Motion Software Unveils New Inspection Product

Motion Software showcased its MI2 product, which captures data at the point of inspection, at the 15th North Sea Cranes and Lifting event at Aberdeen’s Exhibition and Conference Center. Motion Software has now developed handheld devices to capture data on site – even in hazardous zones offshore. Microsoft has tested and approved the MI2 for the oil and gas industry.

            Stephen Burt, Managing Director of Motion Software, said: “We recognized that swift, accurate inspection data is a vital business requirement and looked at how we could capture that information on the spot as inspections were being carried out. These devices have been piloted and brought to the marketplace where they are being used by a number of engineers, across multiple platforms, in the North Sea’s UK sector.”

            Such work must comply with LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations), and the advantage of Motion Software’s mobile devices is that data, which traditionally was paper-based or had to be logged on a separate computer at a later date, can now be input during inspection, helping to streamline the compliance process. This had proved impossible in certain offshore zones, where using computers constitutes an explosive risk, but Motion Software has developed the tool for use in ATEX environments 1 and 2, where equipment must comply with a European directive covering work in explosive environments.

            The handheld equipment includes a five-hour battery with a fast two-hour charger time. Some devices incorporate a camera, and the system also has modules for dropped object and pipe inspections. Other functions include radio frequency tagging and a touchscreen version.

            “This solution integrates with a company’s existing IT set-up and allows clients to capitalize on the benefits of mobile computing,” said Burt. “You don’t have to duplicate energy and time to go back to the office and key in the data because it has been acquired at the point of inspection. Our software manages the process of working on- and offline as the engineer, away from the office in a remote location, can synchronize with and talk to the office. When it comes back through the approval process, the reports are published on the Web, where the customer can see them and can monitor the status of their assets and be informed of any equipment issues within hours. It makes the whole process safer, more labor-saving, efficient and cost-effective.”

www.motionsoftware.co.uk