When two technologies converge: Supporting service restoration in the field
Ivor Block
BC Hydro, 6911 Southpoint Drive (E10), Burnaby, B.C., Canada V3N 4X8
Phone: (604) 528-2466
E-mail: ivor.block@bchydro.com
Web site: www.bchydro.com
Alan Mah
Westech Information Systems Inc., 401 West Georgia Street, 14th Floor, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6B 5A1
Phone: (604) 663-3447
E-mail: alan.mah@westechinfosys.com
Web site: www.westechinfosys.com
Abstract
To complete their outage management process, BC Hydro 3 deployed a mobile GIS
to put field crews on the same page or map as the trouble centre dispatchers. The
ability for the crews to hot link from wirelessly transmitted trouble orders to the actual
trouble location on a laptop running the mobile GIS has improved both efficiency and
safety. This presentation discusses the successes and pitfalls to actually
implementing a mobile GIS in the field.
Introduction
At BC Hydro, GIT has had roots back to their first AM/FM system in the early 1980’s.
Converting to new software platforms in 1989, and 2000, their enterprise geographic
information system (EGIS) now covers the entire service area, and contains both the
topology, and the electrical network. From the earliest days of GIT at BC Hydro,
mobile computing was one of the visions. Since 1992, there have been several
mobile computing applications that use geospatial information.
Outage Management is an essential responsibility for all electric utilities. Prompt
restoration of service, and effective communication with customers are two key
factors in maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. Through the use of an
outage management system, BC Hydro has been able to improve both their ability to
keep the lights on, and their ability to let the customers know more about the status
of their outages. Technology has allowed the outage management task to move
from a manual process to a system where automation not only helps call centres,
dispatchers, and power line technicians (PLT) do their job, but it has all but
eliminated busy signals when customers call to report outages during storms. Both
geospatial technology, and mobile computing are essential to the success of the
outage management system.
In this paper, we will describe some of BC Hydro’s mobile geospatial computing
applications, and mobile dispatch applications. We will show some of the pitfalls of
the early applications, and how the convergence of mobile geospatial applications
and mobile dispatch applications assist power line technicians, and how future
enhancements will not only improve efficiency, but also improve workplace safety.
Mobile Geospatial Computing Applications:
For BC Hydro, adopting mobile geospatial computing has had its challenges. Since
the first system in 1992, the Service Design System (SDS), there have been great
advances in software and hardware technology. In hindsight, faster hardware and
more advanced software would have benefited the early applications. However, not
all of the challenges have been addressed by new technology, and many of the
lessons learned by the early applications have been invaluable when creating new
tools. In planning their latest system, as with SDS, BC Hydro knew that trade-offs
were necessary to arrive at a cost-effective solution that meets the desired business
objectives. Some of the early systems include: Service Design System, VegMap,
Service Data Collector, and Trouble Call Management System with Mobile Dispatch
System. The following is a brief description of each of these earlier systems, their
main features, and the challenges associated with each of them:
