Capturx Turning Ink into Action

NASA Selects Capturx Software for Digital Pens to Streamline Facilities Management for the Langley Research Center

Capturx for ArcGIS Lets NASA Easily Collect Facilities Data and Optimize Space Utilization for More Than 6,200 Rooms Across 300 Buildings

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - June 2, 2009) - In today's economy, every organization including NASA is looking for ways to improve employee productivity and efficiency. Adapx (www.adapx.com) today announced that NASA has selected Capturx™ for ArcGIS to significantly streamline data collection for campus facilities at its Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. NASA joins more than 500 organizations that are using Capturx software for digital pens to speed data collection and decision-making without the extra time and cost of transcribing data from paper or deploying complex mobile computers.

Since initial construction in the 1950s, the NASA Langley Research Center has undergone nearly constant renovation to better accommodate the scientists and engineers that work in more than 6,200 rooms across 300 buildings. With floor plans changing about 150 times per year, facilities manager have faced an ongoing challenge of keeping track of room configurations and the location of people and technical functions. The team uses ArcGIS to track all its facilities data and plan for optimal utilization, but getting data into ArcGIS has been a challenge.

Prior to using Capturx for ArcGIS, the team collected data about facilities changes by marking up printed floor plans with a standard pen noting the location changes of such items as walls, outlets, communication jacks, electrical panels, and floor drains. The paper notes would then be passed along to the GIS technician who was responsible for deciphering the handwriting and entering the data into ArcGIS. This transcription process took time, cost money and introduced errors. As a result, the team was making space utilization decisions based on facilities data in ArcGIS that was as much as 1 year out of date.

"The transcription process has been broken for years because it was prone to errors and in some instances the time lag from data capture to database update was a year or longer. One of our major challenges was the reluctance of our facilities manager to use new technology," said William Ball, GIS Manager at NASA. "Capturx solves this problem because it's easy for our facilities manager to collect the data and there's no guesswork for our GIS technician. The information goes straight into the ArcGIS geodatabase and we can archive it without making a scanned copy."

With Capturx for ArcGIS, the team did not need any complex training or support: the Capturx digital pen works with ordinary paper and writes like any standard ballpoint pen. The pen's digital sensors keep track of what is being written and where it is on the paper, enabling it to instantly digitize the handwriting. Once the pen is docked into its USB port on a PC or laptop, the data automatically appears in the ArcGIS geodatabase.

NASA is also evaluating another product from Adapx, Capturx Forms for Excel, to check and assess building problems such as roof damage and blown out windows during major storms. Laptops weren't an option since storm conditions make it difficult to use complex electronics, view data on screens, and manage heavy devices.

"Capturx Forms for Excel could be a highly desirable solution for our operations and maintenance department. After all, it's much easier to carry a clipboard to the roof instead of a laptop. If the digital pen drops, you don't have to worry about it breaking into a million pieces."

To view the complete case study on how NASA is using Capturx for ArcGIS, visit the Adapx Web site at: http://www.adapx.com/images/pdfs/NASA_Capturx_ArcGIS.pdf.

A white paper explaining how facilities management leaders such as NASA, the Port of Seattle, and the US Army are using software for digital pens to automate building data collection is available at http://www.adapx.com/Data-Sheets/White-Papers/. In addition, facilities teams can register for a free Capturx for Facilities Management Webcast on Thursday, June 11 at 11 AM PT / 2PM ET at http://www.adapx.com/webcasts/New-Capturx-Webcasts.html.

About Adapx

Adapx is changing the way mobile teams collect data and collaborate with Capturx™ software for digital pens. A broad range of industries and agencies use Capturx products as natural interfaces into Microsoft Office, GIS, and CAD systems through digital pens and voice. Teams can immediately collect and access data in native file formats and systems without the delay and cost of transcribing paper or deploying mobile computers. Adapx has strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Autodesk, ESRI, Lockheed Martin, In-Q-Tel, and works with standard digital pen technology from Anoto. For more information, please visit www.adapx.com or follow Adapx on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Capturx.

Adapx and Capturx, and their respective logos are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of Adapx Corporation. Other products and company names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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