leading to significant savings in time, effort and money.

Inspectors now generate hard-copy inspection report forms and hand-write inspection data on the forms in the field, and then pass the forms to a data-entry worker, who enters the information into a central computer.

Using the mobile devices, the inspectors will be able to download their schedules, enter inspection data directly to the handheld in the field, and transfer it directly to the central computer at the end of the day. The new process will eliminate multiple steps, save paper and prevent costly data-entry errors.

"We plan to use the Recon for 5,000 inspections this year, and 20,000 inspections per year thereafter," said Mike Stutz, information technology manager for the Denver Fire Department. "We expect that will save us the equivalent of 4,000 data-entry hours each year -- a significant savings in this era of tight budgets."
Miriam Jones is a former chief copy editor of Government Technology, Governing, Public CIO and Emergency Management magazines.