MultiSpeak 3 Web Services
John Hedstrom, Great River Energy

Keywords: MultiSpeak NRECA National Rural Electric Cooperative Association XML data transfer

Vertical Interest Tags: E; DD; W

A developer’s perspective to designing a data transfer process utilizing the NRECA initiative MultiSpeak 3 will be discussed along with what considerations a potential user must evaluate before making a decision for one’s industry. MultiSpeak 3 utilizes Web services to seamlessly transfer data between systems with the use of XML (Extensible Markup Language). The NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) initiative called Multispeak 3 is a defined format for transferring data for the electrical industry.

Keywords: GIS, EAMS, Asset Management, Enterprise Information

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; PS; P; EN; DD; AI

At Denver Water, the utilization of geospatial technology has evolved from a standalone mapping system to a critical component of the organization’s enterprise asset management system (EAMS), among its many uses. Because of the wide-ranging business needs that require the ability to manage spatially diverse assets effectively, the enterprise implementation of the GIS has taken on new meaning and continues to play an important role in decision making. The evolution of geospatial technology at Denver Water now impacts nearly every aspect of the utility from planning to engineering, operations and maintenance, accounting, and public affairs. The advanced utilization of geospatial technology enables end users to link asset attributes with location data to illustrate relationships and patterns that would otherwise be difficult to discern.

A New Method of Managing Vegetation Compliance—A Case Study
Brian Cormican, Utility Risk Management Corporation

Keywords: Vegetation, Compliance, LiDAR, Work Management, Transmission, Distribution, Threat Mitigation, Right-of-Way, Clearance

Vertical Interest Tags: E; DD; GR; AI; WM

After experiencing a tree-related outage on a 230kV transmission line, one utility realized they needed a culture shift in their vegetation management philosophy. They needed a combination of new technology, new participants, and new processes. With their new processes, the utility chose to implement software-enabled LiDAR and a comprehensive work order management system. This combination of process and technology change is allowing this utility to transform the organization into a compliance-driven culture. This presentation will identify the tools, share outcome data, and provide examples of how the utility’s approach enhances safety, increases productivity, reduces threats, and helps communicate with disparate stakeholders.

A Tale of Two Grids: Operations or Demand Side Management
Anthony DiMarco, Intergraph Corporation

Keywords: Smart Grid, operations, resiliency, outage management, restoration, geospatial

Vertical Interest Tags: E; DD; II; AI    

Smart grid strategies that focus primarily on demand side management will miss one of the most important aspects of smart grid: the improved reliability and resiliency that improved “back office” information systems can provide. Focusing on operations, such as distribution management, outage analysis, workforce management, and business intelligence can dramatically improve distribution system resiliency and reliability. When the “back office” of the smart grid is geospatially integrated and employs sophisticated computer graphic visualization, it can help operations quickly process and interpret vast amounts of operating data and turn it into actionable information.

Improving Asset Integrity and Reliability with 3-D Mapping
Todd Porter, Geospatial Corporation
Copresenter: Linda Ward, Geospatial Corporation

Keywords: 3D Mapping, location, condition, assessment, time saving, cost saving

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; ER; T; PS; E; G; M; TR; P; S; EN; DD; AI

In order to effectively maintain, rehabilitate, or install pipelines and underground infrastructure, stakeholders must identify where assets are located and manage this data effectively. Three-dimensional (3-D) locations (XYZ) of pipelines can be achieved using various technologies. These technologies can coincide with additional condition assessment tools to provide accurate pipeline positional information along with geo-referenced pipeline condition assessment data such as CCTV video, leak detection data and interior and exterior corrosion data. Once gathered, this information can be managed effectively through GIS.

Application of Integrated GPS and GIS Technology for Street Sweeping Project
Kusi Akuoko, Maricopa County
Copresenter: Christopher Balke, Maricopa County

Keywords: GIS, GPS, street sw­­eeping, compliance, asset deployment monitoring, maintenance,sweepers,automated, mapping, tracking

Vertical Interest Tags: PS; M; DD; AI

Maricopa County has GPS units installed on sweeper trucks that broadcast data when brooms are lowered for sweeping. Information is transmitted at 30-second intervals providing speed and location of the sweepers. GIS is used to process this information and monitor the project. The automated process replaces manual inspection and provides verification of work completed against work invoiced, assurance that speed limits are within specifications; and support in litigation cases.

Data Quality and the Smart Grid
Geoff Zeiss, Autodesk, Inc.

Keywords: Smart-grid Data Quality Network Infrastructure Utilities

Vertical Interest Tags: PS; E; EN; DD; II

The reliability of our electric power grid is decreasing while our dependence on it is increasing. A smart grid is much more complicated than our current grid. Managing and operating the new smart grid is going to require a reliable digital model of the grid, based on accurate, up-to-date engineering information. The common causes of poor data quality will be discussed, and examples of working solutions for addressing these challenges will be presented.

Water Right Banking: Robust GIS Data Management in the Central Platte Natural Resource District, Nebraska
Jim Ward, Applied Data Consultants, Inc.
Copresenter: Ron Bruder, Applied Data Consultants, Inc.  

Keywords: Water Rights, SQL Server, ArcGIS, Geodatabase, Resource Management

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; PS; DD; CC; PH

Water rights management is a voluminous and complex task, particularly in those agriculture-rich areas of the United States that depend heavily on irrigation. Within the jurisdiction of the Central Platte Natural Resource District (CPNRD) in Nebraska, for example, over half of its 2 million acres are certified as irrigated agricultural land. This session will discuss the GIS-centric, transaction-based application employed by CPNRD for documenting and tracking active and historical water usage within the district.

 

Tuesday, April 27^th
10:30 a.m.

Is Your GIS Smart Grid Ready?
Bill Meehan, ESRI

Keywords: Smart Grid Self Healing Distribution Automation Asset Management Phase Designation Accountability Readiness Mobility Situational Awareness

Vertical Interest Tags: E; DD; II; AI; AR     

Many utilities will implement smart grid. GIS plays a critical role. Some utilities have not fully built out their GIS nor put in place solid processes to keep their GIS current. This presentation details the results of a benchmark study that shows where many utilities’ GIS stand for smart grid readiness. It describes how to measure and what is needed of their GIS to meet the demands of Smart Grid.

Improving Electric Utility Land Information Management Using ArcGIS Server and FLEX
Rich Lopez, SRP
Copresenters: Robert W. Finkle, IT Nexus, Inc.; Hyrum Ernstom; IT Nexus, Inc.

Keywords: Land records automation, ArcGIS Server, FLEX, web-GIS, document management, GIS-DMS integration

Vertical Interest Tags: PS; E; EN; DD; WM; W

SRP’s Land Records Division created a Web-GIS Land Records Information Management System (LRIMS) to dramatically improve the efficiency and ease with which users access the organization’s scanned land records documents. The LRIMS-Flex application includes a sophisticated security model that controls document access privileges across a wide number of user groups. This presentation provides a technical briefing on the creation of the LRIMS-Flex application with a short demonstration of the capabilities of the application.

Creating and Managing a True Spatial Enterprise Database Strategy for Collaborative Applications Across Multiple Departments and Disciplines
Lou Garcia, EA Engineering

Keywords: Data collaboration, efficiency, CAD & GIS

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; T; PS; E; G; M; EN; DD

The ability to create, edit, and store operational data within a single database for use by CAD, GIS, and management has been a long sought desire. A philosophy of data model driven applications versus software dictated data models allows for a common database using numerous front end applications. This presentation centers on the strategies required for planning, implementing, and managing this approach. Multiple departments can utilize a single database, thus maximizing efficiency and operational excellence.

Breaking News Panel  • 10:30 - 12:15
Not Your Father's Approach to Geodata Creation and Sharing
Moderator:  Peter Batty, Ubisense
Speakers: Andrew Turner, FortiusOne; Ron Lake, Galdos Systems; James Fee, WeoGeo

Keywords: geodata, creation, sharing, crowdsourcing, OpenStreetMap, Haiti, OGC, GML, KML, GeoRSS

Vertical Interest Tags: E; ER; EN; G; M; P; PS; T; TR; WW; DD, II, CC, W

This panel will look at new approaches to geodata creation and sharing that have emerged in the past few years, and consider how they apply to infrastructure related problems. Crowdsourcing has grown dramatically as a mechanism for creating geospatial data, and has the potential to dramatically reduce the costs associated with geodata creation and maintenance, which of course have traditionally been very high. One of the best known initiatives in this area is OpenStreetMap, and the crowdsourcing approach is also being used by a number of commercial companies including Google, TomTom and others, as well as some government agencies. Crowdsourcing has huge potential in emergency response, and the panel will include a look at how OpenStreetMap contributed enormously to the response to the Haiti earthquake. The panel will also consider approaches to sharing geodata. New lightweight standards like GeoRSS and KML have arguably done more to facilitate sharing of geodata in practice than longer standing more heavyweight standards. Techniques for making geodata accessible to search engines like Google, rather than being hidden behind portals, have also contributed to our ability to easily share data. These and other developments will be discussed by the panel.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Enterprise GIS - Managing Signage Infrastructure & Content
Gil Scholl, Woolpert

Keywords: Facility Management, Enterprise GIS, Custom ARcGIS Desktop Extension, ArcSDE
Vertical Interest Tags: PS; TR; DD; II

The Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport GIS manages exterior and interior features including signs - key elements of the airport’s customer service program. A custom ArcGIS desktop interface was developed to create color sign graphics images, create and manage sign data, photos and documents in ArcSDE which are deployed to the enterprise using the PHXGIS enterprise ArcGIS Server Web Portal. The presentation will demonstrate real-world scenarios where custom graphics and geodatabase sign data improves facility management.

Streamlined Methods to Collect and Maintain GPS and Attribute Information for Utility Assets
Savoy Yazzie, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
Copresenter: Jake Opdahl, CartoPac Field Solutions, Inc.

Keywords: field data collection, GPS, mobile technology, enterprise GIS, digital data collection, ArcFM

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; E; G; M; P; S; EN; DD; AI; WM 

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) needed a field data collection solution that would streamline getting data in and out of the field, plus integrate into their enterprise ESRI/SDE and ArcFM GIS environment. NTUA needed to support field crews, management, and the office GIS simultaneously. The solution NTUA implemented successfully provides a more efficient and streamlined data collection process and is utilized for its water, sewer, electric, and gas assets.

Ensuring a Successful Web Portal Deployment
Michael Baker, Intergraph Corporation

Keywords: enterprise, web portal, collaboration, communication, internet reporting, business intelligence

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; ER; T; PS; E; G; P; DD; W

One of the most exciting technologies to allow a company to connect the operator to the solution is the enterprise Web portal. When defining the enterprise Web portal, it is important to understand that it is more than a flashy Web site. Rather, the enterprise Web portal is a Web-based, business-critical system. This presentation will explore the best practices of planning, implementing, and deploying a successful enterprise Web portal.

Modeling the Real World
Ton Di Vries, Bentley Systems, Inc.

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; ER; T; PS; E; G; P; S; EN; DD; PH

Keywords: GIS, mapping, model, 3D, land development, cadastre, infrastructure, engineering, workflow

Infrastructure professionals rely heavily on cadastral data. Governments worldwide are planning thousands of new infrastructure projects to stimulate faltering economies and to repair, strengthen, and expand existing structures to avert catastrophes. Though projects will vary widely in scope and nature, planners and engineers will have one common need: information about the land. This session addresses the challenges infrastructure professionals face obtaining accurate land information, streamlining work flows, managing infrastructure information, and collaborating across distributed teams.

Leveraging GIS in a SCADA Implementation
David Nemeth, Panhandle Energy
Copresenter: John Spangler, GE Oil & Gas, PII Pipeline Solutions

Keywords: SCADA, GIS, gas control real-time compressor pressures valve map schematics

Vertical Interest Tags: ER; G; P; S; EN; DD; II; AI

This is a review of Panhandle Energy’s 2009 project to bring together its extensive GIS map data with the dynamic real-time SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) data. The two data sources are rich and complex, but by identifying a cost-effective method to integrate these, Panhandle Energy would eliminate manual creation of SCADA system schematics, prevent data synchronization problems, and eliminate delays in getting data into the GIS as required before first flow.

GIS Tools and Automated Workflows for Utility Management Systems—City of Scottsdale
Kevin Shirer, Woolpert
Copresenter: Kirk McClurkin, Woolpert

Keywords: Custom ArcGIS Tools, Utility Management, Field editing, workflow automation, topology

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; PS; M; DD

The city of Scottsdale is implementing GIS to maintain water and sewer infrastructure. ArcGIS custom tools were developed to automate work flows, synchronize office and field edits, and improve data integrity. A custom Workset Manager tool synchronizes work among multiple data editors. The presentation will demonstrate custom editing tools that automatically convert features to linked graphical inset features, the Workset Manager Tool work flow, and how custom coding extended existing ArcMap functions for work flow automation

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Building Utility Networks on Existing Datasets is all about Data Integrity
J. Russ Coffey, Las Vegas Valley Water District
Copresenters: Keath Long, Las Vegas Valley Water District; Jeffrey W. Ferdinand; Las Vegas Valley Water District

Keywords: Utility Network, Connectivity, Spatial Coincidence, Data Integrity

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; T; E; G; P; DD; II; AI

Building a fully functional geometric network on an existing water utility dataset with hundreds of thousands of features (pipes, hydrants, valves, etc.) is a daunting task that is more about data integrity and spatial coincidence than theory and structure of geometric networks. Presenters will address the practical methods utilized by the Las Vegas Valley Water District to apply network theory to existing datasets and achieve the desired network functionality.

High Resolution Risk Assessment Methodologies for Combined and Sanitary Sewer System Advanced Asset Management
Mark A. Liebe, City of Portland
Copresenters: Arnel Mandilag, City of Portland; Joe Hoffman; City of Portland

Keywords: Asset Management; Risk assessment; Sewer Infrastructure

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; PS; EN; DD; AI 

The city of Portland has developed a number of GIS-based, high resolution risk assessment tools and processes for its Advanced Asset Management program in planning sewer work. The methodology involves a wide variety of spatial data correlated to finely resolved asset inventory and inspection records. Factors such as sewer condition grades, remaining useful life, high resolution cost estimation, and risk assessment, among others, provide for a much wider range of management options than previously available.

GIT UR DUN—Cost Effective Recipe for Successful Modeling and Migration Between Platforms
Ken Clifford, CISS TDI GmbH
Copresenter: Joachim Figura, CISS TDI GmbH

Keywords: Migration, Modeling, Oracle Spatial, Data Integration, Geodata-warehouse Data translation-conversion, ETL

Vertical Interest Tags: ER; T; PS; E; G; M; TR; P; DD  

The presenters will showcase three different successful implementations transcending several utilities verticals, platforms and applications. This is a GIT UR DUN implementation of modeling and migration for geodata warehouse based on CITRA open technology, utilizing Oracle Spatial. All base data, application data, as-built data, and third-party data is integrated and shared ubiquitously across the implemented organizations. Each environment has different applications, data, and requirements. The CITRA core technology accommodates all the varied environments, technology, and client specific requirements.

Mobile Work Management Integration with GIS
Jonathan Kilpatrick, City of Tallahassee-Underground Utils.
Copresenters: Patrick Kates, City of Tallahassee-Underground Utils; JJ Meadows, GISP, City of Tallahassee; David Nichols, City of Tallahassee-Underground Utils

Keywords: Integration, mobile work management, custom developed, webservice

Vertical Interest Tags: PS; DD; WM; W

The City of Tallahassee Underground Utilities has implemented bi-directional data integration between GIS and custom developed mobile work management applications. This effort provides for optimized dispatching of fieldwork from a GIS interface and enhanced data integrity through updating of GIS critical attributes captured during fieldwork. This implementation was handled entirely by internal city of Tallahassee employees from several departments and involved extensive custom development.

Maximizing Enterprise Asset Management Systems Using Geographic Information Systems
Phyllis Thomas, Phyllis Thomas Consulting

Keywords: enterprise asset management, utility infrastructure, geographic information systems

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; T; PS; E; G; TR; P; DD; AI

Enterprise asset managers face declining economic resources and a deteriorating utility infrastructure. A robust enterprise asset management system enables managers to develop a cost-effective planning and design strategy, an operation and maintenance plan, and a system to rehabilitate or retire assets. This comprehensive approach to infrastructure management results in greater reliability in delivering resources to the service area. Incorporating GIS into the enterprise asset plan maximizes the power of an enterprise asset management system. Node-to-node, data, and hydraulic information augment the tabular information that the enterprise asset management system provides. This session will examine the solutions utility managers can extract from the integration of the two systems.

Building a Facilities Information Infrastructure to Support Public Safety
Stuart Rich, Penobscot Bay Media

Keywords: Facilities GIS for Public Safety

Vertical Interest Tags: ER; PS; M; E; G; EN; AI; W

When firefighters and other emergency response personnel
are called to an emergency situation inside a building, they are often operating in uncharted territory once they walk through the front door. Some organizations are taking advantage of GIS to make floor maps available to the emergency response community for preplanning and inspection work flows. The presenter will discuss the basics of a facilities information infrastructure and how this can be leveraged to support the public safety community with specific examples of production systems.

Energy InSightsm—“Smart” Technologies at CenterPoint Energy
Cindi Salas, CenterPoint Energy

Keywords: AMI; AMS; AMR; ARRA; Smart Grid; Smart Meters; Electric

Vertical Interest Tags: E; EN; M; T; DD; II; AI; AR

Energy InSightsm is CenterPoint Energy’s system of integrated “smart” energy technologies, including smart meters and associated communications infrastructure and back-office computer systems, designed to give consumers more control over their energy consumption. This presentation will provide an update on our smart meter deployment as well as plans to develop an intelligent electric grid, with the aid of a federal stimulus grant, negotiations for which are pending at the time of writing.  In addition, the use of geospatial technology in these projects will be discussed. 

GIS and Design: GeoDesign
Brent Jones, ESRI

Vertical Interest Tags: DD

Keywords: GIS Design Sustainability GeoDesign Collaboration Decision Making Access Feedback

GeoDesign is a systematic methodology for geographic planning and decision making. It takes GIS, all the knowledge that you build and maintain, layers of information, measurements, and analytic models, and it connects us to an interactive design process where we can design and get feedback right away. GIS has not really been equipped to do this exactly before, leveraging all of that knowledge. It can now. This presentation will show how.

Enterprise GIS
Dan Brooks, 3-GIS, LLC

Keywords: enterprise GIS, web 2.0, web-based, mobile technology, asset management, utilities, telecommunications, work order process, mapping

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; ER; T; E; G; TR; DD; AI; WM; W   

GIS and asset data are often confined to mapping departments due to the high cost of licensing and limited tools for sharing data across an organization. Utilities can now leverage thin-client, Web-based technology providing access to your GIS from any browser on the network. Enterprise GIS provides a central data repository and communications link to third-party applications while automating work order processes, reporting, and mobile operations.

Cloud Computing for Utility Field Inspection and Survey Work
Mike Rigney, Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.

Keywords: Cloud computing benefits and pitfalls Utility inspection, maintenance, and survey work

Vertical Interest Tags: T; E; S; DD; CC  

Cloud computing is the concept in which a company’s hardware, software, and data are outsourced to a third-party vendor. There are immediate benefits to such a paradigm, such as zero initial capital expenses and reduced IT operating costs. However, does this method of IT infrastructure make sense financially and technologically for today’s electric utility? This presentation reviews the benefits and pitfalls of using the cloud computing paradigm for a utility’s inspection, maintenance, and survey data.

Geoaudits for Operational Optimization and Financial Viability
Jerry Mohnhaupt, Red Oak Consulting, Div., Malcolm Pirnie

Keywords: Geoaudit of wastewater service billings; GIS gap analysis of billings

Vertical Interest Tags: PS; DD; CC

A Texas wastewater service agency began a billing audit of the six purveyors who bill for wastewater services within their service areas. Their goal was to optimize operations and enhance financial viability by identifying and correcting billing gaps, and improving collection and storage of the geographic components of billing data. As a result, more than 1,100 unbilled service connections were identified, resulting in a large increase in revenues that will be restored to the agency.

Geospatial Data Sharing Via the Cloud
Brad Sileo, iFactor Consulting

Keywords: SaaS Online Mapping Organizational Trusts Cloud Computing Security Scalability

Vertical Interest Tags: WW; ER; T; PS; E; G; TR; P; S; EN; DD; CC; W   

The increased prominence of cloud computing architectures has changed the way that business-to-business transactions occur. With the addition of mapping technologies, the cloud is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for companies that rely heavily on geospatial information to communicate with each other. This presentation will cover the main issues that companies face when deploying such solutions, including security concerns, Web services and standards, and scalability.

A New Approach to Local Government GIS
Thomas A. Thomey, MGP, Inc.
Copresenter: Mary Anderson, GIS Consortium

Keywords: Local government, staffing model, collaboration, city, village, shared, intellectual property

Vertical Interest Tags: PS; DD; CS; WM     

A group of communities in the greater Chicago (Illinois) area are working together to realize the benefits of geographic information systems (GIS). This organization was formed in 1998 to provide an alternative to meeting the challenges of starting and sustaining GIS programs. This organization is called the GIS Consortium (GISC), www.gisconsortium.org.

Your Grid is Already Intelligent, Benefit Before You Invest and Make a Stronger Business Case to Invest More
Rich Cummings, Level Four Solutions

Keywords: intellegent grid, smart grid, performance support system operator

Vertical Interest Tags: ER; E; DD; II

Input from system operators or dispatchers, and/or operations engineers and others—along with data from investments in GIS, SCADA, OMS—can help you make your operations more efficient in front of investing in FDIR or auto restoration schemes. Creating preplanned responses supported by data can assist organizations in building a better business case for distribution automation.

Creating GIS Studies to Support Broadband Stimulus Funding Applications
Randall Frantz, ESRI

Keywords: Broadband, mapping, stimulus, planning, engineering, telecommunications,NTIA, government, RUS, FCC

Vertical Interest Tags: T; PS; EN; DD; CC; AR

The stimulus bill awards significant funds for broadband expansion projects and programs. To submit a successful application for these funds, organizations need to plan and justify broadband projects that deliver services to an area population that is unserved or underserved. To determine which areas are lacking sufficient broadband service, maps that depict current broadband coverage are required. GIS solutions enable organizations to create maps that identify qualified areas and justify projects to increase broadband availability.

Geospatial Cloud Computing—The Next Frontier in Business Intelligence
Krishna Kumar, Space-Time Insight
Copresenter: Mark Feldman, Space-Time Insight

Keywords: All human activity has a location and time component. It takes place somewhere and some time. That is precisely why companies must monitor, understand and adjust to geo-economic signals when and where they occur.

Vertical Interest Tags: ER; E; G; DD; CC; W

This session will show how geospatial cockpits with cloud computing capabilities can now integrate the wealth of macroeconomic data on the Web with internal operations and information, to help define and execute optimal business decisions in realtime. Examples will include how Web 2.0 concepts like Wikis and Tweet streams combined with supply chain metrics from ERP systems can improve the accuracy of demand forecasts and support lean manufacturing cycles.