City of Anaheim Implements ArcFMThe City of Anaheim is implementing ArcFM as its enterprise solution for its electric services. As part of the implementation, the City is migrating electric data drawings of its facility network from AutoCAD to ArcFM. Esri's Professional Services Division and Miner and Miner, an Esri Business Partner, are performing data conversion, migration, and translation activities utilizing advanced processing techniques in ArcFM. They are also providing implementation services, database design, and training. The project started July 5, 2000, with completion estimated for April 2001. A key area of the implementation includes Esri's customization of ArcFM for generation of facility inventory maps and 12 kV circuit maps. ArcFM will interface with the City's customer information system (CIS), enabling customer service representatives to view infrastructure while handling service requests. ArcFM will replace existing CAD hard-copy inventory maps and ArcIMS will provide Intranet query access to data. The GIS will integrate with the City's CIS and outage management system. "We had a need to eliminate redundancy with current mapping and related database maintenance procedures," says Mark Lopez, GIS manager, City of Anaheim. "We have too many maps showing the same information but not using a common data source." "The City of Anaheim has been a longtime user of Esri software for many of its local government departments," says Jack Dangermond, president, Esri. "We look forward to continuing to serve the City's needs, now with ArcFM. Our commitment to providing the best software and service will mean a long, fruitful partnership between Esri and the City of Anaheim for years to come." Esri is supplying ArcFM, including ArcInfo 8, ArcSDE 8 running on Oracle 8i, and ArcIMS. Hardware will include a Compaq NT Proliant 8500 server with 4 Pentium III 500MHz processors. "We chose Esri software for our Electric Services Division for a number of reasons including its compatibility with existing GIS software and its success in other City departments," says Lopez. ArcFM will be used in the Public Utilities Department of Anaheim, which includes Electric Services, Water Services, and Customer Services. This department maintains infrastructure consisting of 24,000 poles, 1,500 miles of electric line, 23,000 transformers, and serves 107,000 customers in a service area of 50 square miles. Data stored or accessible through the GIS database includes 230 CAD inventory map drawings to be converted to the ArcFM energy model, Synergy DPA connectivity database, the CIS database, the pole card database, the pole riser database, and the street light system database. As part of the Professional Services Division work done at Anaheim, Esri helped define electric-specific requirements and the latest Esri ArcFM 8 data model. Specifically, Esri and the City of Anaheim collaborated to define data objects, control objects, output product formats, and interface objects, which were all designed for meeting user-defined needs. Specific application customization was also performed. Key benefits of the ArcFM solution, including map and data consolidation, elimination of redundant work processes, and reduction in map hard-copy output with data, will be available electronically via ArcIMS. In addition, ArcIMS will provide staff online query and analysis access to electric GIS data. Both the Utilities Department and the City will benefit from more reliable data with easier to perform data updates. The ArcFM solution will allow the utility to better plan, design, and estimate new engineering projects, whether it's a new service order or construction site. Materials, labor, and other information for new projects and construction orders are more easily managed and distributed in an automated fashion. Data is also more easily updated since data updates are done using database processes rather than paper or digital drawings. GIS will further be used to enhance and extend operations, providing powerful tools for distribution analysis, system prototyping, and network modeling. The GIS can also provide more timely information to customers in the event of a power outage or service disruption. Future plans include GIS integration with the City's work management system and field data collection verification using ArcPad software. "We've been working closely with the City of Anaheim to empower them with geographic technology tools," says Nate Johnson, Esri account representative. "With the extensive work the agency is doing in its planning and other departments, we believe the latest work in the utility departments will be another piece that integrates well within the established system. The more information is freely distributed and shared, the better the City can serve its citizens." For more information, contact Lane Powell, project manager, Esri (tel.: 909-793-2853,ext. 1-1551; e-mail: lpowell@esri.com). |
