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Dakota Software's Blog for EHS and Sustainability Professionals

The importance of geo-tagging and location management for EHS professionals

February 3rd, 2016 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

The importance of geo-tagging and location management for EHS professionals

Platforms and systems that recognize and transmit geo-location information are rising in popularity among EHS professionals, and with good reason. While this technology only recently entered the market in terms of dedicated and specialized EHS applications, its impact is already being felt. Geo location offers a variety of benefits to a host of different processes in the EHS sphere, from improving the efficiency of employees to generating data that feeds into efforts to identify high-risk areas inside a facility. With more specificity in employee actions and better collection of risk data from facilities, it's clear geo location can make a major difference for businesses using the technology.

The industrial Internet of things and big data
While it's been one of the most heavily promoted developments in the business world, the industrial Internet of things has proven its value to a wide variety of organizations. Connected devices and machinery all contribute to more efficient operations by providing valuable information about use, maintenance, performance and other crucial operational metrics. Big data presents another exciting opportunity as it allows for generally better processing of data, improving the analysis that comes from large sets of information and speeding up that process considerably, according to "The IIoT and EHS: What it Means for Manufacturing," a report compiled by LNS Research. Both the IIoT and big data are crucial components for generally improved outcomes and for geo-location considerations in particular.

Efficient, accurate mobile devices that utilize the data collected and transmit information to EHS staff work in concert with the IIoT and big data. Here's a look at two scenarios where these three concepts converge and provide significant benefits in terms of EHS success.

Boosting performance for staff duties
EHS professionals face busy schedules filled with a wide variety of tasks that can bring them from one end of a company's property to the other, and similar needs exist for staff conducting EHS-related tasks such as repairs and preventative maintenance to improve the safety and functionality of assets. By utilizing geo tagging, mobile devices, the IIoT and big data, the repair process becomes more efficient and the timeline to completion can be reduced.

A worker responsible for scheduled maintenance can use a mobile device as a guide to machines and other systems in need of repair. Connected machines can transmit information about performance that employees translate into work orders and spots on the repair schedule, allowing employees to make more specific decisions and plan their daily schedules with more accuracy. Mobile devices guide workers to the areas where repairs are needed and alert them upon arrival. The information gathered from machines through the IIoT can also pay off in the long term, as staff can identify areas where maintenance needs occur more frequently and take steps to address what may be an overarching or obscured problem. Such an approach also makes direct EHS responsibilities such as audits and inspections more successful.

Improving safety and operations through greater insight
With geo-tagging capabilities in place, it's easy for EHS professionals to develop a database related to accidents and incidents. Tagging each event allows staff to create a heat map that tracks incident frequency reveals potential issues with certain employee shifts, areas of facilities, seasonal changes and other considerations. Increased efficiency, safety and insight for EHS staff is a reality when geo tagging is implemented.

Of course, effective EHS management software is also needed to control the flow of information that comes with geo tagging, big data and the IIoT. With the right platform in place, EHS professionals can get the most out of these technological advances and make EHS efforts especially successful.

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