Standing Water Initiative Mobile Application

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The Standing Water Initiative group (SWI) of the Henrico County Department of Public Works (DPW), Engineering and Environmental Services Division, executes a multi-faceted approach to mosquito education and awareness as well as risk reduction of West Nile virus and other mosquito borne diseases. The approach includes: addressing citizen complaints; routinely inspecting mosquito breeding areas; and collecting adult mosquitoes for West Nile virus testing. The SWI team partnered with the Information Technology (IT) Department to create a customized, mobile application system that allows field inspectors to maximize time "in the field". Developed entirely in house, the SWI Mobile Application (SWIMA) substantially improves employee efficiency. Since implementation of the web-based SWIMA, each inspector saves approximately six hours per week that was otherwise spent on redundant data entry. The new system also enhances reporting capabilities and offers field employees access to real time data and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping information, thereby minimizing citizen complaint response time and overall customer service. In addition, the SWI group now conducts day-to-day business in a paperless environment.