An application view of integrating Geospatial technology for utilities
Decision support and service analysis is supported today via spatial analysis tools. Market
analysis, spatial query, spatial analysis, and the generation of maps and reports are the main
functionality required by these users.
Operations and maintenance require the capability to view, analyze and edit geofacilities data in
the field. This capability is used to analyze existing facilities based on current conditions and
past history, assist with performing field inspections and maintenance, record changes, and feed
information back to the office. These applications require a field-enabled electronic mapbook that
displays and redlines the facility network and geographic landbase with online access directly to
the facilities database. Historic data may be pulled from ERP asset management databases and
integrated into the geospatial environment where it can be analyzed based on geographic specific
parameters. Facilities performance can be measured against regulator's criteria for unique
geographic areas defined by polygons, corridors, or points of interest. Identifying the shortest
driving path for crews to their work location is also a key function of geospatial capability.
The geofacilities model is the foundation for the Design & Change Management component of
the GRM system. It includes the data model, design and placement functions, integration with
engineering design and network analysis tools, map production functions, and interfaces with
many ERP databases and applications. As the geospatial enabling technology, it provides long
term transaction management, conflict resolution, seamless landbase and facilities model, spatial
analysis functions, and geofacilities model rules validation. It supports integration with corporate
computer applications, such as work management, trouble and outage management, materials
management, customer information systems, real-time network management, and network
analysis.
One of the most active areas of integration today is with work management system (WMS) where
extensive combined benefits are realized. Compatible Unit Code (CUC) information is captured
in the design stage and is the thread for integrating processes from design through job closing in
the work order life cycle. The budgets for the involved departments represent a significant portion
of a utility's budget. Therefore, a small improvement in productivity results in significant savings
in labor costs, while providing better utilization of both company crews and outside-contractor
crews.
Significant change in the demand on the facilities network must be analyzed to
evaluate network design change requirements. Since all changes are recorded
in the geofacilities database it is the natural interface to network analysis software. The
geofacilities model maintains the status of all facilities throughout their lifecycle from design to
retirement and can produce desired views for changing conditions. These conditions can be either
current or projected to allow analysis of present and future demands on the system.
At most utility companies, trouble calls indicating a network outage, come
from a variety of sources. The trouble reporting component collects these
trouble calls. The calls come from customer call centers, the Customer Information System, the
Customer Support System, the voice response unit (VRU), real time network status monitoring
equipment (SCADA), automatic meter reading equipment, the Internet and direct input from the
dispatchers. The key in trouble reporting is to associate the identified problem with its
geographical position and physical point on the network. This is accomplished through
relationships established in the geofacilities model .
An outage management system (OMS) is the major application used in the
service restoration process. For many customers, this is the most significant
responsibility of the utility.getting the service back online. The network model used in the
OMS is maintained and created from the geofacilities model. Tight integration between the OMS
and the geofacilities model is a must for efficient operations.
