Use of tablet PCs on site is likely to become essential according to the team which has been trialling them on the M4/M5 managed motorway scheme.

Savings and efficiencies generated from employing the multi functioning, easily portable tablet can generate payback of the £1000 outlay on hard and software in as little as 39 days, say the Highways Agency and Balfour Beatty which have been using tablets on the £88.6M project in the South West.

"We are just scratching the surface with the efficiencies that the use of tablet PCs bring," said Highways Agency M4/M5 senior project manager Paul Unwin. "With one, our engineers have always got the right drawings with them. And if they see non conformities they can photograph them and send that image immediately to the supplier to get problems sorted out straight away rather than having to go back to the office, send an email, follow it up and so on."

Balfour Beatty M4/M5 project director Dave Neal said: "iPads are beginning to look like a must have tool," he said. "We started out with eight of them which we gave to our engineers and couple of foremen but now we are up to 16.

"Initially we were trying to reduce the risk and amount of travel through the road works to and from office to site. And that is what has happened - the iPads allow you to have a mobile office. But now we are thinking that the applications are almost limitless.

"As one of the many innovations we put QR codes or matrix bar codes on the temporary works drawings located all along the site. A quick scan of the codes with an iPad and our engineers can instantly check that the latest drawings are being used.

"We are now considering adding QR codes to induction cards so it would be possible to do an instant check on people's training records, assessing and updating them via the iPad out on site."

Other sites are now picking up on the iPad benefits being demonstrated on the M4/M5. The M25 ConnectPlus joint venture has just bought 50 for its team.

There is more on innovation at work on the M4/M5 in the June edition of Transportation Professional which is out at the end of the month.

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