The integration of Work Management to GIS
Ronald E Bereit
Vice President
R & S Associates
7700 East Princess Drive, Suite #7
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
Phone: (480) 563-9578, Fax: (480) 515-0571
Email: ronbereit@hotmail.com
Abstract
Many utilities are recognizing the relationship between systems that support work
activities related to facilities and the systems that support the management of those
facilities. Work Management System (WMS) and the Facilities Management portion of
Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) are closely related, and efficiencies can be gained
by the integration of the two applications. Numerous factors influence the makeup of this
integration, including the volume and type of work that is designed and performed, and
the level of detail needed to specify a facility design. The linking of Construction
Standards and Compatible Units play a key role in facilitating the integration of Work
Management with GIS. Compatible Units function in WMS should support design, the
timeliness and accuracy required for cost and time estimates, scheduling, construction,
accounting, and performance measurement functions.
A Work Management System is the cornerstone for managing “best practice” processes
managing the facility’s tabular design requirements, and the benchmarking of efficient
productivity-enhancement tools. A Geospatial Information System is the other
cornerstone, managing the facility’s spatial design associated with circuitry and location.
WMS can be tightly or loosely integrated with GIS depending upon the business
strategies and technical architectures that are most appropriate.
Introduction
The current focus that many utilities are placing on business process reengineering and
other efforts to improve efficiencies and customer service has revealed that assets and
activities are closely related. Work activities often pertain to facility assets, and the
business processes that have the greatest impact on customer service are those that deal
with work on the facilities that provide service. As a result, a great deal of interest
concerning the integration of Work Management and Geospatial Information Systems.
GIS typically manages information regarding installed distribution facilities and support
planning, design, and maintenance functions. WMS typically manages information
related to work activities, including customer service functions, construction,
maintenance, and operations. In general, the relationship between these two systems can
be summarized as follows. WMS is responsible for the tabular functions associated with
initiation, specification, scheduling, execution, and accounting of activities to install,
remove, or modify facilities. GIS is responsible for the spatial functions associated with
initiation, specification, maintaining and improving the performance of all installed
facilities.
A Work Request, through the use of Job Types, specifies the assemblies and components
to be installed when facilities are placed in service. When the Work Request is completed
information regarding the facility must be added to a GIS database. For modifying or
removing existing facilities, a Work Request must specify the facilities that are to be
affected, and the facilities database must be updated to reflect the changes as the result of
the Work Request. For these situations WMS serves as a transaction feeder system to a
GIS database.
For maintenance, the facilities and /or maintenance database is used to determine the
maintenance requirements and timing for recurring activities, such as tree trimming, pole
treatments or routine inspection and maintenance tasks. In these situations the GIS
database may be one of the sources used to trigger repetitive Work Requests.
Utilities have found that if they implement an GIS system without having a Work
Management system they will have to re-enter information contained on a Work Request
into the GIS system to post the results of work that has been completed. This redundant
data entry can cause increased backlogs for mapping system updates, and decreased data
integrity. If they implement a Work Management system without having an associated
facilities database they are losing valuable information that is collected during the Work
Request process. This information includes attributes about the facilities that are installed
or removed on the Work Request, as well as configuration and location data. Using WMS
as a feeder to a GIS database provides utilities with a mechanism for collecting, verifying
and maintaining facilities information.
By properly integrating these two systems Utilities will be able to ensure the accuracy
and integrity of both Work Request and facilities information. Changes to a Utility's
installed facilities should only occur as the result of an approved Work Request, so by
making sure that the process for closing a Work Request includes posting updates to the
GIS system, a Utility can be assured that their facilities database will stay accurate. By
integrating the Work Management and GIS systems this process can become automatic,
and the data will be both accurate and current.
A GIS system is only one of many systems that are closely related to Work Management.
such as the use of databases, hardware platforms and operating systems. Closely
integrating GIS and Work Management to the ruling out of all other systems will not
provide a successful resolution.
