{"id":550572,"date":"2024-11-14T18:49:31","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T18:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uat.esri.com\/en-us\/industries\/blog\/?post_type=blog&p=550572"},"modified":"2025-04-07T22:19:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T22:19:22","slug":"advanced-planning-and-construction-with-cim-integration","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/industries\/blog\/articles\/advanced-planning-and-construction-with-cim-integration","title":{"rendered":"Advanced Planning and Construction with CIM Integration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Customer Spotlight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Andel owns and operates the electrical distribution grid in eastern Denmark and provides power to 1.5 million customers through the grid companies Cerius and Radius.<\/p>\n\n

Challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Andel is expanding their infrastructure to meet growing customer demand. Aging assets, distributed solar\/batteries, additional heat pump load, and electric car charging are all significant drivers at Andel for renewing and extending the grid and optimizing its operation.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\"\"
Andel is expanding their infrastructure to meet growing customer demand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

Network data quality is critical to providing an intuitive and consistent viewing and editing experience across the many departments that use network information, and for the safety of operations and quality of service.<\/p>\n\n

Therefore, the utility requires state-of-the-art geographic information system (GIS) and advanced distribution management system (ADMS) software to enhance productivity, from design and planning to operations. As a merger of two utilities, Andel faced the challenge of consolidating legacy technology systems. It chose to consolidate its legacy geometric network and Intergraph G\/Tech into ArcGIS Utility Network.<\/p>\n\n

Solution<\/h2>\n\n

Andel consolidated two legacy geographic information systems into a future-proof GIS. The detailed Utility Network data model combined with simplified usage enables GIS to be a single source of truth for asset and network data throughout the enterprise. The utility uses ArcGIS Enterprise with Utility Network, a business-critical system that supports network planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n

Andel concluded that Utility Network was the best primary dataset for its two ADMS systems. ArcGIS Utility Network serves as the primary dataset for assets and the electrical model in its normal configuration, while the ADMS systems own the grid\u2019s dynamic configuration.<\/p>\n\n

Andel sought to benefit from the comprehensive and detailed data model in ArcGIS Utility Network. Their goal was to align the representation of real-world assets in GIS and operational systems, improving the foundation for numerous workflows and spatial analytics.<\/p>\n\n

Advanced integration software is needed to ensure that both GIS and ADMS always represent the actual state of the grid while also providing support for the complex grid extension and commissioning processes.<\/p>\n\n

To facilitate the transition, Andel utilizes the Similix Utility Network Migration Suite. It offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for mapping between the source system and Utility Network. Its no-code rule engine maintains the configuration of data transformations.<\/p>\n\n

Building on this improved data and the common information model (CIM), Andel chose the Similix CIM Adaptor for ArcGIS. This product-based solution is configurable to export and synchronize the planned changes to the electrical grid. When the feeder is updated, the CIM Adaptor exports a full or changed feeder as a CIM file known as a difference file. These data updates support both the PSI Energy ADMS and Schneider Electric ADMS.<\/p>\n\n

Detailed network data must be well-maintained. Andel uses Esri UK\u2019s UNE for ArcGIS (UNE) to manage network data easily. Without specialized GIS training, workers can use this lightweight web app to view, edit, and manage real-time digital twin models of detailed electrical, water, or gas networks.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\"\"
Query building is straightforward in UNE for ArcGIS.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

UNE sits seamlessly on top of the ArcGIS system and honors the rules of the Utility Network data model. Its functions enable users to update information with built-in smart editing capabilities. Furthermore, they understand and query the network connectivity and perform traces.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Tracing an electric substation in UNE is trouble-free.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

UNE is used to design grid extensions and support other workflows. A design is stored in a branch version. Branch versioning is a type of geodatabase versioning that works with the ArcGIS Enterprise Web GIS model. It uses a service-based architecture to allow multiple users to edit and supports long-transaction scenarios through web feature layers.<\/p>\n\n

This capability supports correct grid representations, particularly for lengthy construction projects. Data is exported to the ADMS systems, where it is staged and inspected before being updated.<\/p>\n\n

After commissioning, ADMS confirms the design changes are implemented, triggering them to become part of the as-built electrical network. Finally, the Similix CIM Adaptor confirms that the Utility Network data and ADMS systems are in sync.<\/p>\n\n

\n
Use of the CIM adapter facilitates high-quality data for ADMS.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

Results<\/h2>\n\n

Andel uses high-quality, consistent network data to support various business systems. They use a web-based system for planning and editing, which helps streamline important work processes by making data easy to access and edit, ensuring secure data sharing, and keeping information up to date for better decision-making and operational efficiency.<\/p>\n\n

The intuitive user interface resulted in:<\/p>\n\n