Utilities

 

Benefits for Utilities Design and Planning

• Optimize efficiency through improved speed of modeling and assessment of corridor alternatives in design phase of new construction.
• Increase accuracy of GIS data by speeding the workflow for updating GIS from as-built drawings and field notes.
• Improve outage management response for dispatchers with GIS dashboards that are easily queried.
• Increase visibility into GIS data for managers and staff who aren’t trained in GIS with ease-of-use for visualization and queries.

 

Use case

Utility designers sketch multiple scenarios for transmission corridor Rights of Way (ROW’s) during initial design phase. Integrating design software with a Wacom pen display speeds the iterative sketching and scenario assessment along because the workflow is as easy as drawing planning alternatives on paper maps. Engineering design is improved because the digitizing process is accomplished by drawing utility features directly on the surface of the screen, taking advantage of the comfort and speed provided by intuitive use of hand-eye coordination and palette-based design tools. Speed of both initial design and updating of engineering and GIS data are improved by integrating Wacom pen displays with your engineering and GIS software.  Dispatchers manage GIS assets in a dashboard environment with a Wacom pen in hand.  The heads-up access to GIS allows the dispatchers to visually query the GIS by tapping features with a pen in hand while maintaining eye contact with the immersive mapping environment. Managers benefit from the same ease-of access to the GIS map of the utility infrastructure and can interact with the GIS by using a pen to interrogate the data.  Redline markups and field notes are recorded on tablets and slate devices and are seamlessly integrated into the GIS database.

Recommended Wacom products

DTU-2231
Provides the utility designer with a large palette to work on for initial sketched design scenarios and to build and modify engineering design and GIS databases.  The ergonomics of the adjustable stand and the comfort of working with a pen in hand on the HD digital palette optimize the workflow and lead to faster job completion. Dispatchers utilize the large viewing environment and pen-based query to improve responses to outages. DTU-1631
A smaller format widescreen display that managers can utilize on their desktops to visually monitor facilities infrastructure and utility work crews.  The pen on screen workflow to interact with the GIS has a fast learning curve and provides a comfortable, intuitive way for non-GIS staff to optimize access to information and management of resources using the GIS on a display. Intuos5
Pen tablets are tools that can be used by field staff and design reviewers to incorporate redlining and annotation directly into a digital format so that systems designers and engineers can easily access these digital updates.

Recommended Software for Utilities Design and Planning

• ArcGIS Suite by esri
• Infrastructure Design Suite by Autodesk