Recent Questions and Answers
Q: What is the Field Mobility Starter kit?
A: It is a collection of offers for Field Software, Tablet-PCs and Wireless from the sponsors.
Q: Will the Sessions be recorded?
A: Yes - send this link to others and or watch them again!
Q: How good is the quality of the viewing screen in the field? Is sunlight a problem?
A: As long as certain best practices are followed, the viewing screen works well in sunlight - we'd recommend you try it! You can work with our partner Allegiance Technologies to get a free 48 hour trial of a tablet.
Q: What is a push pin exactly?
A: A "pushpin" is a way of marking a plan or spec with a specific issue in Vela Systems.
Q: When walking the job site, are you typing text information into the system or do you write on the tablet?
A: With tablet PCs, you can write directly on the screen and your handwriting is automatically transcribed into text. Otherwise, you can attach a portable keyboard to allow the user to type notes while in the field.
Q: What do the two tablets cost? Extra battery cost? Docking station cost?
A: The tablets range from $2500-$3500 depending on the options. We'd encourage you to look a the options on our online store with our tablet reseller partner. Check out www.velaonlinestore.com.
Q: When creating an issue that results in a question or RFI, are those or can those be referenced or linked in the database?
A: Great question - any issue that results in a question or an RFI would simply be converted to an RFI Issue Type within Vela Systems. This can be done while creating the issue or even after the issue has been created. Then the appropriate workflow would take effect to ensure that the question/RFI is routed to the appropriate person for a response.
Q: Does concrete tilt up limit the the wireless range. What is the wireless range?
A: Interesting question on concrete affecting the wireless range. We've found that the rebar can indeed decrease wireless range, but that's why we built the software to work in disconnected AND connected mode.
Q: Are "documents" Autocad files, PDFs, or something else?
A: Documents of any type are synchronized from the server out to all users.
Q: What is meant by "Sync"?
A: Sync is the process by which the tablets connect up to the Vela server to exchange information (akin to microsoft outlook working in connected and disconnected mode).
Q: Does this system integrate directly with Primavera Contract Manager?
A: Yes, the system does integrate with Primavera Contract Manager. In fact, Vela is presenting at the Primavera conference this year with Harvard University on the benefits of a Vela-Primavera system. We presented last year on a case study co-written by Primavera on Vela and one of our integrated Contract Manager-Vela customers.
Q: Can you use any brand tablet or does it have to be Motion? What about ruggedized tablets for example?
A: Any brand tablet (or computer for that matter, it doesn't have to be a tablet) will work with Vela Systems.
Q: Doesn't all of the steel and concrete make signal reception problematic?
A: We've found that the rebar can indeed decrease wireless range, but that's why we built the software to work in connected AND disconnected mode.
Q: What software are you using to modify drawings in the field?
A: Vela Systems is used to create overlay mark-ups on existing PDF documents (or other image-based file formats), not the native files themselves due to liability and ownership issues surrounding CAD documents.
Q: What is the battery life - how long before they need to be recharged?
A: Battery life on the Motion LE 1700 is approximately 5 hours with the extended battery. We'd be happy to explain more in detail or to have you try a tablet for free for 48 hours through our tablet reseller partner, Allegiance Technologies.
Q: Is this a QC Manager tool or one for the Superintendent?
A: On your question, Vela is both a QA/QC system as well as a system for the superintendent.
Q: Is Vela a Competitior to On-Center Software?
A: No, On-Center Software is used for estimating, bidding, and labor management only. Vela Systems is used to automate field activites such as Field BIM, materials tracking, field reports, safety inspections, worklists/punchlists, RFIs, commissioning, owner handover, and customer service.
Q: Does Motion Computing offer rugged PCs that can be taken into a Classified area, for example an area within a Refinery that is classified as Class I Div II?
A: Yes, Motion Computing offers a rugged Tablet PC for use with Vela Systems. Additionally, other tablet makers provide these rugged Class I Div II type tablets.
Q: Is Vela Systems compatible with office network/PC's?
A: Yes, Vela Systems works on network/office PCs. As a matter of fact, all deployments feature both tablet AND PC users.
Q: Is this compatible with any accounting software?
A: On Accounting integration, we have customers with integrations (both automated and manual) with accounting systems today.
Q: Is use of Vela Systems by other contractors/subcontractors a contractural requirement?
A: We have some owners that are now requiring use of Vela Systems as a contractual requirement (e.g. Harvard University).
Q: The $1MM savings to Skanska in this project is directly attributed to the use of the VELA system?
A: On the Skanska project the $1MM was attributable to Vela Systems ALONE. We have a detailed ROI spreadsheet that lays out the specifics of results seen on our many projects with customers like Skanska, Gensler, Suffolk and others.
Q: How do you control who has tablets? Are they locked up at night or do superintendents take them home?
A: Tablets are associated with specific superintendents, so they are responsible for their care and maintence. We also have customers who share tablets amongst superintendents and keep them in a central docking station area that is locked at night.
Q: How long do the typical batteries last in the field?
A: From experience, we find that Motion tablets with the extended batteries will last 4-6 hours per charge, depending upon usage.
Q: Does Skanska use something like Constructware or Expedition and how is the information transferred to those products?
A: Vela Systems provides direct integration with Constructware and Expedition. We'd be happy to have a more in-depth conversation to discuss the integration needs of your company.
Q: Can you sketch in Vela Systems?
A: Yes-we provide Vela Sketch, our patent-pending solution for marking up documents inside Vela Systems.
Q: Can you install Revit or Autocad on a Tablet PC?
A: Since tablet PCs are fully-capable computers, you can install any application you need to use out in the field.
Q: How do you import or paste a portion of a drawing onto a report, as shown on your sample reports?
A: All pictures and images from marked-up drawings are automatically added to the reports-no need to cut and paste! Additionally, Vela is smart enough to only include the portion of the drawing with the mark-ups, saving you time and effort as well.