With each new release, Locusview is transitioning from an as-builting tool to a Digital Construction Management (DCM) solution that seamlessly manages the entire utility construction process from planning through execution to close-out.
While Locusview as-builting customers benefit from more mapping, digitizing, project management, and data tracking capabilities, Locusview’s Digital Construction Management (DCM) platform helps the entire construction process. By validating work against the design in real-time and ensuring accurate and efficient data collection and collaboration among all stakeholders, DCM reduces closeout time and provides utilities with operational efficiency and the ability to proactively and safely manage construction.
Whether you are an existing Locusview customer or a utility company looking to increase productivity and drive efficiency, read on to learn more about some of the key DCM features that make this possible.
1. Compatible Units Field and Office Support
Compatible Units (CUs) are the building blocks for designers to define the material, labor, and equipment needed for work orders. The CUs are set in a consistent, repeatable way and provide a common language for the utility throughout the work order lifecycle workflows, such as work order estimating, progress tracking, contractor billing, material reconciliation, and more.
However, CUs must be disassembled for field crews so they can update the construction actuals using their own language—assets, measurements, materials, etc. Locusview’s DCM automatically disassembles the CUs upon dispatch to the field, and assembles it back upon completion and closeout, for a system of record updates. The updates include the original CUs but also the updated as-built CUs.
2. Graphic Work Design Integration and Redlining
The process in which utility engineers create spatial designs for construction work orders to estimate the resources, CUs, cost, and timing for work orders. Graphic Work Design (GWD) provides field workers with accurate and precise data and guidelines for where and how a job needs to be constructed.
Locusview’s DCM translates the GWD to a structure that allows field crews to build from a design and reference what, where, and how work was completed during construction. Additionally, the redlining report streamlines and validates data capture to as-built, comparing planned vs. actual as-built and making the data far more reliable and accurate for future use.
3. ESRI Integration And Native Review-and-Approve
We introduced Esri Basemaps, Esri Dynamic Maps, and Locusview Connect for ArcGIS Pro through our valued partnership with Esri. With Esri Basemaps, utilities can access their existing Esri Basemaps through the Locusview app. Esri Dynamic Maps can be viewed on top of Esri Basemaps to understand better how new construction impacts an existing network.
Additionally, to improve and accelerate the GIS review-and-approve process that will lead to faster close-outs, we introduced Locusview Connect for ArcGIS Pro, which allows GIS analysts to work on Locusview work orders from their Esri’s ArcGIS pro for Utility Network, and easily review the updates.
Most recently, Locusview released a new Esri Outbound connector, which allows admin users to easily configure and maintain Esri feature service integrations on the Locusview DCM platform.
4. Material Traceability For Easy Tracking
Are your field workers tired of manually plugging in data for non-ASTM barcode materials? With Locusview’s DCM app, they wouldn’t have to worry about that. The app allows the field worker to scan internally developed barcodes and access the company’s bill of materials list to track materials used and find company-approved materials to enforce material compliance for employees and contractors.
5. Work Units For Faster Approvals
Work Units allow utilities to manage large projects more efficiently by breaking them down into smaller projects. Field workers can distribute work into smaller tasks to match field workflows, and work units can be approved individually. Hence, the submission process is smooth and quick once the entire project is approved.
6. Multi-Step Approval Process For Faster Closeout
A multi-step approval process allows utilities to create their own workflows in the Locusview app, enabling field and web users to collaborate in real time by providing instant feedback on what’s happening in the field. Office users can use the Review-and-Approve module once projects are submitted and assign multiple reviewers to look over specific aspects of the project. The project reviewer can also assign specific users to a rejected project for work that needs to be corrected.
7. Privacy Rules For Better Control
Locusview’s DCM solution gives the ability to assign user privacy rules to anyone using the app. For example, If a field crew is assigned to a project, those crew members can’t remove assigned workers or groups. This feature gives the utility more control and security when multiple stakeholders view a work order project.
8. Email Notifications For Real-Time Collaboration
If it’s time for a user to review a submitted project or if a personnel change is made in the field, you’d want to know about it. The email notifications feature helps alert users when a work order assignee is changed, the current status of a work order, and when a work order’s status changes. The emails are configurable to determine when an email is sent, and a completion email may trigger a review process, inspection process, and other steps toward work close out.
9. Visible Project Metrics For Business Insights
The DCM app helps utilities reduce organizational risk with performance evaluation metrics to track contractor performance transparently. Once a work order project is submitted and approved, it receives a score in the Review and Approve module for the field crew and supervisors to see. You can also use the scoring data to track work order projects and financials.
10. Enhanced Mapping and Location CapturingTo Cover All Options
Our location-capturing app enables field crews to map assets in rural or urban areas from the same app and process. We offer Integrated High Accuracy GPS and Laser Rangefinder, where needed. Poor connectivity areas? No problem. Crews can enter measurements manually if required. These enhanced location-capturing methods cover all options for accurate mapping in the same application and mobile workflow.
Contact us to learn more about Locusview’s Digital Construction Management (DCM) platform or schedule a Discovery session.
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