Building an inspection product for an energytech company

Inspecting remote oil and gas assets used to mean piles of hand-written notes and paper forms that inspectors would digitize by hand after returning to base - a slow process at odds with the safety, environmental compliance, and regulatory demands of the industry. Zemoso kept the build on track with weekly sprints, extensive wireframing, and an agile team that scaled up with UX, front-end, and machine learning expertise as the build progressed.

The solution that we developed allows users to capture inspection details and measurements offline (like at subsea stations with no internet), store them, and then sync with the central system once they return to a place with connectivity. We also developed a rules engine to analyze the users' entries and check for tolerances, anomalies, and standouts to immediately inform stakeholders if corrective measures are needed.

• Highlights of the inspection solution: Forms used for recording are automated and accessible both online and offline on the platform. Users can use a tablet or a mobile device to document information at the site of an inspection. They can take their notes as measurements, text, and/or images. These forms automatically sync with the central system once the user returns to their workstation. The recordings are then reviewed, calibrated, analyzed, and stored.
  The Spring Model-View-Controller (MVC) framework was used to build the web-based solution. It provides a sync Application Programming Interface (API)
  and services for managing the life cycle of inspections. The JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) API was used alongside Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) as an interface for data interchange to sync API calls. A PostgreSQL database was used to store the work-order data and form templates. The Limelight Content Delivery Network (CDN) was used to store photos and videos.

• Tech migrations: The platform was migrated to a new environment, the transition window with downtime was published to manage any workflow disruption. A temporary cluster to store data from inspectors was opened to ensure zero data loss.

• Ensuring usability: We also conducted user acceptance testing (UAT) for a week before the solution went live, pivoting and implementing iterations based on feedback from early adopters. We were also a part of the global onboarding process for some of the user groups to ensure their success.

• Ongoing updates: Equipment used in oil drilling and exploration is constantly being upgraded. Thus, the forms in the system also need to be updated regularly. We helped deploy an in-built form wizard to make the forms easily updatable with customizable fields, making it easier for all user groups and developers in charge of making these updates.

• Compliance measures: The inspection solution now features digital forms equivalent to the templates in the Environmental Permit Information Management System (ePIMS) used for inspections globally. This enables our client monitor violations closely, and assists their vendors and customers in adhering to environmental regulations such as Environmental Protection Agency requirements.  

P.S. Since we work on early-stage products, many of which are in stealth mode, we adhere to strict Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The data, insights, and capabilities discussed in this blog have been anonymized to protect our client’s identity and don’t include any proprietary information.

Zemoso built an offline-capable inspection platform with a rules engine to flag tolerances and anomalies in real time. This turned a manual, paper-based process into a digital one that keeps working even at remote sites with no connectivity. Over a two-year partnership, the platform continued to evolve through tech migrations, UAT, and ongoing compliance updates.