Using a Mobile Data Management System for Increased Efficiency

Basic Information on Field Technology
In today’s environment utility companies are under constant pressure to “do more with less” while simultaneously improving their customer base. What might seem like a contradictory set of goals is now made possible through innovative technology. The technology available today can assist utility companies in changing and upgrading the daily operations of personnel. The same type of technology is available in other industries, such as the intricate UPS tracking system or the speedy car rental return processes. This ingenious technology has empowered the worker to finalize the daily interaction with their customers and build a strong network of customer satisfaction. Today’s technology is also bringing changes to the Utility World. There are several types of software applications on the market today that will enable a field technician to carry a digital map to the field rather than carrying paper maps.

The software available is a customized application to meet specific needs of utility personnel. The applications provide the field technician the capability to display, query, manipulate and redline both raster and vector images of their particular services on a pen based or laptop device.

The hardware requirements highly depend on the software being used, the size of a workable file and functions being performed. Collectively, we have found that the field software provider will recommend the maximum and minimum hardware requirements needed for your particular system.

Theoretically, mobile data management systems can facilitate and support various design, management, and communication functions. For example:

New Job Creation – new customer requests can be initiated in the field
Design – jobs can be prepared using standard symbols, assemblies, structures and templates
Estimating - design costs and customer contributions can be estimated on site
Query – existing facility data can be queried
Mapping – both raster and vector backgrounds maps can be displayed
Drawing - landbase features can be drawn
Viewing and Ecfifing – ability to execute basic editing functions such as delete, copy, move, etc.
Interface with Corporate Systems – information can be downloaded and uploaded from and to other mission critical systems such as work management and AM/FM/GIS
Device Interface - GPS and laser data can be imported and converted to the utility’s coordinate system