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How to set up Inspection plans

This article will cover the inspection plans feature in Dalux.

Inspection plans are a list of predefined points that need to be inspected. Supervisors usually use inspection plans to control the work of contractors and document the work as approved or rejected.

When using inspection plans, it is possible to assign task types to non-approved work. This is done to notify contractors about the task and request necessary amendments.

This article covers how to set up and create inspection plans and how to use them.

Table of contents

  1. How to set up inspection plans
  2. How to create inspection plans

How to set up inspection plans

 User rights

Activation and setup for inspection plans need to be done by a project or Field administrator. Creating new registrations within an inspection plan can be done by users in the 'Creator' role of a workflow with an associated inspection plan.

Activate inspections plans

To activate inspection plans, go to

Settings Field Add features 'Inspection plans'Activate.

This will activate the feature and you can start setting it up. If inspection plans are already activated, a feature card will be visible in Settings Field.

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How to create inspection plans

All inspection plan settings are located in the inspection plans feature card in Settings Field 'Inspection plans'.

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New inspection plans can be created by clicking 'Inspection plans', then Add.

From this menu, you have three options. You can:

  • Create a new inspection plan.
  • Copy an inspection plan from another project.
  • Copy an inspection plan from the company profile.

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Name your inspection plan, add a prefix, and assign it to the appropriate Work package and workflow.

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Inspection plans in Dalux can be created manually, point by point, or imported from an Excel template.

To create the inspection plan manually, drag and drop points from the side menu. You can then enter the required information in each field. Unwanted points can be dragged to the -icon at the bottom, to be deleted.

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Alternatively, you can use Excel to import multiple points at once. First, make a template in Dalux or use the empty inspection plan. Copy it to your clipboard by clicking Copy. Then open up Excel and press 'CTRL+V' (Paste).

You can then start filling out the cells in Excel. When you are done, the entire table can be copied and pasted back into Dalux, by clicking Paste in the top menu and pressing 'CTRL+V'.

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 Tips and tricks

For Dalux to properly import from Excel, it is important that the formatting is done correctly. If you are unsure, try making some group headings, subheadings, and inspection points in Dalux and then copy them to Excel, to get an idea of the formatting. Note that pasting from the clipboard adds the data to the existing inspection plan in Dalux, rather than overwriting it.

How to add checklists to inspection plans

Checklists can be added to the different inspection points. This is useful if a certain process has multiple checks that need to be done.

To attach a checklist to an inspection plan, click 'Checklist' in the registration type column, choose the checklist you want to attach, and click 'OK'.

When you add a checklist to an inspection plan, the checklist will automatically open, when the inspection point is clicked while filling out a new inspection plan.

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What is the extent column? 

For each point, you can decide on an extent. This is the number of inspections that need to be done. Extent is optional and set to 'No extent' by default.

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The extent can be planned by clicking Plan extent. The extent can be set to the following:

  • No extent (no specific number of inspections planned).
  • Quantity (number of inspections planned).
  • Zones (number of inspections planned in certain locations).

The extent planned in zones can be set as a quantity or tied to a 2D or 3D object group. When you set a quantity in a zone, only registrations done in the set zone count toward the set extent. By adding zones to an extent, you can ensure the inspections are spread throughout the different locations.

Partial extent using objects and zones

When you use extent in zones with 2D or 3D object groups, you can set partial extent. Partial extent allows you to specify a percentage of inspections to be performed.

For example, if the specifications require that 50% of all doors on each floor in the building be inspected, this can be set up as a partial extent.

As the 3D objects in the zone are inspected, the extent is automatically updated. The inspection is complete when the partial extent is satisfied. Checks can still be performed to go beyond the partial extent.

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More info

To learn more about zones you can read this article: Zones and zone layers.

To learn more about 2D and 3D object groups you can read this article: How to create 2D / 3D object groups.

How to plan extent using the extent overview

To plan extent for an inspection plan, you must be editing the template. Start by going to:

DaluxIcon_settings.pngSettings DaluxIcon_chevron-right.pngFieldDaluxIcon_chevron-right.png'Inspection plans'

Select an inspection plan and click on DaluxIcon_edit.pngEdit. In the top right corner, click on Extent overview.

In the new window, you will see your extent overview.

  • On the top of the window, the inspection points are shown
  • On the right, you will see your zones and zone layers
  • The middle part of the window contains the matrix

When you click in the matrix, a panel on the right will open. Here you can set the amount and type of extents.

How to use counts in zones

You can use 'Count' to plan a certain number of checks in the different zones. If you want to set the same count for all your zones, the count can be quickly copied.

To set a count, click in the matrix corresponding to the inspection point and the zone. In the menu on the right, click 'Count' and type in a number.

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If you intend to use the same count across all or multiple zones, you can drag-and-drop across multiple zones and inspection points.

 Tips and tricks

This method is also recommended if you are using different counts in different zones. Dragging and dropping an extent set to e.g. 'Count' copies this type of extent to the other cells in the matrix.

You can also drag-and-drop a 'No extent' cell to quickly reset all planned extent.

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The total planned registrations are automatically updated and can be seen at the top. 

If needed, you can click on the individual cells in the matrix and change the extent type or amount in the menu on the right. 

When done, remember to click 'Save'.

How to use 2D or 3D object groups for extent

If you have created 2D or 3D objects groups, these can be used to automatically set the count.

You can read more about 2D or 3D object zones in this article: How to create 2D / 3D object groups.

Grouping well-defined 2D or 3D objects is useful for planning, especially if you need to check each object. For example, if you need to check each door in a building and each door is part of a 2D or 3D object group, the total number is automatically updated in the extent overview.

 Technical information

Extents using 2D or 3D objects are dynamically updated. When adding or removing objects from these groups, the extent will automatically update as well.

To set extent from 2D or 3D object groups, click on a cell in the matrix. Then in the side menu, click either '2D objects' or '3D objects'. Search or select which group you want to use.

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In the example above, the first column is using 2D objects and the second column is using 3D objects.

You can quickly drag and drop across multiple zones, to set the extent as 2D or 3D objects for the zones.

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When done, remember to click 'Save'.

Inspection plan matrices

Inspection plan matrices are used to get an overview of the extent of inspections. You can also use matrices to quickly plan the extent of inspection points across one or more inspection plans.

You can set up custom matrices across multiple inspection plans.

Matrices will also be auto-created and gradually filled as you create inspection points.

To set up matrices, go to Settings Field 'Inspection plan matrices'.

A new window will open where you can create new and manage existing matrices. To create a new matrix, click Add. Name the matrix and choose the corresponding inspection plan.

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Then, choose the zones you want to plan the inspection plans in. You can also add more inspection plans to the same matrix, by clicking the Inspection plans tab.

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You can choose any inspection point of the inspection plan if you want to plan:

  • A number of checks that you decide yourself: choose 'Count'.
  • One check for every object in a 2D object group: choose '2D object group'.
  • One check for every object in a 3D object group: choose '3D object group'.

You can drag and copy from cell to cell, to quickly set extent across multiple points, zones, and inspection plans.

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Once you are ready, click 'Save' to save your matrix and the extent will be updated in the inspection plan.

How to associate tasks with inspection plans

An important difference between inspection and test plans in Dalux is that task types can be associated with inspection plans. This means, that when an inspection point is marked as 'Not OK', a task can be easily created and sent to the corresponding responsible.

To do so, go to  Settings Field 'Associated tasks'.

Select which task types you want to be associated with inspection plans and click 'Save'.

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 Associated tasks

The task types will only be available if they have been added to the task workflow associated with the inspection plan. You can read more about workflows in this article: Work Packages and workflows.

For example, if the task type 'Defect' is not associated with the workflow, it will not be an option when selecting 'Not OK' on an inspection point.

If multiple task types are associated with inspection plans and available in the workflow a pop-up prompt will ask which task type you wish to use. When only one task type is selected or available, it will be automatically used.

If a task type meets the requirements, it will always be selected and must be used for inspection points marked with 'Not OK'.

When a task created from an inspection point is approved and closed, the inspection point will automatically be marked as approved as well.

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