RuneCam
Cross-platform mobile inspection utility for site engineers to capture commissioning photos, apply vector overlay annotations, record voice notes, and export standardized PDF reports on-site.
Explanatory Architecture
Simplified explanatory reference architecture; deployment-specific details, proprietary site topologies, and credentials omitted for security.
Architecture Flow:
- Capture & Context: High-resolution photos associated with equipment tags.
- Vector Engine: Interactive canvas layer for arrows, callouts, and notes.
- On-Device PDF: Compiled locally via native layout engine without server roundtrips.
- Handover: Standardized site inspection document export.
Project Overview
RuneCam is a cross-platform mobile inspection tool designed for field engineers commissioning physical security, CCTV, and IT/OT equipment. During site handover inspections, engineers capture visual evidence of camera viewing angles, cable dress standards, turnstile relay terminations, and rack equipment alignment.
As Creator, I developed RuneCam to streamline defect logging and handover documentation directly from mobile devices.
Operational Context & Practical Challenges
- Post-Inspection Reporting Overhead: Field engineers traditionally took photos on standard camera apps, transferred files to laptops after shifts, manually edited images, and assembled reports in document editors.
- Context Loss on Large Sites: Photos captured across multiple server racks or camera locations could lose orientation or equipment association without immediate on-site annotations.
- Restricted Physical Areas: Electrical switch rooms and riser shafts often lack cellular connectivity, making browser-based cloud forms slow or inaccessible.
Core Architecture Decisions
1. Vector Overlay Canvas
- Approach: Built an interactive mobile vector drawing layer allowing engineers to render callouts, directional arrows, measurement indicators, and text labels directly on captured inspection images.
- Rationale: Allows site engineers to clarify defects, blind spots, or mounting clearances directly on the captured image at the time of inspection.
2. On-Device PDF Compilation
- Approach: Implemented document layout and PDF compilation locally using native on-device layout libraries, embedding annotated images and session notes directly on the device.
- Rationale: Enables engineers to generate and review handover inspection sheets on-site without requiring active internet connectivity.
3. Structured Site & Equipment Metadata
- Approach: Grouped inspection records by customer, site location, and equipment identifier, associating photos with vector annotations and voice notes.
- Rationale: Reduces post-inspection sorting and helps maintain consistent documentation formatting across field commissioning jobs.
Data Handling
- Local Storage: Inspection images, vector overlays, and exported PDF summaries are saved to the device’s local application storage.
- Operational Independence: The core camera, annotation, and export workflows operate entirely offline without network connectivity dependencies.