GPS Project "Fallout"
GPS Project "Fallout" Creating Trust & A New Way of Thinking
Who do you trust?
Have you ever lost trust?
Trust in our data was lost… We have been there… Jokes about the electrical linemen‟s computers collecting dust or being used as paper weights. They could not rely on the maps… and it was true, they couldn’t.
The GIS Department spent as much time fixing problems with the data locations as we did putting in delivered job information. Poles on the wrong side of the road, primary line intersections were not coordinated with the roads, devices upto 1000 feet off, and add imagery… Forget about it!!
We needed to Create „Map Trust‟ GPS of the Flint Energies System: – Hired Chapel Mapping out of Warren, PA • Family owned and operated • Hired and trained local personnel to collect data • Inventory adjusted to map in home office • Delivered on time & with defined deliverables
– GPS‟d, photographed, tagged & inventoried our system • Parts of 17 counties, ~90 miles across, ~30-45 miles tall • 50 substations and more than 6250 miles of distribution • Serves a major US Army training base & residents of another Air Force base • ~135,000 points and all the equipment on them to support approximately 84,000 meters
Delivering „Map Trust‟ Updated to geospatial data in ArcServer: – Poles on the correct side of the street – Street intersections and imagery align with device locations – Corrections made to very skewed data – Duplicate device numbers found during inventory process corrected
Delivering „Map Trust‟ Delivered the data to the end users: – Automatic overnight data delivery to stakers who design jobs – Intranet maps updated with corrected data and imagery that supports the locations -
Data exports to System Operators who import the data for monitoring outages and major system repairs
and now we wait… Now what… – No more calls about fixing location problems – Linemen have started using their laptops again – On-line intranet map use is up One GIS department members made the comment that now that the data is correct, “we aren’t going to have anything to do…” Uh oh.. He said it…
The Fallout starts… Keep the data at a high quality – Work Order Inspector position created in GIS to GPS, photo document and inspect all new line work to ensure Rural Utilities Service (RUS) specifications and all new points have proper data locations – Purchase of GPS devices for the Staking Technicians to collect initial locations for designing jobs. Stakers put “stakes” in the ground at job sites to designate pole/ device locations… hence the name.
Putting the data to use… The unique number added to the electric poles in the field have become the new reference for service requests and new job construction. From: “Pole 2 spans up from intersection” To: Pole “98504” which is searchable on the map
It is saved in the GIS. Simple, effective!!
Putting the data to use… Linemen now using the updated data & will report if they find any discrepancies with pole assemblies or even road name problems so that their maps stay up to date…
They are using the system!
New Initiatives… New initiatives… TC Technology Mapbook with the Inspection Extension has been released to aid in keeping the data and inspection reports on track: • WO Inspection • Line Inspection / Maintenance Tickets
• Substation Inspection
New Initiatives… Web Map Requests • Maps showing outage reports & history • Member Service Representatives need map with queries oriented toward consumer based questions • Right of Way (ROW) progress maps with historic ROW caused outage locations • System Operations using web maps for confirmation of data between outage system and mapping system • System engineers using web maps for review of electrical distribution
New Initiatives… Use of photo documentation of equipment by multiple departments – Transformer Maintenance – Maps and software to allow Transformer shop to review items that need maintenance from the office – Meter Lab – Ability to review meters installed at consumer locations to QA/QC questions using web maps and picture viewing software – System Operations, Linemen, & stakers look at pole inventory for emergency repairs or replacements… such as a car accident breaking a pole – Legal disputes - pictures &/or GPS locations to prove system status
New Initiatives… Stakers are embarking on a project to use their GPS devices and new software to create easement write ups needed by the company before jobs begin to be built. Upgrading their GPS devices for higher accuracy units
New Initiatives… Deployment of Garmin Nuvi devices – Added the “GIS to GPS” conversion tools from the MapWel software has allowed us to put all of our consumers and equipment as „Points of Interest‟ into the devices – Device location can be found in the GPS & visual and verbal directions on how to get to the device from the lineman‟s current location are provided – Especially useful at night during outages caused by storms. Many times it is still storming and they can drive directly to the pole location. – A set of devices is kept to give to visiting groups who may need to assist us during storms
The “Fallout”… By the replacement of our system with spatially accurate data, the focus of the GIS department changed… – From: Adjust data so people can add new jobs correctly – To: Create & distribute new ways of collecting and using the data – From: Data input only – To: Data delivery, processing and innovation – From: A data storage mechanism – To: A Geographic Information System
The “Fallout”… WE ARE SWAMPED! By replacing the data in our system with spatially accurate data, the focus of the GIS department changed: – Data QA/QC has become more prominent • Using GPS accurate data from planning to close out • Merging data from internal and external sources
– Use of new technologies • TC Technology inspection tools • More widespread use of web maps • High accuracy GPS devices for device locations and easements • “What if” scenarios being presented to GIS regularly
In Summary…
Our GPS project brought trust back to our department!
Special Thanks… Chapel Mapping • Great people who meet their deadlines and truly show an interest in your company‟s progress
TC Technology • Tools that are easy to use, work from the start, and have enabled us to take our processes to the next level
Flint Energies • Allowing us to move forward with our opportunities • Affording a GIS department with skill and determination
Questions?
Additional Slides
Who do you trust?
Have you ever lost trust?
Trust in our data was lost… We have been there… Jokes about the electrical linemen‟s computers collecting dust or being used as paper weights. They could not rely on the maps… and it was true, they couldn’t.
The GIS Department spent as much time fixing problems with the data locations as we did putting in delivered job information. Poles on the wrong side of the road, primary line intersections were not coordinated with the roads, devices upto 1000 feet off, and add imagery… Forget about it!!
We needed to Create „Map Trust‟ GPS of the Flint Energies System: – Hired Chapel Mapping out of Warren, PA • Family owned and operated • Hired and trained local personnel to collect data • Inventory adjusted to map in home office • Delivered on time & with defined deliverables
– GPS‟d, photographed, tagged & inventoried our system • Parts of 17 counties, ~90 miles across, ~30-45 miles tall • 50 substations and more than 6250 miles of distribution • Serves a major US Army training base & residents of another Air Force base • ~135,000 points and all the equipment on them to support approximately 84,000 meters
Delivering „Map Trust‟ Updated to geospatial data in ArcServer: – Poles on the correct side of the street – Street intersections and imagery align with device locations – Corrections made to very skewed data – Duplicate device numbers found during inventory process corrected
Delivering „Map Trust‟ Delivered the data to the end users: – Automatic overnight data delivery to stakers who design jobs – Intranet maps updated with corrected data and imagery that supports the locations -
Data exports to System Operators who import the data for monitoring outages and major system repairs
and now we wait… Now what… – No more calls about fixing location problems – Linemen have started using their laptops again – On-line intranet map use is up One GIS department members made the comment that now that the data is correct, “we aren’t going to have anything to do…” Uh oh.. He said it…
The Fallout starts… Keep the data at a high quality – Work Order Inspector position created in GIS to GPS, photo document and inspect all new line work to ensure Rural Utilities Service (RUS) specifications and all new points have proper data locations – Purchase of GPS devices for the Staking Technicians to collect initial locations for designing jobs. Stakers put “stakes” in the ground at job sites to designate pole/ device locations… hence the name.
Putting the data to use… The unique number added to the electric poles in the field have become the new reference for service requests and new job construction. From: “Pole 2 spans up from intersection” To: Pole “98504” which is searchable on the map
It is saved in the GIS. Simple, effective!!
Putting the data to use… Linemen now using the updated data & will report if they find any discrepancies with pole assemblies or even road name problems so that their maps stay up to date…
They are using the system!
New Initiatives… New initiatives… TC Technology Mapbook with the Inspection Extension has been released to aid in keeping the data and inspection reports on track: • WO Inspection • Line Inspection / Maintenance Tickets
• Substation Inspection
New Initiatives… Web Map Requests • Maps showing outage reports & history • Member Service Representatives need map with queries oriented toward consumer based questions • Right of Way (ROW) progress maps with historic ROW caused outage locations • System Operations using web maps for confirmation of data between outage system and mapping system • System engineers using web maps for review of electrical distribution
New Initiatives… Use of photo documentation of equipment by multiple departments – Transformer Maintenance – Maps and software to allow Transformer shop to review items that need maintenance from the office – Meter Lab – Ability to review meters installed at consumer locations to QA/QC questions using web maps and picture viewing software – System Operations, Linemen, & stakers look at pole inventory for emergency repairs or replacements… such as a car accident breaking a pole – Legal disputes - pictures &/or GPS locations to prove system status
New Initiatives… Stakers are embarking on a project to use their GPS devices and new software to create easement write ups needed by the company before jobs begin to be built. Upgrading their GPS devices for higher accuracy units
New Initiatives… Deployment of Garmin Nuvi devices – Added the “GIS to GPS” conversion tools from the MapWel software has allowed us to put all of our consumers and equipment as „Points of Interest‟ into the devices – Device location can be found in the GPS & visual and verbal directions on how to get to the device from the lineman‟s current location are provided – Especially useful at night during outages caused by storms. Many times it is still storming and they can drive directly to the pole location. – A set of devices is kept to give to visiting groups who may need to assist us during storms
The “Fallout”… By the replacement of our system with spatially accurate data, the focus of the GIS department changed… – From: Adjust data so people can add new jobs correctly – To: Create & distribute new ways of collecting and using the data – From: Data input only – To: Data delivery, processing and innovation – From: A data storage mechanism – To: A Geographic Information System
The “Fallout”… WE ARE SWAMPED! By replacing the data in our system with spatially accurate data, the focus of the GIS department changed: – Data QA/QC has become more prominent • Using GPS accurate data from planning to close out • Merging data from internal and external sources
– Use of new technologies • TC Technology inspection tools • More widespread use of web maps • High accuracy GPS devices for device locations and easements • “What if” scenarios being presented to GIS regularly
In Summary…
Our GPS project brought trust back to our department!
Special Thanks… Chapel Mapping • Great people who meet their deadlines and truly show an interest in your company‟s progress
TC Technology • Tools that are easy to use, work from the start, and have enabled us to take our processes to the next level
Flint Energies • Allowing us to move forward with our opportunities • Affording a GIS department with skill and determination
Questions?
Additional Slides
