““ESRI ESRI -- A Foundation for Field A Foundation for Field AutomationAutomation””

Jay LasseterJay Lasseter

MapFrame CorporationMapFrame Corporation

OverviewOverview

•• IntroductionIntroduction•• The evolution of mobile computing in utilitiesThe evolution of mobile computing in utilities•• Leveraging existing IT investment Leveraging existing IT investment •• A A ““MapcentricMapcentric”” approach approach •• The Field usability hurdleThe Field usability hurdle•• Automating field workAutomating field work•• Obstacles to using GIS in a mobile environmentObstacles to using GIS in a mobile environment•• Methods for moving data to the field userMethods for moving data to the field user•• Making the case Making the case –– Where it the ROI?Where it the ROI?•• Where to start?Where to start?•• Summary Summary •• QuestionsQuestions

IntroductionIntroduction

The Evolution of Mobile ComputingThe Evolution of Mobile Computing

•• Mobile hardware has evolvedMobile hardware has evolved–– RuggedizedRuggedized lap tops, pen based, tablet PC, lap tops, pen based, tablet PC,

hand hand heldshelds•• Communications optionsCommunications options

–– Wired Wired –– Bandwidth improved Bandwidth improved –– Wireless Wireless –– LAN and WANLAN and WAN

•• GIS data has maturedGIS data has matured•• Other data sources have maturedOther data sources have matured•• Software designed specifically for the Software designed specifically for the

mobile environmentmobile environment

The Evolution of Mobile ComputingThe Evolution of Mobile Computing

•• Initial focus Initial focus –– Short cycle workShort cycle work–– Mobile dispatch of time sensitive workMobile dispatch of time sensitive work

•• ServicemanServiceman•• Emergency responseEmergency response

•• GIS and field automation convergeGIS and field automation converge•• The geospatial nature of T & D dataThe geospatial nature of T & D data•• Field based requirements for GIS dataField based requirements for GIS data•• Tangible benefits derivedTangible benefits derived

Leveraging existing IT investmentLeveraging existing IT investment

•• What is in the back office today? What is in the back office today? –– 44th+th+ generation of financial, HR, office communications systemsgeneration of financial, HR, office communications systems–– Operations Specific Operations Specific -- Dispatch, GIS, Work management, CIS, Dispatch, GIS, Work management, CIS,

Inspection/repair history, spread sheets/databasesInspection/repair history, spread sheets/databases•• What is in field operations today? What is in field operations today?

–– A combination of paper based processesA combination of paper based processes’’ and some fieldand some fieldautomationautomation

–– Typically first generation+ of mobile technologyTypically first generation+ of mobile technology•• Where is the majority of your operations based Where is the majority of your operations based

workforce (contractors too)?workforce (contractors too)?

Leveraging existing IT investmentLeveraging existing IT investment

•• What percentage of field based operations are automated?What percentage of field based operations are automated?–– Short cycle service work (from the meter into the premise) Short cycle service work (from the meter into the premise) –– 25%25%–– Locating Locating –– 5%5%–– Some limited field data collection Some limited field data collection –– <1%<1%–– Typically less than 30% of total field workforce is automatedTypically less than 30% of total field workforce is automated

•• How can we leverage existing source data/systems to improve our How can we leverage existing source data/systems to improve our field efficiencies? field efficiencies?

–– What data helps field operations do their job more effectively?What data helps field operations do their job more effectively?–– Do they have easy access to this data at all times?Do they have easy access to this data at all times?–– How current is the data in both the field as well as office How current is the data in both the field as well as office

environment?environment?–– Look for where the field tech (and management as well) experiencLook for where the field tech (and management as well) experiences es

issues with analysis, decision making and action due to insufficissues with analysis, decision making and action due to insufficient ient informationinformation

–– Integrate office bound data silosIntegrate office bound data silos

A A MapcentricMapcentric ApproachApproach

•• The spatial nature of workThe spatial nature of work–– Where am I ?Where am I ?

–– Where do I need to be ?Where do I need to be ?

–– Where are my facilities ?Where are my facilities ?

–– Where is my work force?Where is my work force?

–– Where is the work?Where is the work?

–– Where is the problem?Where is the problem?

–– Where are my customers ?Where are my customers ?

•• Field techs are comfortable with maps and are most comfortable wField techs are comfortable with maps and are most comfortable with a ith a graphical interfacegraphical interface

•• Presenting useful information and automating work process via thPresenting useful information and automating work process via the map e map greatly improves user acceptancegreatly improves user acceptance

IT or Operations IT or Operations –– who is the owner?who is the owner?

•• Owner of what?Owner of what?–– Budget ($$)Budget ($$)–– AssetsAssets–– PeoplePeople–– TechnologyTechnology

•• Determine who owns what?Determine who owns what?–– IT IT -- The data and systems such as the hardware, software The data and systems such as the hardware, software

applications and communications portals applications and communications portals –– Operations Operations -- The business process that uses the people, tools The business process that uses the people, tools

and technology to manage the assetsand technology to manage the assets•• Dilemma Dilemma -- IT often doesnIT often doesn’’t understand operational issues and t understand operational issues and

Operations often doesnOperations often doesn’’t understand the complexity of ITt understand the complexity of IT–– Build a bridge Build a bridge –– Cross functional process improvement teamsCross functional process improvement teams–– Shared responsibility and shared successShared responsibility and shared success–– Need to avoid the stalemateNeed to avoid the stalemate

Field Usability HurdleField Usability Hurdle

•• DonDon’’t underestimate this!t underestimate this!–– Does the solution help the end user perform Does the solution help the end user perform

their job?their job?–– LotLot’’s of $$ does not equal acceptances of $$ does not equal acceptance–– Involve end users (not exInvolve end users (not ex--end users) in your end users) in your

process improvement or product/project process improvement or product/project decision making teamdecision making team

–– Lay foundation to automate the entire Lay foundation to automate the entire workforce and not a selected fewworkforce and not a selected few

Field Usability HurdleField Usability Hurdle

•• Hardware Hardware –– different tools for different different tools for different uses (not unlike vehicles)uses (not unlike vehicles)–– DurabilityDurability–– WeightWeight–– Battery lifeBattery life–– Screen visibilityScreen visibility–– Processor, memory and disk space Processor, memory and disk space

considerationsconsiderations

Automating field workAutomating field work

•• Initial GIS data captureInitial GIS data capture•• Viewing and continuously improving mapsViewing and continuously improving maps

–– Currency, completeness and accuracy of dataCurrency, completeness and accuracy of data–– Office to field and field to officeOffice to field and field to office

•• Serviceman (Mobile dispatch)Serviceman (Mobile dispatch)–– Trouble callsTrouble calls

•• Code compliance and inspections (Scheduling engine)Code compliance and inspections (Scheduling engine)–– GasGas

•• Leak survey Leak survey –– Main, services, business district, reMain, services, business district, re--checkschecks•• Valve inspectionsValve inspections•• CathodicCathodic protectionprotection•• Odorant analysisOdorant analysis

–– ElectricElectric•• Poles, transformers, and other asset inspectionsPoles, transformers, and other asset inspections•• Vegetation managementVegetation management•• Storm Damage AssessmentStorm Damage Assessment

•• Locating facilities for One Call (One Call Ticket tracking)Locating facilities for One Call (One Call Ticket tracking)

Automating Field WorkAutomating Field Work

•• Repairs (Work Management)Repairs (Work Management)–– Repair and Leak historyRepair and Leak history–– Materials and LaborMaterials and Labor

•• Construction (Work Management)Construction (Work Management)–– Proposed designProposed design–– As As builtsbuilts–– Materials and LaborMaterials and Labor

•• Planning (Work Management)Planning (Work Management)–– Proposed designProposed design–– Materials and laborMaterials and labor

Map ViewingMap Viewing

Serviceman Serviceman –– RoutingRouting

Serviceman Serviceman –– trouble callstrouble calls

Inspections & data collectionInspections & data collection

Inspections & data collectionInspections & data collection

Inspections & data collectionInspections & data collection

One Call LocatingOne Call Locating

Repair and ConstructionRepair and Construction

Repair and ConstructionRepair and Construction

Planning Planning -- Facility DesignFacility Design

Arc GIS data as the foundationArc GIS data as the foundation

Obstacles to using GIS data in the Obstacles to using GIS data in the mobile environmentmobile environment

•• Hardware limitationsHardware limitations–– Processor speed, memory and disk space Processor speed, memory and disk space

considerationsconsiderations•• Software Software

–– Data size Data size •• BIG data is a BIG issueBIG data is a BIG issue

–– Application complexityApplication complexity–– Application speedApplication speed–– Data currencyData currency–– Disconnected environmentDisconnected environment

Obstacles to using GIS data in the Obstacles to using GIS data in the mobile environmentmobile environment

•• Communications Communications –––– Wired and wireless environmentsWired and wireless environments–– Connectivity (or lack thereof) is an issue in Connectivity (or lack thereof) is an issue in

the fieldthe field–– Bandwidth is an issueBandwidth is an issue–– Must have access to data 100% of the timeMust have access to data 100% of the time–– Must have data from disparate back office Must have data from disparate back office

systemssystems

Methods for moving Arc GIS data to Methods for moving Arc GIS data to the field userthe field user

•• Take subset of source dataTake subset of source data–– Limited geographic areaLimited geographic area–– Limited data typesLimited data types–– Copy entire image when updatingCopy entire image when updating–– Ideal for initial asset data captureIdeal for initial asset data capture

•• Wireless internetWireless internet–– Connectivity issuesConnectivity issues–– Bandwidth throughput limitationsBandwidth throughput limitations–– Cost of wirelessCost of wireless–– Does give you Does give you ““RealReal--timetime”” datadata

Methods for moving Arc GIS data to Methods for moving Arc GIS data to the field userthe field user

•• Compress source dataCompress source data–– Fit entire service territory on each mobile Fit entire service territory on each mobile

devicedevice–– Same image is on every device in the Same image is on every device in the

mobile enterprisemobile enterprise–– Data is always available to the end userData is always available to the end user–– Data is synchronized with small incremental Data is synchronized with small incremental

compressed filescompressed files

Making the case Making the case –– Where is the ROI?Where is the ROI?

•• What does it cost today?What does it cost today?–– Metrics Metrics –– Unit cost increasing/decreasing or stable?Unit cost increasing/decreasing or stable?–– Look in more than one bucket for savingsLook in more than one bucket for savings

•• Increase Increase –– ProductivityProductivity–– Accuracy and currency of dataAccuracy and currency of data–– Ability to analyze and make decisions Ability to analyze and make decisions –– SafetySafety–– Customer serviceCustomer service

•• Decrease Decrease –– OvertimeOvertime–– LiabilityLiability–– Printing costs and associated storage Printing costs and associated storage –– Vehicle maintenance and fuelVehicle maintenance and fuel–– Data input redundanciesData input redundancies–– Radio trafficRadio traffic

•• There are numerous examples where the business case has been There are numerous examples where the business case has been realized based on proven savings through a successful field autorealized based on proven savings through a successful field automation mation implementation implementation –– Time frame for ROI should be in terms of months and Time frame for ROI should be in terms of months and not years.not years.

Where to start?Where to start?

•• What will the field users embrace?What will the field users embrace?–– Easy to useEasy to use–– Speed of applicationSpeed of application–– Fit entire territory on each deviceFit entire territory on each device–– Provide all data that helps them do their jobProvide all data that helps them do their job–– Make sure that data is currentMake sure that data is current

•• MapsMaps•• RoutingRouting•• Sketching/redliningSketching/redlining•• Where is my work?Where is my work?

SummarySummary

•• Field automation technology works Field automation technology works •• It can reach the whole enterprise by leveraging It can reach the whole enterprise by leveraging

existing Arc GIS technology investmentexisting Arc GIS technology investment•• IT and Operations must work in concertIT and Operations must work in concert•• Arc GIS data and maps will play a central role in Arc GIS data and maps will play a central role in

the field based user interface and presentation the field based user interface and presentation of dataof data

•• Plan with the field in mindPlan with the field in mind•• The business case has been proven and can The business case has been proven and can

work in your organization!work in your organization!

Jay LasseterJay LasseterMapFrame CorporationMapFrame Corporation

4514 Cole Avenue, Suite 4004514 Cole Avenue, Suite 400Dallas, TX 75205Dallas, TX 75205

303.870.0764303.870.0764Jay.lasseter@mapframe.comJay.lasseter@mapframe.com

www.mapframe.comwww.mapframe.com

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