User Guide: Inspector Scheduling & Route Optimization

Last updated: January 15, 2026

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Overview

This guide helps inspectors view their daily assignments, access optimized routes, and use GPS navigation for efficient fieldwork. The system automatically optimizes inspection routes to minimize travel time while meeting all appointment windows.

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Accessing Your Daily Schedule

Inspector Dashboard

1. Log in to the Calendar App
2. Your daily inspections appear on the main dashboard
3. View appointments for today or select a different date

Schedule Views

Day View:

• Shows all inspections for selected date
• Organized by scheduled time
• Color-coded by status and priority

Week View:

• Overview of entire week
• See workload distribution
• Plan ahead for upcoming inspections

List View:

• Detailed list of all assignments
• Filter and sort options
• Quick status updates

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Understanding Your Assignments

Inspection Details

Each assignment shows:

Assignment Status

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Route Optimization

Optimized Routes

The system automatically optimizes your daily route to:

• Minimize total travel time
• Meet all appointment windows
• Account for inspection duration
• Consider traffic patterns

Viewing Your Route

1. Go to Route Map tab
2. See your inspections plotted on the map
3. View the recommended travel order
4. See estimated arrival times

Route Map Features

Map Display:

• Your inspections shown as pins/markers
• Route lines connecting stops
• Your current location (if enabled)
• Tax map zone boundaries

Route Details:

• Inspection order (1, 2, 3...)
• Estimated arrival time per stop
• Travel time between stops
• Total route duration

Route Information Panel

Route Summary: 45 min travel | 5 inspections

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GPS Navigation

One-Tap Navigation

For each inspection:

1. Click the Navigate or Directions button
2. Opens Google Maps with the destination
3. Start turn-by-turn navigation

Navigation Options

The system can open:

• Google Maps - Default navigation
• Apple Maps - Alternative option
• Waze - Traffic-aware navigation

Navigation URL

Each inspection provides a ready-to-use navigation link:

• Pre-formatted for mobile devices
• Opens directly in map app
• Includes exact address coordinates

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Managing Your Day

Updating Inspection Status

As you work through your day:

1. Arriving at Site:

   • Update status to "In Progress"
   • System notes your arrival time

2. Completing Inspection:

   • Record inspection results
   • Add notes and photos
   • Update status to "Completed"

3. Issues:

   • Mark as "No Show" if citizen unavailable
   • Request reassignment if you cannot complete
   • Add notes explaining any issues

Reordering Inspections

If you need to change the order:

1. Drag and drop inspections in the list (if available)
2. Or contact your supervisor for route changes
3. System will recalculate travel times

Adding Notes

For each inspection:

1. Open inspection details
2. Click Add Note
3. Enter information (access issues, site conditions, etc.)
4. Save note

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Inspection Details View

Before Arriving

Review before each inspection:

• Permit number and type
• Inspection requirements
• Previous inspection results
• Any failed inspection notes
• Applicant contact information
• Special access instructions

On-Site Information

While at the site:

• Pull up permit details
• View approved plans (if available on mobile)
• Check code requirements
• Reference previous inspector notes

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Filter and Search

Filtering Your Schedule

Filter inspections by:

• Date range
• Permit type
• Inspection type
• Status
• Priority
• Tax map zone

Searching

Quick search for:

• Address
• Permit number
• Applicant name

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Mobile Access

Mobile-Optimized Interface

The inspector interface is optimized for mobile devices:

• Responsive design for phones/tablets
• Touch-friendly buttons
• Offline capability for key information
• Camera integration for photos

Recommended Setup

• Mobile device with data plan
• GPS/location services enabled
• Navigation app installed
• Camera access permitted

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Working with Route Optimization

How Routes Are Calculated

The system considers:

Route Recalculation

Routes may be recalculated when:

• New inspections added
• Appointments cancelled or rescheduled
• You mark an inspection complete
• Traffic conditions change significantly

Manual Route Adjustments

For special circumstances:

1. Contact your supervisor
2. Explain the need for adjustment
3. Supervisor can modify route order
4. System updates your view

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End of Day

Completing Your Day

Before ending your shift:

1. Verify all inspections are updated
2. Ensure all results are recorded
3. Add any final notes
4. Check tomorrow's preliminary schedule

Reporting Issues

If you encountered problems:

• Document in notes
• Report to supervisor
• Note any recurring issues (access, scheduling, etc.)

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Troubleshooting

Q: My route doesn't seem optimized. A: The route considers many factors including appointment windows, which may require non-optimal travel paths. Contact your supervisor if you believe there's an error.

Q: Navigation opens but the address is wrong. A: Report the address discrepancy. Use the permit record to verify the correct address. Manually enter the correct address in your navigation app.

Q: I can't see my schedule. A: Check your internet connection. Try refreshing the page. Contact IT support if the issue persists.

Q: An inspection is missing from my list. A: The inspection may have been:

• Reassigned to another inspector
• Cancelled by the applicant
• Rescheduled to another date
• Contact your supervisor to verify

Q: I need to skip an inspection. What do I do? A: Request reassignment before 8 AM if possible. Contact your supervisor for same-day issues. Document the reason in the system.

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Best Practices

1. Review Schedule Early - Check your day before leaving
2. Update Status Promptly - Keep status current
3. Use Navigation - Don't rely on memory for addresses
4. Add Notes - Document anything unusual
5. Report Issues - Communicate problems early
6. Plan Breaks - Use optimized routes for efficient breaks
7. Check Tomorrow - Preview upcoming workload

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Related Features

• Inspector Assignment & Reassignment - Handling conflicts
• Inspection Result Recording - Recording outcomes
• Zone Management - Understanding tax map zones
• Calendar Permissions - Access levels

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Technical Notes

Route Optimization Service:

• VRP (Vehicle Routing Problem) solver
• Supports OR-Tools and cuOpt backends
• Real-time route recalculation

Navigation Integration:

• Google Maps URL generation
• Coordinates-based navigation
• Mobile-responsive deep links

Component Location:

• Route Map: /apps/calendar-app/src/pages/Calendar/components/RouteMapTab/
• Navigation: /utils/navigation_utils.py

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For additional assistance, contact your System Administrator.