Question: What value does mobile video have to a County or City?

Answer:   This process documents the geographic location of all assets, such as:  street lights & signage, bridges, walkways, fire hydrants, manholes, guardrails, curbs, ramps, parking meters, etc.  While each asset’s X,Y coordinates can be captured, the condition of the asset at the time the video process was taken can be input as well.

Once the video is captured, TGMG’s technicians plot the location of each asset and input attribute data regarding any type of information required to develop and maintain a track record for each one. These high-resolution images will now produce the most realistic and accurate data collection of assets. Government agencies will now be able to “get a grip” on present and future budgeting to implement, maintain or replace each asset.  They’ll also be able to quantify collectively and specify each asset by the touch of a finger.  We feel this service is a necessity in the government industry when protecting, budgeting, maintaining, or verifying an inventory of assets.  With this process you can:

1. truly appreciate what you currently have as assets
2. develop priorities in scheduling repairs
3. originate short-term and long-term goals with regards to repair and installation
4. avoid catastrophes with regards to vehicles and assets
5. defend your legal rights regarding road and asset conditions

 

Question:  How does the video capture actually work?

Answer:    A vehicle with specially calibrated cameras mounted at specified angles, depending on what images you would like to capture, will travel the roads at a desired speed.  As it goes along, it will snap pictures at specified intervals, depending on the speed at which it travels.  The captured imagery is recorded and stored into the onboard computer, which segments the trail of photos for each road, producing a “moving video-like” effect.  Every inch of the roadway and its surroundings are now documented for review.  After the compilation is complete, TGMG’s technicians now plot any collected information geographically on a map, using X,Y coordinates.

The following are the kinds of information that can be logged into the attribute table linked to each asset:

• X,Y coordinate
• The name of the road its located on
• Name of the County and Township it is in
• The label or description of the asset
• The cost of installation or repair
• What does the street sign read
• When was it first installed or repaired
• A record of the kind of service it received
• What is the measured height or size of the object

 

Once the attribute table is complete on all assets, a summary analysis is completed for quantity, condition, or repair scheduling purposes.

There is absolutely no better way to manage a county’s assets than to maintain data through mobile video collection.

 

A final working copy of the whole video documentation will be supplied to the County or Township.  This data can be viewed and maintained through any ODBC compliant databases, ESRI ArcSDE, or Shape files. The video and information can now be accessed by the County as a “view only” or as a “working copy” -- where the employees can be trained to update the attribute tables to keep up with the changing status of each asset as weather or impact of any kind takes its toll on them.  Assessments can now be validated by the images.

 

Question:  How is this process better than standard field collection, such as GPS or surveying?

Answer:    In standard field verification, there is always a significant opportunity for assets to be missed or recorded inaccurately, such as: missed guardrails, poles, manholes, etc.  When you have a video log, as produced by this method, not only do you have two or three sets of eyes on the same imagery, but whatever is missed, can always be collected at a later date.

            Also, every year many lives are taken or people injured as a result of field collection/verification.  When you have a video log, the collection can be done at the office instead of a dangerous busy intersection.

 

Question:  What will you be able to do with this information?

Answer:    How exciting this video is when you first see it. You’ll enjoy seeing the roadway and surroundings from a horizontal perspective, except now from your desk.  You’ll now be able to pinpoint exact location and surroundings where you can view:

1. where an accident just happened involving the destruction of an asset
2. the target areas where employees will be working on repairs the next day
3. where a helicopter can safely land in the case of an emergency
4. the pot hole that caused an accident
5. what is the height of a street sign
6. where all the fire hydrants are located
7. what the conditions of storefronts are along a certain street
8. where the exact location of a speed limit sign is and what does it say

. . . and so much more

 

This is certainly exciting stuff!

 

Question:  What are the costs involved?

Answer:    The cost is a direct result of the length of roadway needed to be collected and the number of cameras that are collecting the data.  Our mobile video, however, is consistently a fraction of the cost of field verification, which involves personnel in the field and high-cost equipment.  Let us give you a quote on your upcoming job.  We’re only a phone call away.