Technology assesses tombstone condition
Thanks to the latest computer technology, Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium is able to easily identify monumental structures, such as tombstones, which are in need of restoration.
The 135-year-old cemetery, owned by the Anglican Church, spans 20 hectares
(55 acres) and has thousands of older monuments and tombstones in need of some degree of restoration.
The cemetery is about to embark on a three-month, detailed audit of all older structures dating back to its opening in January 1889.
The technology which facilitates the assessment is called Plotbox – a software programme developed in Northern Ireland and now used in cemeteries around the world.
A dedicated staff member will walk the cemetery row by row using a GPScontrolled tablet computer to identify where restoration work needs to be done.
Each plot will be thoroughly photographed and notated confirming the type of work needed.
Using a traffic light colour-coding system, staff will prioritise and determine the level of restoration needed at each plot.
Tombstones requiring urgent attention or that might present a possible health and safety risk in the future will be coded red.
An orange designation will identify those presenting less urgent requirements.
Monuments and tombstones in good shape will receive a green digital tag.
When a staff member stands next to any given plot at a later date, they will automatically see the assessment on their tablet or smartphone.
Another layer of appraisal is a pass or fail grading designation to mark plots for priority attention.
Purewa general manager Alastair Crombie says the Purewa Cemetery Trust Board, which manages the cemetery, is acutely aware of responsibilities to both the public and to staff.
“The board is right behind this initiative, and management and the board take both the appearance of the cemetery, and health and safety, very seriously,” he says.
“Because of the nature of Plotbox, the assessment information is integrated and cross-indexed throughout the record system.
“This means we have one 100 per cent accuracy and the ability to see and update information on our live-mapping system.
“We can see the state of the entire cemetery at a glance.
“This is something we haven’t had in the past, a real game-changer for Purewa.”