Digitalization of a roadwork: how to increase quality, having saved money TADetails

Why specialized solutions for a roadwork are necessary

Penetration of IT into construction becomes more and more notable, but it affected the road industry poorly so far. Experts call digitalization of this industry low, which is not surprising: in many Russian regions similar technologies are absent at all — data on a status of the road industry as a rule are not structured, poor (well if they in general are and are relevant), and at all it is not necessary to speak about any information systems.

Chashche vsego v rasporyazhenii administratsii regionov imeyutsya sistemy, pozvolyayushchiye sledit za dorozhnoy tekhnikoy s pomoshchyyu GLONASS/GPS i takim obrazom hot kak-to kontrolirovat vypolneniye rabot — rasskazyvayet rukovoditel departamenta razvitiya kompleksnykh proyektov kompanii FORS Group (FORS Group) Sergey Chistyakov. — But the efficiency of such systems is extremely low due to the lack of confirmation of the fact on execution of works and impossibility of control of point works, for example, repair".

The reasons of backwardness are in lack of financing, an insufficient will (and understanding of need of automation) heads of local authorities and a high corruption component, similar solutions — and it is one of their key advantages — increase transparency of a roadwork.

"Besides, if in the road industry to do everything fairly and correctly, then good roads will be more, and it is less rich people. From there is also a clear rejection of digitalization, and from all directions. Only executive authorities, and forcibly, can change current situation" — Sergey Chistyakov comments.

Functionality of platforms: as they are arranged and what benefit is brought

Important criterion of really functional platform — complete, but not partial process automation. In this case a roadwork will be most transparent that brings also clear pluses, like simpler and exact work planning, their acceleration and elimination of unnecessary expenditure of budget money.

"The transparency of expenditure of the planned means is reached by means of the module of control of works on obligations which means confirmation of the fact of execution of works through a system using photo, video fixing and other instruments of control, according to each expense item — Sergey Chistyakov specifies. — Becomes possible to exercise control of expenditure of means at each stage of works. Besides, it is possible to do different statistical calculations for the head".

In addition to control of work of contractors, a similar system shall include the modules connected with maintaining registers of objects of road economy and also work planning and budgets.

Also contractors should have access to the platform. They also should have an opportunity to control a production process of works. One of the most important instruments of control - mobile application using which the contractor can receive tasks and also send to the system of a photo and video, confirming the fact of execution of works. Actually, contractors can use such solutions and for own needs, for example, in case of need of internal control of employees.

"As for technologies, the register containing all information on objects, contracts, contractors and a current status of objects of a road network should be taken as a basis of a system — Sergey Chistyakov explains. — The possibility of data exchange of the register with other information systems, both external, and internal to exclude repeated input of the same data should be implemented".

In addition, of course, instruments of control of works which will allow to obtain telematic or visual data shall be connected.

Boxed or cloud solutions?

Experts consider that at system implementation at the level of the region it is better to use stationary solutions. It will give the chance to avoid dependence on infrastructure and quality of the services provided by provider. But if there is own IT infrastructure with high characteristics, then it-premis is better to unroll a system. The cloud solution suits for solving of tasks in small scales, for example, at the level of municipalities or for use of a system by the contractor for control of the employees.

"The cloud solution can be ready, boxed. It is just about different options of operation: the same system can be unrolled as on the customer's servers, and is transferred to a cloud — Sergey Chistyakov specifies. — Such is also our AIS "Record" — its cloud version has equivalent functionality".

How much is system implementation

The implementation cost of a system depends on a number of factors. It is clear, that from scratch will develop the platform much more expensively, than to purchase ready. Besides, the solutions checked by other users are rolled better and answer the most tiny nuances of industry specifics.

"The most expensive part is an inspection, development and debugging of business processes for a possibility of system implementation — Sergey Chistyakov says. — If the solution was already implemented in other region taking into account the regulations existing there and industry standards, then its cost will be much lower. It is connected with the fact that the customer needs to enter only into a system data, to make setup and completion under specific needs".

Besides, implementation cost is influenced the accepted management system and control, by features of distribution and execution of works, quantity of objects of road economy and also the other information which is stored in registers. Project cost will become higher and if integration of a product with other information systems is necessary.

How to implement the solution for a roadwork

The term of implementation of already ready-made product — about 2 months. It is influenced availability of data for primary registers, by degree of readiness of a regulatory framework and its volume.

At the first stage there is an inspection and collection of information about the current business processes of the customer (this step can be passed if the solution already passed a running in in other region). After that development and installation of the solution, or installation of ready software begins. Then a system is filled with primary data, all necessary normative reference information is formed. The fourth stage — legal character, all necessary regulations are issued, changes are made to contracts of contractors. Then, in case of need, integration with adjacent information systems is carried out. The last two steps — trial operation and start in industrial.

"The main economic effect is reached due to quality improvement of works and also their transparency that allows to detect and redirect unspent means in time — Sergey Chistyakov says. — Cases of payment for outstanding works are completely excluded".

Example of a successful Russian case

SKPDI was developed for the Moscow region (A control system and work planning in the field of road infrastructure). Today it covers 9 regional departments of State Budgetary Institution MO Mosavtodor and 67 municipal entities.

"System implementation allowed to achieve significant improvement of quality of the carried-out roadwork. Considerably the efficiency of expenditure of means increased. Record levels on repair and the maintenance of highways were reached that was noticed and appreciated at the highest level — Sergey Chistyakov lists. — Significant economy of working time due to remote quality control of works of the contractor which payment is made strictly upon existence of supporting documents and materials photo, video fixings now became important result also".

Besides, integration with mobile application of Road of Moscow area, the Dobrodel portal and other information systems of the region was carried out. The number of users continuously grows, their quantity already is about 3.6 thousand human. And in the coming months the gain on 2 thousand is predicted that speaks about continuous development of SKPDI.

"On the basis of this project experience specialists of FORS also created ready-made replicated solution of the AIS "Record" which is aimed at rapid and effective implementation in other regions. Considering what interest our solution attracts of foreign colleagues, one may say, that we do not lag behind on development level the western countries at all" — Sergey Chistyakov summarizes.