Operations Management via the Web: PacifiCorp’s Operations Visualization System Puts Facilities Maps on the Web
Desire, Engineering and Construction
Since most utilities desire service vehicles to be dispatched to outside facilities, such as
telephone, water, sewer, gas or electric infrastructure ('Yes' to Question 5), then the AM/FM
should support the GPS positioning of facility features on a seamless base map. Merging AVL
and outside facilities management (AM/FM) technologies can provide significant benefits for
trouble call applications that require quick identification and location of damaged facilities,
followed by rapid dispatching of the nearest available field crew or service vehicle to the trouble
call site. Emerging AVL-AM/FM applications will significantly improve trouble call response
times and overall management of utility field forces in the fiture.
Difficulties encountered implementing AVL-AIWFM solutions more often than not are caused
by inadequate AM/FM map databases rather than the lack of an innovative AVL solution. To
support facilities-based AVL, the underlying map base must provide a high degree of "absolute"
geographic accuracy that will relate mapped facility locations to the GPS location of vehicles. In
general, the legacy of AM/FM systems tends to be "drawing-based" in that the seamless map is
created from an amalgamation of drawing sheets (work prints, plats, engineering details,
schematics, etc.). Each drawing sheet may have high "relative" accuracy and include very
precise dimensioning. However, many of the drawing sheets from which AM/FM maps are
created lack geodetic control reference points or coordinate grid projections. When seamed
together on a geographic base, drawing sheets may not edgematch well. Map distances and
directions may be noticeably skewed across large, seamed-up areas. Individual drawings need to
be positioned across a seamless base map using GPS control points in order to support GPSbased
vehicle tracking applications. Many AM/FM databases are not being developed in this
fashion and will need to be enhanced to support planned AVL applications.
Islands Of Automation
In a recent pilot program, an East Coast electric utility implemented AVL technology for their
meter reading application. The project was very successful and the hands-on experience gained
was very valuable. That utility is now evaluating the operational and economic aspects of
expanding AVL technology to their construction and service repair operations. Whereas the
meter application was oriented toward scheduled responses, the construction and repair vehicle
AVL system will need to support rapid response situations.
Keeping the two AVL systems separate initially makes sense, since they are designed for
different purposes. A similar staged implementation model can be followed by other utilities.
Start with a manageable application where staff can get their feet wet in the technology, then
expand into the more sophisticated applications with real payback potential. For this utility, use
of AVL in repair and construction applications involves investing in additional equipment and
software to track a larger number of vehicles than the meter application, but will provide
significant payback during power outages and storms by providing faster recovery of service.
Real-Time Versus Static Mam
Eventually, this utility will link all AVL systems with its enterprise AM/FM. Since the
geographic aspects of the utility's outside plant will be managed from a single, centralized
AM/FM, it only makes sense to integrate company real-time spatial applications to that same
AM/FM database as much as possible. This will provide the ability to spatially relate the location
electric plant with the real-time location of service vehicles to quickly ascertain the nearest
available service crew to an outage, for example. As SCADA data also links to the AM/FM, a
real-time spatial management tool can be created. Since the utility's AM/FM is not a real-time
system, their Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software will handle real-time AVL needs
utilizing copies of AM/FM data as background maps for CAD. If desired, vehicle location
updates can be passed over to the utility's enterprise AM/FM at regular intervals for display.
Since the utility's enterprise AM/FM was not designed to support real-time applications, it is
more feasible to let a CAD system handle the real-time aspects of vehicle tracking.
Combining Avl And AM/FM Data Collection
The capabilities of AM/FM and GPS-based vehicle tracking are rapidly being combined to offer
new and exciting applications for improving the efficiency of the mobile work force. New
GPS/GIS systems, such as GeoLink@ PowerTrakTMfrom Baker GeoResearch, provide
sophisticated AVL, fleet management and GIS field mapping capabilities in a single, open
systems environment. These 'combined' systems make it easier to build and maintain AM/FM
databases that can support robust vehicle tracking and map-based Computer-Aided Dispatch
applications. The creation of AM/FM databases that meet the needs of a wide range of emerging
and increasingly popular GPS-based vehicle tracking applications will be the real challenge
facing our industry as we move into the 21 st century.
