Hand held meter-reading solution
October 1st 2007 Any mobile device with a web
browser can be used as a meterreading
terminal, thanks to a new
web service called MeterPad. The
site provides private data storage,
with all the required functions for
defining meters and meterreading
sequences ('walk orders')
through your PC and web
browser. Once set up, users in the
field can just log in from their PDA
or mobile phone: they are then
presented with an input screen
that guides them from meter to
meter, date-stamping the
readings as they take them. They
can record comments against a
reading if necessary.
The system offers PC users
alternative screen-based input
formats (including printable
meter-reading forms) and
electronic upload. Authorised
users have web access to all their
organisation's data, regardless of
how it was entered or by whom.
They can deploy a free Excel
workbook called
'GetReadings.XLS' which will
retrieve newly-stored meter
readings via the internet and
tabulate weekly or monthly
quantities — adjusted for reading
dates and times.
MeterPad is free to small and
medium users, and carries no
adverts (it will be funded by
subscriptions from large users
and those needing premium
features). More information can
be obtained by viewing the help
page at www.MeterPad.com,
while the optional
'GetReadings.xls' workbook is
available on request from
vilnis.vesma@nifes.co.uk More articles from Nifes Consulting Group: | 
