Vancouver's Engineering Services Department (ESD) deployed Autodesk Design Review, which is based on Autodesk DWF technology, to help ensure field workers have accurate, timely information needed for on-site repairs, and have the ability to document equipment repairs in real-time. With the Autodesk solution in place, maintenance and repair activities are conducted more efficiently and crews are able to repair emergency water leaks as much as 50 percent faster.
Vancouver's ESD is responsible for delivering engineering, geographic information systems (GIS) and infrastructure design services to the city's public works branches. The City of Vancouver covers 114 square kilometers and serves more than 545,000 people. The ESD needed to make up-to-date maps and drawings accessible to water leak detection and service field crews, most of whom have little or no experience with design software. Before Autodesk software was implemented, the City's maps were reprinted approximately every two years, which often forced the crew to return to their base for more up-to- date underground infrastructure plans.
The ESD also was hindered by its duplicative process for collecting and incorporating paper-based feedback on infrastructure repair projects, especially from field and emergency response crews who typically write and circulate comments on paper printouts. This prevented the ESD from instituting efficient all-digital design reviews.
Now, sharing rich 3D digital information with remote teams is fast and easy. Instead of carrying outdated paper copies, each truck is outfitted with Autodesk Design Review on a laptop, through which crews can access current 3D infrastructure maps, from a central database. Field crews can then zoom in and out of design details and print the exact information needed.
In addition, when a new potential leak is identified, field crews open an electronic map of the layout in Autodesk Design Review, and digitally review, measure and mark up infrastructure maps, flagging any problems for the leak detection team. Comments from the field are sent back to design and engineering professionals in the ESD office who can then overlay the changes on top of the original maps and drawings, for fast revisions. This capability significantly improves collaboration with field crews, helps keep infrastructure information up-to-date, and ultimately translates into improved service and increased safety for the citizens of the City of Vancouver.
"The DWF files in our leak detection trucks are electronically updated and contain far more detailed information than paper maps," said Ravi Chhina, superintendent for breaks and leak detection in the ESD waterworks operations department. "With fast access to more detailed information, our leak repair crews are responding to emergencies more quickly."
A long-time customer of Autodesk, the City of Vancouver has used Autodesk Map 3D, Autodesk Civil 3D and Autodesk Land Desktop software on many of its projects. With Autodesk Design Review, the city has realized more value for its overall investment in Autodesk design and GIS software because now anyone involved in key workflows across the organization can access rich 3D design information.
"By using the best Autodesk 3D software solutions in combination with Design Review, the City of Vancouver has created a complete workflow that helps streamline infrastructure management for more effective city operations," said Amar Hanspal, vice president of Autodesk's Collaboration Solutions. "Autodesk solutions allow them to get critical information to the right user at the right time, and help them keep their maps and infrastructure drawings up-to-date and accessible during emergency situations
