Empowering Field Crews with AM/FM
Wayne Homer
City of Tallahassee Utility Services GIS
2602 Jackson Bluff Road Tallahassee, FL 32304
The City of Tallahassee Utilities Services GIS is responsible for the implementation and
support of the Utility Enterprise GIS Database. We provide application development and
support for Electric, Water, Sewer, Gas, Stormwater Management, and Solid Waste
Operations. We serve over 90,000 electric, 62,000 water and sewer, 54,000 solid waste, and
16,000 natural gas customers.
Historical Information
ln 1985 Hurricane Kate came through Tallahassee and devastated several sections of town.
The City’s Electric Department estimated system damage to be approximately $900,000.
When the reconstruction was complete, the cost totaled over $2.9 million. This
underestimation was primarily due to the lack of adequate system maps and facility inventory
information. In 1988 the Electric Department began investigation of AM/FM/GIS
technology.
The City of Tallahassee, Leon County, and the Leon County Property Appraiser formed an
Interlocal Agreement in 1989 to share costs in the development of a common GIS. A central
GIS group was formed to develop the base map so the various Interlocal participants could
begin data conversion and develop their respective GIS data sets and applications.
Base Map Creation Timeline
1986: A fly over to produce dxf vector data was completed. Map layers consist of
planimetric and topo.
1990: Interlocal selected GIS vendor and began to design the common GIS
1991: Edgematching of dxf files to knit fly over data into a seamless database
1991: Began Parcel map conversion with external contractor
1992: Interlocal staff underestimated effort to perform adequate quality control on Parcel
data. A new in house parcel conversion effort is currently underway with completion
estimated in 1998.
1993: The base map data was finally consolidated on one system.
1994: Due to lack of parcel data and the poor condition of existing electric maps, the
Electric departm-ent began to develop the MDCS (mobile data collection system)
concept and ramp up for a field inventory.
1996: New Digital Ortho Photo (DOP) effort to replace the 1986 base data.
1997: DOP vector data available
Existing Electric Data - Single line Drawings
In 1990 the Electric Department had limited data to load into the GIS. The existing paper
maps for overhead and underground facilities were drawn on parcel maps, which were
sometimes not to scale and out of date. Index cards for transformers and other electric
facilities had no coordinate location information to tie them spatially to the GIS. Most of the
available information was unsuitable for classic data conversion methods such as digitizing
or scanning. These circumstances led us to re-think the data development of the GIS project
and elect to proceed with a field inventory. This inventory is estimated to require about 2
years of field work with an outside vendor at a cost of over $1 million.
One thing that could be done in the short term was to digitize the single line drawings (SLD)
into the GIS and begin using the GIS as a map production system to maintain and print map
books for the service vehicles.
We developed a SLD graphic and data maintenance tool to edit and update the SLD data in
the GIS. The overhead facility drawings were entered into the GIS by eye-balling the line
work as close as possible to base map features. This was not spatially accurate, but would
give us GIS map data that was at least as accurate as the existing paper maps. The resulting
data would display the SLD features on the correct side of the street and display circuit types.
This new SLD data would not only replace the old map books in the vehicles, it would also
help familiarize our users with GIS and its capabilities. By adding the SLD information to
the database we could begin using the GIS immediately, and have some data to begin
application development and testing.
Utility Enterprise Database and GIS Requirements
One of the main requirements of the Utility Enterprise Database (UEDB) is to provide field
and service personnel with current facility and electric system information. This will
enhance customer service, restoration response, and provide for cost effective facilities
maintenance.
We believe the solution to building a successful UEDB requires 4 basic components.
- Seamless All Relational GIS Database
- GIS Maintenance Tool
- Work Order Management System
- Mobile Data Collection Tool
Utility Enterprise GIS Database
In a non-digital mapping environment there is a problem with duplication of data sets. We
have chosen to develop a single Utility Enterprise Database (UEDB) on an all relational
seamless model. A single UEDB is required to eliminate the problems of the proliferation of
duplicate data sets. All facility information is maintained through a single user interface. By
using a single all relational system we have addressed the issues of data integrity, the real
location of the most current data, and have helped ensure user confidence in the database.
Additionally, we have multi-user real time concurrent access to information for all Utilities
on the same system.
