A network survey and asset auditing solution that lets operators and vendors survey and record network assets while automatically updating a centralised database. A mobile app on an Android or iOS handset or tablet does the field work; a fully integrated back end provides centralised quality control for site audits, acceptances and progress tracking.
The problem it solves
All cellular operators aim to keep accurate records of their RF sites and the equipment within them, but do not always have the means or technology to record that information accurately in a single database. SiteSURV provides one database for radio sites, switching centres, equipment rooms, generator and battery installations and transmission equipment, and protects integrity once data is entered. Mandatory measurements such as GPS co-ordinates and sector details with azimuth and feeder length can be set as prerequisites before survey data can be uploaded, and once a survey is accepted it cannot be modified, preserving the historical record.
How it works
Survey templates are created per project through a web interface and pushed to the app on the surveyor's device. The surveyor completes the survey for each location in an allocated list, and the collected data uploads to the central database where it is viewable, reviewable and reportable. Two roles drive the process: the Auditor creates templates, assigns them to a project and reviews the feedback; the Surveyor carries out the survey in the field and cannot change or create templates, but can add relevant additional information such as an unexpected photograph for the auditor's attention. All changes are retained and can be queried over any period for comparison over time.
Capturing data in the field
- List — a standardising dropdown that keeps responses consistent for reliable sorting and reporting.
- Text — free text entry.
- Latitude, longitude and altitude — drawn from the handset.
- Azimuth and tilt — drawn from the handset sensors.
- Barcode — via the device barcode reader.
- NFC, for advanced tagging and identification.
- Photos — enforceable as mandatory or optional, reviewable, retakeable, renameable or deletable before upload.
Built for offline work
- Sync once — an initial data sync enables full functionality without a constant internet connection.
- Local storage — lookup tables and catalogues held on the device for quick offline access.
- Auto-sync — data synchronises automatically when connectivity is restored and when the app is opened online.
- Integrity on sync — built-in conflict detection and resolution, and two-way confirmation between server and device. The surveyor decides when and where to upload, and data and images can be uploaded separately.
Quality control through workflow
A workflow management component tracks status and performance during audits. On upload, unanswered questions are flagged and must be answered before the survey can proceed. On review, the auditor can add instructions against specific questions and reject them — the survey returns to the handset showing exactly which questions need attention. Once accepted, the survey is removed from the handset and can no longer be edited.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| New | Sent to the surveyor's device |
| Submitted | Completed by the surveyor and sent to the auditor |
| Rejected | Not accepted — returned to the surveyor with instructions |
| Accepted | Approved by the auditor as correctly completed |
Templates & customisation
- Templates define the questions in a survey and are grouped into sections, which can repeat — useful where a base station has multiple sectors.
- Template components/types — reusable groups of required fields (a Site group carrying site ID and site name) that become compulsory when added.
- Default values pre-set likely answers to save surveyor time.
- Compulsory questions and mandatory photos enforce quality at the point of capture.
- Master templates are unassigned and fully editable, assignable to different projects.
- A template already used to submit a survey cannot be modified, but can be duplicated with version control in the name — preventing database inconsistencies.
Use cases
- Asset management — asset survey, serial number capture via barcode or NFC with verification and condition, asset tracking, lifecycle management.
- Health and safety — contractor profiling (certification, qualification, training, validity), equipment and vehicle registers, H&S surveys and site safety inspections, incident reporting.
- Surveys — deployment and maintenance of sites, equipment rooms, switching centres and optical-fibre routes; equipment verification across warehouse, site and installed stages.
- Reporting and analysis — segmentation and filtering of survey data, customizable automated reporting with CSV and PDF output at project, template or single-survey level, and progress tracking by surveyor, team, region and project.
Integration & deployment
SiteSURV can run standalone as a field survey solution, or integrate with Flo and NetAM. It interconnects with third-party ERP, warehouse management, health and safety, trouble-ticketing and planning systems. Third-party data imports — planned site design, bill of quantities, site build specs — enrich the data set, and write-back scripts support integration with existing systems. The mobile app is developed in-house for Android and iOS; the web front end runs in a standard browser; user access is managed centrally with Surveyor and Auditor roles and privilege-based visibility.