Using a Mobile Data Management System for Increased Efficiency

Interfaces with Corporate System
Theoretically, the ideal structure needed for a mobile data management system to interface with a corporate system is listed in 5 basic steps:

A field technician uses a mobile data management system in his daily activities.
The field technician downloads information to the corporate system daily, weekly or monthly in Idc format (or any exportable format).
The office personnel checks and/or reviews the data before the .Idc file is exported to the corporate system.
Updates are moved from the corporate system to the field application server.
The field technician updates the data on his pen or notebook device.

There are a number of variations in application of field software and level of functionality. Among the applications being used, piloted, or considered in the industry today are first line response (troubleman), facility locating, line construction/repair crews, dispatching, hazard response, and to a lesser extent, engineering, management, and sales. Closely related to these types of applications are the levels of software and hardware capabilities. The software and hardware must have the necessary functionality to meet the requirements of the application.

In the utility industry, field applications and capabilities are being used in many combinations with varying success. Two entities piloting applications are the City of Calgary, Canada and First Energy Corporation in Akron, Ohio. The City of Calgary now in the latter stages of their pilot project was able to provide some interesting information. They piloted Buyer’s Map Viewer with first line responders, facility locate staff, and streetlight crews for approximately 3 months. This software basically provided the ability to navigate, view maps and limited note taking design.

First Line Responders
The “hands on” trial Phase of Calqary’s Mot k cormleted, but the analysis of data collected is not complete. Prelimina& findings s~ow-that the application could not be successfully used for first /ine responders in its existing state. When tested, personnel found it difficult to adequately look at the circuit paths, They found the “viewing” capabilities were limited to map quarter cells instead of a circuit feeder map, Without being able to follow circuit paths upstream to determine potential sources of outages, the application was not very useful. It was easier and quicker to look at paper copies of circuit feeder maps. Perhaps with different view functionality, there can be more benefits in this situation.