Evaluation of a Coast Guard Marine Portable Inspection Unit (MPIU)

摘要

This effort represents a second phase to a project that is exploring the conceptof employing a portable computer inspection capability for Coast Guard marine inspectors. In the first phase of this effort, a set of general performance requirements was developed based on extensive interviews with field personnel, inspector workshops, and a non-developmental item survey. The second phase of this project, which is the subject of this report, addresses testing of the concept and ideas developed in the first phase through a technology demonstration at a Coast Guard field unit. A working prototype of a Marine Portable Inspection Unit (MPIU) was developed for the demonstration. Inspection programs implementing the Coast Guard's tankship hull inspection and barge inspection books were developed. These programs closely follow the format of the CG-840 series books. Commercial supporting software was evaluated and acquired. The software developed included limited access to a reference database. Two MPIU systems were configured for the field demonstration. A technology demonstration lasting 2-1/2 months was conducted at the Marine Safety Office in New Orleans, LA, during which inspectors conducted inspections of vessels using the two MPIU systems.