Valgo

Valgo, an international company operating in the construction and environmental sectors, is dedicated to the sustainable rehabilitation of brownfields and industrial sites. It brings new life to land that was once contaminated. One of its specialties is soil remediation through advanced techniques such as venting. This technique is essential for transforming sites such as former chemical plants into safe and reusable spaces.

Until recently, the monitoring of these critical operations relied on time-consuming and poorly optimized manual processes. In this context, Fasfox developed an innovative and efficient digital solution. Discover how we improved the venting monitoring process at Valgo, making soil remediation more precise and transparent.

Missions

Valgo is a company specialized in the management of contaminated sites and soils. It primarily operates in decontamination (asbestos removal, lead removal), soil and groundwater remediation, as well as the redevelopment and enhancement of industrial land.

To digitalize its venting activity, previously carried out on paper and later transcribed into Excel files, Valgo commissioned Fasfox to design an application available in both web and mobile versions. Ultimately, the application was expected to offer the following capabilities:

• Creation of a venting project based on predefined parameters,
• Creation of clear and comprehensive field monitoring,
• Collection of large volumes of data at defined intervals or spontaneously,
• Access to site data and archives,
• Data interpretation and processing,
• Offline mode to allow measurements to be recorded in remote areas, with synchronization once the connection is restored,
• Provision of a dashboard connected to Power BI so that the project manager and the client can view and analyze remediation results in real time,
• Coordinated data analysis to study site progress and evolution.

Challenges

Monitoring measurements related to the venting technique was a tedious and manual process at Valgo. Field teams had to record data on paper and then transcribe it into Excel spreadsheets. This double handling required several hours and carried a high risk of data entry errors, thereby compromising the accuracy and efficiency of monitoring.

To continue its digital transformation and optimize operations, Valgo turned to Fasfox to develop a data collection and processing solution specifically designed for in-situ venting sites. The growing number of such projects and the teams’ desire to differentiate themselves from competitors and standardize field data collection motivated this decision. The primary objective was to create a tool usable on both tablets and PCs. This tool needed to enable full digitalization of the venting activity, eliminating inefficiencies and risks of error associated with the previous manual process.

To better understand this need, it is important to clarify what venting is and what it involves. Venting is part of Valgo’s overall soil remediation and contaminated site treatment strategy.

It is a process primarily used to manage and eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gaseous contaminants found in the unsaturated zone of soil (above the groundwater table).

For example, venting is used when converting a former chemical plant that has ceased operations. The soil beneath the plant is heavily contaminated due to chemical discharges during its operational years. Venting is a technique that remediates soil by extracting contaminated air trapped within it. Boreholes several meters deep are drilled across the polluted area, and large pumps extract the contaminated air rising through the boreholes. This air is then treated using activated carbon filters. Regular measurements (for example, weekly) are conducted at each borehole to ensure that the air extracted from the soil becomes progressively less contaminated.

A venting monitoring process is therefore a continuous monitoring and evaluation procedure carried out during the application of the venting technique for soil remediation or the control of contaminated gas emissions. This monitoring ensures venting efficiency, worker safety, and compliance with environmental standards.

Solutions

The application developed for Valgo exists in two versions: a web version and a mobile version. Access to the web version is reserved for project managers and clients, while the mobile version is accessible to field operators.

With the web version, through the dashboard implemented by Fasfox, the following actions are possible:

• Project Managers: They can configure a venting project and monitor it in real time. This includes key information such as: treatment units, structures, filters, required measurements, plans, charts, tables, displayed texts, permission groups, venting measurements, laboratory analyses, etc.
• Clients: They can access information related to the execution of the requested work. They can also monitor progress in real time to ensure that the work is carried out according to initial expectations.

Regarding the mobile application, it is designed for tablet use. It offers the following capabilities:

• Operators: They can collect data and make it available for analysis by the project manager. The mobile application contains detailed information related to venting campaigns conducted by Valgo and the data collected during those campaigns.

Technical Specifications

The application developed by Fasfox provides full autonomy to Valgo to create and configure each project site. It also integrates advanced tools for data management, analysis, and result visualization.

Database: PostgreSQL

For data management and storage, the application relies on PostgreSQL. It is an open-source relational database known for its robustness, reliability, and high performance.

Web Dashboard

The frontend is developed using React, a modern JavaScript framework, combined with TypeScript for typed code management. This combination provides a solid foundation for building responsive and high-performance user interfaces.

The backend is developed using the Django framework, based on the Python programming language. Django is recognized for its simplicity, rapid development capabilities, and security.

Data Visualization with Power BI

Integration with Power BI enables the generation of dynamic tables and charts, offering advanced data visualization capabilities. This is particularly useful for creating customized dashboards that help project managers and clients monitor site progress in real time.

Mobile Version

The mobile version is an adaptation of the web version for mobile use and is developed in React Native. Its ergonomic interface closely replicates paper-based processes, allowing operators to easily collect and record data on-site. The offline mode allows the application to be used without an internet connection. No mobile data or Wi-Fi is required to enter or view site data.

Project Results and Benefits

The development of the Fuji application not only enabled the digitalization of Valgo’s venting activity but also led to the following results:

Results

• Drastic Reduction in Paper Usage

Previously, field data was recorded on paper before being transferred into Excel files. With the digital solution, this process is no longer necessary. Valgo has thus become an even more environmentally responsible company by significantly reducing paper consumption in its venting operations.

• Simplification of Site Monitoring

Bringing together all necessary information for project managers, operators, and clients onto a single platform in record time is a major achievement. All stakeholders can access real-time updates on venting operations. Project managers can analyze operator-collected data and make informed decisions, while clients can consult reports and information that confirm the fulfillment of their requirements.

• Standardization of Monitoring Methods Nationwide

With the Fuji application, venting monitoring follows the same process across France. Regardless of geographical location, each project manager can configure a project according to expected objectives, consult and analyze collected data, and provide real-time updates to clients.

• Improved Visual Outputs and Advanced Monitoring Tools

One of the key innovations of the Fuji application is the integration of data analysis via Power BI, enabling visualization through curves and charts. This enhances the visual monitoring experience for users. It also demonstrates that Valgo now possesses one of the most advanced venting monitoring tools on the French market. Project managers praise the tool for its simplicity and analytical power.

• Preservation and Improvement of Data Quality

Thanks to the Fuji application, Valgo now benefits from a clear, documented, and fully digitalized venting monitoring process. This enables continuous optimization and adaptation to client needs. Furthermore, the functionalities of the Fuji application can potentially be extended to other remediation techniques beyond venting.

Benefits

• Time Savings

Eliminating manual data transcription has significantly reduced time-consuming administrative tasks. Operators can now focus on higher-value missions, increasing overall operational efficiency.

• Error Reduction

Direct data entry in the field via the mobile application, combined with automatic centralization in the web dashboard, has significantly reduced transcription and data handling errors.

• Improved Accuracy and Traceability

Digital management of air sampling and laboratory analyses has enhanced monitoring accuracy and operational traceability, ensuring optimal quality in Valgo’s remediation processes.

• Better Decision-Making

Customized dashboards and real-time data visualizations provide project managers and clients with clear and actionable insights, facilitating decision-making and performance tracking.

• Increased Operational Efficiency

Offline functionality and multi-device compatibility improve field operator efficiency, allowing uninterrupted work even in areas without network coverage.

• Increased Productivity

Simplified data transfer ensures smoother transmission and processing of monitoring information, contributing to a significant productivity boost.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Valgo and Fasfox perfectly illustrates how digitalization can profoundly transform complex industrial processes. By replacing a manual, time-consuming, and error-prone system with an integrated digital solution, Valgo has not only optimized the monitoring of its venting operations, but also strengthened its position as a leader in soil remediation in France.

Teams now benefit from reliable data collection, real-time analysis, and clear result visualization. This enables easier decision-making and greater transparency toward clients. This initiative is part of a broader digital transformation strategy, demonstrating that adopting the right technologies can lead to significant gains in efficiency, quality, and sustainability.