Field-Based AM/FM Data Access Empowers Illinois Power Staff

Field Deployment of Digital Map Data
Deployment followed a deliberate plan. Illinois Power realized that training was essential to users adopting the new PC-based technology. Training sessions were scheduled to coincide with area-by-area deployment in each of the 12 engineering service areas. Operations personnel (2-man gas and electric truck crews) and field engineering representatives were trained through a one-day hands-on classroom session followed with a one-day on-the-job training session in the field.

Field Deployment Timeline

1994	Data conversion of gas and electric facility records enters full production for ARM system construction. MSE provides Illinois Power converted map data in ids format on CD-ROM as a conversion quality control tool.
August 1995	Data conversion is roughly half completed. Illinois Power On-1ine Map Viewing Team recommends adopting ids as the map viewing tool for the field.
Early 1996	Reevaluation of RMD/Central Dispatch Project resulted in MDTs only being installed in one-man trucks. This impacted the ability to provide electronic mapping to all Operations personnel.
December 1996	The remote mapping solution is launched with Delivery No. 1, a pilot for Mount Vernon service area (relatively small, rural area); followed with the Belleville pilot (a large, busy metropolitan area). Each pilot lasted three months. During this time, a mock emergency was included to convince operations personnel that the field solution was appropriate and effective for such situations. In addition, after the pilots, a formal presentation was made to executive sponsors to ensure ownership and support of the solution.
May 1997	Deployment of the CD-ROM remote mapping application is put on a fast-track corporate-wide rollout to all 12 engineering service areas. All digital map data for Illinois Power’s 17,000 -square mile service area is published on a single CD-ROM.
December 1997	Data conversion is completed by MSE. The initial deployment period is completed with 317 users trained.
October 1998	Delivery No. 17 of the CD-ROM remote mapping application including database attributes and Viewing Software Version 3.3.1 are deployed. As of November 1998, there are 1,250 field users and 500 office users of the mapping application.

Cost Justification
Justification for the field deployment technology was approached as an enterprise-wide strategy. First, the applications of individual organizations (departments) were justified and then combined. The combined justification was then leveraged to extend the technology throughout the company to all organizations. This added-value strategy allowed the entire company to benefit from the solution. For example, safety, emergency and scheduling issues were used to justify installation of more than 100 MDT ruggedized PC units containing GPS in the one-man crew trucks. With the MDT units in place, map viewing could easily be added. Justification of the MDT units for two-man trucks was based on map viewing requirements, which in turn, allowed the deployment of GPS. While the field solution was already justified to support the work process of field engineering representatives, the addition of Lotus Notes e-mail provided a tool to transmit redline notes graphics throughout the company. The Lotus Notes tool was a logical addition that streamlined and accelerated the workflow.

Lessons Learned

A good training manual is essential. A generic training manual was customized for the company.
A combination of classroom and on-the-job training is the most effective training method.
Expect and accept resistance to change. The degree of resistance is largely determined by whether the company is traditional or “emerging.”
Listen to users particularly during training and the first six months of deployment. Then incorporate suggested changes in a timely manner so users can see the effect of their input. Since the viewing software is distributed on the CD-ROM with each data update, updates to the viewing software are easily distributed.