1. Introduction Architecture Overview... 4

Transcription

1 W H I T E P A P E R Field Automation Intergraph s Single, Comprehensive Mobile Solution Developed to Meet the Demanding Needs of the Utilities and Communications Industry

2 Contents 1. Introduction Architecture Overview Field Automation Core Software Components Field Automation Field Automation for Workforce Management Additional Mobile Functionality Field Automation Add-on Applications Configuration Wizard XML Configuration Schema Field Sketch Field Inspection Vegetation Management Damage Assessment XML Redline Schema Import Command Field Automation Software Features Field Automation Benefits i

3 1. Introduction In the typical service-delivery organization, there are four types of field forces. These relate to routine work, engineering and construction, trouble and outage, and operations and maintenance. In most companies they operate independently, but may be pulled together for outage or crisis situations. Likewise, this typically means they use multiple mobile applications, which are disjointed and departmentalized with neither a commonly shared architecture, nor the means to share and integrate that information back into the corporate enterprise. This is a costly endeavor for the business. There is generally a lot of manual work to re-enter the data, not only within each department, but also across departments that is, if the data is shared at all. If integration to the back office does exist, it s either limited to that departmental system or there are multiple, custom interfaces in place, which are fragile, not easily upgraded, and costly. This also means there are many vendors involved, as well as multiple versions of data in many different databases, files, and/or spreadsheets. In most cases, there are also duplicate and redundant components in place within each of these departmental mobile applications such as locates, network tracing, routing, and global positioning systems (GPS) not to mention the cost associated with multiple software applications, IT involvement, training, application rollout, maintenance, and support (see Figure 1). Figure 1: A typical service-delivery organization often has disparate data in multiple databases, files, and spreadsheets. As more workers have jobs in field services, mobile solutions have stepped in to take the corporate enterprise on the road. These solutions increase business productivity by shortening the data acquisition chain the time it takes to obtain information and act on that knowledge. An effective mobile strategy creates a real-time information chain that links the corporate back office and the mobile worker. Until recently, linking mobile workers with business-critical applications required complex mobile middleware. Today, enterprises require end-to-end mobile solutions that offer tangible, measurable business benefits 1

4 for a range of mobile operations. Improving the productivity of mobile workers has an impact on revenue, expenses, customer service, and therefore, competitive advantage. With an increasing need in the utilities and communications industry to provide greater efficiencies with product delivery, to leverage incumbent technology, and to unify duplication in systems, Intergraph offers a mobile solution to manage work all types of work efficiently. The key to providing a consolidated field geographic information system (GIS) and mobile workforce management (MWFM) application is ensuring that all departmental needs are considered. The point at which the information intersects between assets, work, and resources is where a mobile solution provides the most value. Intergraph, the leading global provider of spatial information management software, is again paving the way with our Field Automation solution. Field Automation s combined technology foundation of engineering applications, mobile workforce management, and field force automation supports activities common to many utilities and communications companies field applications (Figure 2): Outage management/service restoration Inspection/compliance Damage assessment Critical infrastructure protection and security Vegetation management Maintenance and repair Trouble call response Field design Figure 2: Intergraph s Field Automation solution supports activities common to many utilities and communications companies. Intergraph s Field Automation provides a common, wireless platform and is a highly customizable, easily configured, and extremely extensible application, making it the logical choice for the single enterprisewide mobile solution. 2

5 Our Field Automation solution is a comprehensive mobile environment that supports the following: One consolidated field application that handles all types of work Updated, leading-edge technology platform Extensive commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) functionality Modern customization tools Lower cost of ownership Reduced software, maintenance, development, IT, rollout, and support costs Improved productivity and efficiency Improved data accuracy, reduced redundancy Newly supported workflows, which ensures future ROI The following information provides an insight to the new Field Automation solution developed to meet the demanding mobile needs of the utilities and communications industry. 3

6 2. Architecture Overview Field Automation is a robust, consolidated mobile solution that brings together the worlds of routine work, engineering and construction, trouble and outage, and operations and maintenance at the mobile level. It is built on Microsoft s CAB (Composite Application Block) technology and fully embraces its Smart Client services and capabilities. Field Automation is a Composite Smart Client, which means it is a unified application platform that comes with significant functionality out-of-the-box. This adds value for our customers, not only as one consolidated mobile application that supports all types of work, but also as a platform for add-on applications to support additional workflows. Field Automation also utilizes configurable industry-standard XML package technology for data dissemination and integration. Using XML ensures compatibility with most other field and back office applications, and its structure allows manageable sizes of data packets to be sent back and forth wirelessly, with speed and simplicity. The Field Automation application may be run from tablets, ruggedized, or standard laptop PCs running the Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system. See Figure 3 for a high-level architecture overview of the Field Automation solution. Figure 3: This illustration shows an overview of the high-level architecture of Intergraph s Field Automation solution Field Automation Core Software Components The Field Automation solution architecture consists of components responsible for specific, related sets of functions. Pre-integrated components reduce implementation time and costs, and lower maintenance support and costs. Integrating with multiple business systems GIS, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), automated meter reading (AMR), customer information system (CIS), outage 4

7 management system (OMS), MWFM, and work management system (WMS) is essential to managing the distribution network, improving operational efficiency, and improving overall customer service Field Automation The basic, foundation component of Field Automation distributes intelligent geospatial information to fixed and mobile locations, providing navigation, query, tracing, reporting, and redline capabilities to two main groups of users: viewers who work in an office environment connected to the network and disconnected viewers who represent mobile users in the field. Both applications unleash valuable geospatial data that was once limited to mapping departments. Connected users have a read-only connection to the master geofacilities data via a LAN connection, while disconnected users utilize an extract of the master geofacilities data locally on their field computers Field Automation for Workforce Management Field Automation provides the mobile user interface to InService and to other mobile units. The mobile units also interface with automatic vehicle location (AVL) hardware. Field Automation communicates with dispatchers by radio/wireless modem or wireless gateway through I/Mobile Data Terminal (I/MDT), the communication server-based interface in InService. Field Automation allows crews to access a subset of InService commands. Since wireless communications between the back office and field sometimes fails, the mobile application must be able to work in this environment. Field Automation addresses this situation with the store and forward functionality, which allows crews to work with and without network communication access. In areas of limited or no wireless connectivity, work status and completion information is queued and then sent to InService automatically when communications are restored Additional Mobile Functionality Mobile data components increase the efficiency of crew communications. Mobile computing systems allow crews to receive work automatically and to update the status of work on their mobile data terminals (MDTs). InService supports mobile data through the I/MDT product on the communications server and the Field Automation software in each of the vehicles. I/MDT sends and receives messages from a message switch connected to the local area network or an RS-232 communication port. The message switch connects to the wireless gateway or radio network controller to complete the communication between the dispatch environment and mobile computers. The mobile computers can review and update event, crew, personnel, and equipment information maintained in the dispatch environment. I/Page and I/Tracker extend the mobile computing capabilities available to the system. I/Page allows the dispatcher to send work to crews via alphanumeric pages. I/Tracker allows the real-time display of crew vehicle locations using GPS technology Field Automation Add-on Applications Intergraph complements the Field Automation solution with pre-built, highly configurable add-on applications that streamline and optimize additional field workflows. These additional applications field sketch, field inspection, vegetation management, and damage assessment are developed as additional Smart Client modules or Smart Parts, so they easily plug into the Field Automation framework and continue the user experience of one application in the truck. Each of these applications will have the ability to plug-and-play with the other Field Automation applications (field inspection, field sketch, etc.). The applications are data-model independent and will work for any industry, so the application can be 5

8 easily implemented at any customer site. Figure 4 gives the visual architecture overview of the Field Automation add-on applications. Figure 4: This illustration shows a visual overview of the architecture of Intergraph s Field Automation solution Configuration Wizard The configuration wizard will provide a straightforward, intuitive way to configure the parameters that will drive the Field Automation applications behavior. The wizard will support the configuration of all of the Field Automation applications outlined in this document. It allows the administrator to select the G/Technology database, for which the field information will be captured, and the features and/or components, compatible units (CUs), and material item codes (MICs), and/or attributes that will be available for capture/edit in the field. Data captured in the field are stored as intelligent redline features, so the wizard will also allow administrators to assign the redline symbols, linestyles, etc., for their fieldcaptured features and/or records XML Configuration Schema All configuration parameters selected within the configuration wizard will be written to an XML schema that ships to the Field Automation application and processed. The content of the XML schema will drive the content and behavior of the dialogs/forms for the particular Field Automation applications. Again, the importance here is that this prevents Intergraph from having to hardcode the application dialogs/forms and will allow project teams and customers the flexibility to modify, add, and remove features, components, CUs, MICs, and/or attributes for their particular implementation without having to modify the application source code Field Sketch Either in the field or in the office, utility and communications companies need to provide differently skilled engineers, planners, or field crews with different sets of tools for performing design. Some may have a strong technical background and others may not. Today, we have several options for doing design work. The first option is using Designer connected in the office, where you have the full-blown design, analysis, and validation capabilities against the live database. This option also supports the integration with Work Management, which provides tight integration with work order management, scheduling, Compatible Units (CUs) or Material Item Codes (MIC), estimation, and design specification. The second option is to 6

9 use Designer in disconnected mode, which also gives you a full-blown design and analysis seat, but runs against a subset of the database with one or more replicated jobs. The third option is field sketch, which uses the Field Automation platform for doing a much simpler form of design. The field sketch application is a light-weight, simple-to-use application that allows engineers, planners, or other personnel to quickly sketch out a new design by selecting Compatible Units (CUs), Material Item Codes (MICs), or some level of attribution. These simple designs are captured in an XML schema as intelligent redlines, which will be uploaded into the G/Technology database as intelligent, network-connected features with the corresponding attributes and ownership Field Inspection Utilities and communications companies routinely perform field inspections to assess the health of facilities in the field. The field inspection application for Field Automation is intended for field crews that perform inspections in order to capture facility conditions and damage, as well as record field corrections, such as actual facility locations, missing facilities in the system, and incorrect or missing attribution. The inspection information will be uploaded into the G/Technology database as intelligent inspection records with all the corresponding information and ownership to the inspected feature. The application also uploads any captured field corrections Vegetation Management Vegetation management is typically known as the process of trimming, clearing, and/or spraying trees, shrubbery, and other types of vegetation from under and around facilities to prevent interference with service or damage to facilities. However, vegetation management entails three main workflow areas: the analysis to determine the areas to be inspected for vegetation issues, the inspection of those areas in order to capture the vegetation management needs (e.g., requires trimming with bucket truck, needs herbicide spray), and the actual vegetation work/action that gets performed (e.g., trimmed trees under span, actual time: three hours; applied herbicide spray around pole, actual time: 20 minutes). The vegetation management application for Field Automation will focus on the inspection and action workflows as they pertain to the capturing of the necessary information in the field and the importing of that captured information back into G/Technology. This application is intended for field crews that inspect facilities to capture vegetation needs, as well as contractor crews that perform vegetation actions and need to capture the actual work that they ve done in the field. The inspection and action information will be uploaded into the G/Technology database as intelligent inspection records with all the corresponding information and ownership to the inspected feature. The application will present the user with an easy-to-use GUI either a tool palette of preconfigured options or a dialog form for capturing inspection assessments and vegetation work performed Damage Assessment Most utilities and communications companies have to deal with storm-related damages. A large portion of the difficulties associated with restoration can be directly attributed to the way in which damage assessments are conducted. Since these assessments help utilities identify and prioritize storm-affected areas, these companies need ways to simplify and expedite the data collection process to improve response time and restore service efficiently particularly when the next storm is moving in. The first phases of damage assessment initial restoration and follow-on damage assessment are critical to efficiently and quickly restoring power. The Field Automation damage assessment application is intended for field crews to collect data in the field about the damaged equipment quickly and efficiently. To expedite field data collection, preconfigured forms will be used to prompt crews to accurately capture either a representative sample or more complete data about conditions in the field which ensures that the right personnel are assigned to specific jobs for 7

10 the follow-on, restoration work. All captured assessment information will be electronically uploaded into the back office systems accordingly XML Redline Schema All data captured in the field will be written to a redline XML schema. Based on the configuration and the actions selected by the end-user, the redline data will be written to the intelligent redline data XML schema. Once the field work is complete, the redline XML schema will get sent back to the office, either through automation or manual steps Import Command In the back office, there will be a command for importing the redline XML schema and converting the contents into real G/Technology data, complete with the corresponding network connectivity, ownership, and the attributes, where applicable. There will be a command for interactive import during a Designer session, as well as a batch command that can be used in those customer implementations in which the redline data is automatically uploaded each night or upon work packet check-in. The import command will take advantage of as much of the back office business rules as feasibly possible such as the proximity tolerance analysis for connectivity and ownership when importing redline data. 8

11 3. Field Automation Software Features Field Automation s rich functionality includes navigation, analysis, vehicle tracking and routing, job creation and management, and access to real-time status of crews and jobs. Field Automation works in a connected or a disconnected mode with the ability to store and forward information affording crews the flexibility to work inside and outside of wireless coverage. Using the intuitive Field Automation interface, field service personnel can accept multiple types of work orders, view up-to-date facility maps, turn redlines into almost immediate database updates, create field designs, and communicate instantly with the back office. Field personnel can accomplish more work through immediate and efficient communication, data update, and use of the most current enterprise data. As mentioned earlier, our Field Automation solution consists of components that are responsible for specific, related sets of functions. The below sections outline the specific functionality delivered with each of these modules. The key functionality of the Field Automation basic module includes the following: Robust engineering as-built network model/map Review/markup design job Engineering/as-built tracing Feature locates and queries Reports Attribute review Redline markups that can be sent to back office Measurement tools View detail layouts (manhole, substation, reg. station, etc.) Display control, alternate viewing themes Ad hoc file attachment or viewing Round-trip data update/capture (through customization or add-on apps) Microsoft Windows XP/2000 tablet and rugged PC-enabled The workforce management module of Field Automation includes the following additional functionality, when integrated with InService: Wireless job assignments and notification Job status updates Real-time queries on job status and history Text messaging between mobile users and to dispatch Real-time queries to external systems, such as CIS (with I/Informer) Context-sensitive event details and closure forms Vehicle-to-job routing with directions GPS integration for real-time vehicle tracking Work order generation in the field 9

12 View other crew (with GPS tracking) and job locations Emergency alerts Store and forward capability The workforce management module of Field Automation includes the following additional functionality, when integrated with InService for Outage Management: Real-time network tracing View tags and abnormal device status Update operational status (open/close) of devices in field Update estimated restoration time Partial restoration View calls for outage events Figure 5 illustrates how the Field Automation functionality grows as a company deploys the different components and add-on applications. Figure 5: Intergraph s Field Automation technology is scalable to customer needs. 10

13 4. Field Automation Benefits As mentioned earlier, improving the productivity of mobile workers has an impact on revenue, expenses, customer service, and therefore competitive advantage. Below are just some of the significant benefits you can realize with an enterprisewide implementation of Field Automation. Increases the types of field work field technicians can accomplish, raising productivity by as much as 60 percent Reduces costs for IT, training, rollout, and maintenance and support for field applications by providing a unified field environment for multiple applications Provides timely access to integrated back office GIS, OMS, MWFM, and ERP data with ability to interface to virtually any enterprise system Enables field crews to address all types of work from one mobile solution Reduces lag time between job completion and new work order dispatch Increases safety and security of field personnel by providing access to the most current information available for the work area Reduces field paperwork, voice radio traffic, and return-to-base travel time by as much as 60 percent Reduces mistakes and increases data integrity Enhances efficient use of personnel and eliminates repeat visits Enables achievement of regulatory compliance Accelerates the flow of accurate information, leading to quicker response times, better service, and competitive advantage Improves billing accuracy and collection by as much as 50 percent by accessing current data and providing immediate on-site and online job reporting and closing Field Automation provides significant benefits that have direct impact on customer satisfaction, and hence, the bottom line. 11

14 For more information about Intergraph, visit our Web site at Intergraph and the Intergraph logo are registered trademarks of Intergraph Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Intergraph believes that the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date. Such information is subject to change without notice. Intergraph is not responsible for inadvertent errors Intergraph Corporation. All Rights Reserved. 3/10 UAC-US-0023B-ENG