Via AASHTO Journal

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf praised the state Department of Transportation's demonstration of an innovative mobile inspections software application at an Interstate 83 construction site, noting that use of the technology by field staff is saving money and meeting the administration's challenge for state government to work smarter.

The app lets inspectors fill in electronic forms while at the project site instead of spending time traveling to their offices and filling in paper report forms. That allows them to spend more time on the actual inspection tasks.

"This innovation translates into savings in two years of more than $28 million and provides a clear and exciting example of how technology improvement can make government both more efficient and effective," Wolf said.

PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards said: "We have nearly 400 inspectors on staff and 1,200 under contract to check on the roughly $2.5 billion worth of construction work we have under way each year.

"The mobile construction app reduces time spent on administrative tasks," she added. "As a result, inspectors are in the field an additional one and a half hours per a day, or nearly 300,000 additional person hours each year. Last year, the first it was rolled out, saw $11 million in productivity savings, and we expect an additional $17 million this fiscal year."