{"id":291362,"date":"2018-07-31T08:16:44","date_gmt":"2018-07-31T15:16:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=291362"},"modified":"2018-07-31T08:22:07","modified_gmt":"2018-07-31T15:22:07","slug":"digital-transforms-work-rural-utilities","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/product\/uncategorized\/digital-transforms-work-rural-utilities","title":{"rendered":"Working Smarter: How Digital Systems Are Transforming Work at Rural Utilities"},"author":3621,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"industry":[],"product":[],"class_list":["post-291362","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":{"short_description":"Rural Utilities benefit from easy to use applications, saving time and money.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Many water utilities use paper-based workflows. Although this works, it can be time-consuming, making it difficult to keep up with record keeping and to see patterns or trends. Paper-based workflows also limit the ability to share information and create a common operating view. And what about reporting? Reviewing and organizing your system data to meet reporting criteria can take a lot of work!<\/p>\n

Moving to a digital system is often viewed as too difficult or too expensive, but it can be very rewarding. Among its many benefits are more efficient record keeping and workflow management and the use of analysis to identify priorities, increase the quality and amount of data, and improve customer service.<\/p>\n

Many utilities are taking advantage of and benefiting from the maps and apps that are enabled with a digital platform. I have enjoyed working with several utilities to help them share their stories, which are highlighted below. I hope you enjoy them!<\/p>\n

Rural Lorain County Water Authority replaced its paper-based work order system for meter change outs with ArcGIS. Implementing easy-to-use applications, staff were able to save $1.5\u00a0million!\u00a0Find out how they implemented ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, Collector for ArcGIS, and Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS\u2014read this short case study<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Travis Anderson, district engineer at Le-Ax Water District, deployed GPS technology to field crews on a tight budget: about $3,700. Using Collector for ArcGIS on iPads paired with an external GPS device provided field crews with location accuracy that allowed them to easily locate a valve or waterline, saving them time. Read the whole story to learn how this was accomplished.<\/a><\/p>\n

Staff at Oldham County Water District in Kentucky need to navigate to assets in rural, steep-sloped, often disconnected terrain. Collector for ArcGIS, paired with an Arrow Gold<\/a> high-accuracy GNSS receiver, enabled staff to easily reach assets and conduct real-time data collection. Learn how Oldham County Water District has improved efficiency for meter installations and cut costs nearly in half.<\/a> Hear the district’s story in staff’s own words in the webinar Rural Utility Puts GIS to Work<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

As shown in the above examples, moving to a digital platform has many benefits. One benefit that is highlighted in each example is the ability to use mobile applications to collect data, share data, and improve data quality. My next blog post will discuss how mobile technology and GPS are the key to supporting your daily workflows.<\/p>\n

To learn more about digital workflows, complete the Talk to an Expert form at the bottom of our GIS for Rural and Small Utilities<\/a> web page.<\/p>\n

By Christa Campbell<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Industry Specialist, Esri Global Water Practice<\/em><\/p>\n"}],"authors":[{"ID":3621,"user_firstname":"Christa","user_lastname":"Campbell","nickname":"Christa Campbell","user_nicename":"christacampbell09","display_name":"Christa Campbell","user_email":"CCampbell@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/industries\/water\/overview","user_registered":"2018-03-02 00:15:16","user_description":"Christa is a water industry professional with 20+ years of success using and promoting technology. She is a passionate GIS advocate, lifelong learner, and collaborator. As the Director of Esri\u2019s Water Industry team, she provides strategic direction, builds awareness of water industry challenges and trends, and inspires organizations to work smarter using GIS-based solutions. \r\nChrista is a certified GIS Professional and holds a graduate degree in Geography.","user_avatar":""}],"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Kentucky.jpg","wide_image":false,"related_articles":[{"ID":123491,"post_author":"3621","post_date":"2018-03-21 12:03:21","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-21 12:03:21","post_content":"Is your GIS living up to its potential? With today\u2019s technology, your GIS can be so much more than a system of record. I know GIS is great at storing your authoritative data but it\u2019s also good at sharing your data and creating actionable information from your data. Today, GIS is a system of record, a system of engagement and a system of insight\u2026.and it\u2019s easier than ever to implement!\n\n\"\"<\/a> \n\nThere are many definitions for system of engagement. Some define it as a system used directly by employees. Others say it as a system that encourages and enables peer interaction. At Esri, a system of engagement is defined as a system that manages and promotes user collaboration and interaction. It overlays and complements an organization\u2019s investment in a system of record by providing easy access to data as well as easy to use applications that enable collaboration across your organization.\n \nHow do you implement a system of engagement? You have to start with Web GIS<\/a>. Now is the time. Web GIS modernizes your workflows by using web services to deliver data and capabilities. It enables a whole suite of applications that support the work that you do.\n \nFor example, optimize your field operations<\/a> with apps that improve collaboration and streamlines project coordination by providing the same authoritative data to field and office staff in real-time. Access to the same information at the same time can reduce errors, boost productivity, and save money.\n\nWhat is your data telling you? This is where a system of insight becomes important. A system of insight facilitates organizing, transforming, and analyzing your data. With analytics<\/a> you can discover secrets in your data, evaluate trends, and even integrate non-spatial data\u2026resulting in actionable information. Analysis can be performed on the desktop, online, or within Insights for ArcGIS<\/a>. Whatever your need is, there is an analytical tool that can help.\n \nAre you getting the most out of your GIS?\n \nIf not, Esri\u2019s water team is always willing to help.\n \nChrista Campbell<\/strong>\nIndustry Specialist \u2013 Esri Global Water Practice<\/em>\n\n