ESRI Announces ArcGIS Data Models for Electric and Gas

ESRI Announces ArcGIS Data Models for Electric and Gas

First Applications Using the ArcGIS Utility Models Now Available from Miner and Miner

ESRI announced the availability of the ArcGIS electric and gas data models developed by ESRI's Open Modeling Consortium (OMC). The consortium is composed of ESRI, Miner and Miner, Consulting Engineers, Inc., and ESRI geographic information system (GIS) users at major utilities throughout the world. Because data engineering and modeling represent a common, expensive part of every GIS implementation, ESRI makes these models available to help lower the cost of implementing enterprisewide GIS technology and to jump-start projects with a standard, flexible model. The data models are now available for free download on ArcOnline (http://arconline.esri.com/arconline/datamodels/energy.cfm). An ArcGIS data model book and CD will cost $50 when it becomes available in the near future.

ESRI's first successful data model for utilities, the ArcGIS Water model, started the trend where ESRI began providing new standards for users managing utility networks. "ESRI is providing an indispensable data model that represents common, fundamental aspects of most electric and gas network data models," says Steve Grise¢, ArcGIS data models product manager, ESRI. "We're providing what we believe will be an invaluable tool to help utilities realize the many benefits of GIS."

Efforts to generate the electric and gas data models began more than 18 months ago and involved Miner and Miner and ESRI programmers and development staff as well as leading industry consultants and ESRI users. Indeed, more than 70 ESRI GIS users at electric and gas utilities are participating in the data models development. "The initial successes of the electric and gas data models is directly related to our partnering with leading consultants in the industry," says Mitchell Garnett, utility industry manager at ESRI.

With ArcGIS data models, consultants and developers can build applications based on open standards. Utilities deciding to use an ESRI GIS will benefit from a new level of interoperability and data exchange. "At ESRI, we concentrate on core GIS technology. By providing these open data models, ESRI creates a common platform for a full range of applications that operate with the ESRI ArcGIS. Not only do our business partners have a standard upon which to build their vertical applications, but our customers also gain flexibility and choices that are not available from any other GIS developer," says Garnett. In the utility market, ESRI now has over 60 active business partners providing data, services, and utility applications.

"The OMC is a powerful idea. It might seem like it is a little ambitious, or even a lot ambitious, to try to get an entire user community to agree on core technical concepts, but this group has typically worked very well together, and the OMC affords users and partners alike an opportunity to take our joint efforts to the next level," says Jeff Meyers, president of Miner and Miner. "The potential benefits are enormous. The OMC can be a forum for sharing detailed technical knowledge, for setting a standard for new users joining the community, and can result in a stable target for all application developers, just to name a few of the most valuable by-products of this effort."

The ArcGIS book will provide a general introduction to the models by an industry expert and will include a detailed reference section and guidelines for customizing and deploying the models. The CD includes conceptual views of the models, detailed Unified Modeling Language (UML) files for generating a geodatabase, symbology, map documents, and sample geodatabases.

The data models will be maintained and enhanced through a consortium of users and business partners. Long-term ESRI business partner Miner and Miner will provide a set of utility applications that take advantage of the electric and gas models, as well as the water model. Miner and Miner's ArcFM Energy provides a powerful set of tools that extend and enhance the productivity of ArcInfo 8 for utility users. More information about Miner and Miner tools and applications can be found on the Internet at www.miner.com

For more details visit www.esri.com