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The Challenge
For US National Weather Service (NWS), a major challenge in their field operations is maximizing the accuracy of collected data. Field surveyors travel to storm sites and document damage left behind by major weather events, like tornados, and surveyors were recording information using pen and paper. Data was entered digitally after the fact, detailed notes made at the scene were often summarized, with details that weren’t written down frequently forgotten. NWS was looking to decrease data entry time and increase accuracy of the process.
The Solution
Keith Stellman, Warning Coordination Meterologist at US NWS, and his team of surveyors use Freeance™ Mobile software on the BlackBerry® smartphone to accelerate the data collection and data entry process. All relevant data pertaining to the damage survey can be entered by surveyors right at the storm site using the BlackBerry smartphone. Data entry is made quick and consistent by way of a custom-built data collection form, which NWS built using the Freeance application.
US National Weather Service’s Benefits
- Improved accuracy of collected data
- Easy-to-use, all-in-one device for data collection in the field
- Increased productivity in field operations
- Faster access to information by key stakeholders
| Industry | Government & Public Sector |
|---|---|
| Region | North America |
| Company Size | Federal Government organization with 5,000 employees |
| BlackBerry Alliance Member Solution | BlackBerry® Enterprise Server; Freeance Mobile™ – Pro Edition from TDC Group, Inc. |
| More Information |