Mobile GIS at Jackson Energy Authority - A Case Study

Charlie Marlin - Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) Madison County, Tennessee Population: 92,000 people 37,000 households

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) Multiple Utilities:

Electric 33,589 Gas customers 28,760 Water customers 33,856 Waste water 27,519 Propane customers: 3,131 Fiber 14,485

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Jackson Energy Authority – GIS GIS in place for several years Added mobile GIS in summer of 2004 Extract data from GIS and copy to laptops Disconnected view, analysis, and sketch Data refreshed weekly via WLAN

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA – Mobile Use (Electric) Each crew foreman has a laptop with the data Asset identification in the field: What is this? Preliminary design sketch using redline layer

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA – Mobile Use (Gas) Asset identification in the field: What is this? Preliminary design sketch using redline layer Related documents

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA – Mobile Use (Water and Waste Water) Asset identification in the field: What is this? Layout has been done by property developer Facilities built by property developer Facilities purchased by JEA if meet approval

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA – Mobile Use (Propane) Asset identification in the field Is this one ours? Smaller number of customers

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA – Mobile Use (Communications) Asset identification in the field: What is this?

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA Special Project 1Color-code fire hydrants by pressure Use mobile GIS to identify hydrants and pressure Three paint colors

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA Special Project 2Lock Change-out Chain link fence with padlock around each gang-

operated switch Mobile GIS for navigating and locating Task performed by summer students Reduce labor costs – technology allows a less

experienced, less skilled person do the work

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA Special Project 3Vegetation Management (7 syllables)Tree-trimming (2.5 syllables) Contractor gets laptop with mobile GIS data Records enable continuous improvement

Rates of growth Frequent-cut corridors All marked on map

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA Special Project 4Pole inspection Preservative treatment Ground condition (other utilities do joint use audit) Mobile GIS aids in navigation, identification, and

recording of inspection on the spot Inspection results go back to office without re-entry

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA Special Project 5Coordinate switching operations Everyone on the same page Field worker on radio to Operation Center tells

them what he is about to do Operation Center makes change a the same time Safety benefit

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA – Rugged or Non-ruggedDecision to go with Non-rugged laptop Ownership by users Consider their personal machine Permitted to use at home for email Many departments (and some individuals) bought hard-

shell cases with foam inserts Some individuals bought laser mouse Failure rate: one lost in three years Every machine still viable Now at end of service life, to be replaced

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

JEA – Rugged or Non-ruggedAlternate approach Bolt to truck mount Laptop never leaves the truck Non-rugged failure rate: 100%

JEA conclusion: If running all the time, probably need rugged laptop. If unpack for each use, non-rugged probably OK.

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Benefits: hard, soft, and in-between

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Benefits: hard, soft, and in-between Sharply reduced printing of paper maps

JEA estimates annual savings of $50,000 Efficiency

More production with same number of people Reduced radio and phone calls to Operations Center

Volume down over 50% No more questions about measurements: “How many feet

from the street centerline is the gas main?” Picture worth 1,000 words Considered primary benefit

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Benefits: hard, soft, and in-between Dig in the right spot Safety. How much does an accident cost? Zero downtime for GIS data.

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Benefits: hard, soft, and in-between Morale, trust, empowered workforce Build skills for future technology Better decisions in the field Less time to reach a good decision People who use the mobile GIS came up with the

best ideas. The hydrant painting use did not come from IT.

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Costs: hardware, software, infrastructure Major cost component Hardware decisions

Rugged or not. Half-rugged? Laptop, hand-held, phone, “tweener

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Costs: hardware, software, infrastructure Usually the least cost component Implementation options

Major GIS vendors Third-party vendors In-house solutions

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Costs: hardware, software, infrastructure Much of the infrastructure cost is sunk. GIS

system and corporate network already in place. Additional infrastructure to support mobile GIS:

Need stable pipeline from server to local office. Had wireless routers. Invested in switch gear.

Diverted IT staff time. May consider “sunk”. R&D needs to be recognized as a cost. “research and

discovery”. Flounder until get the light-bulb moment. Battery life is a factor. Bought new power inverters for

trucks.

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Summary Mobile GIS is not impossible In fact, it is a high-leverage application Many thanks to Jon Taylor at JEA

Charlie Marlin – Graphic Technologies, Inc. (GTI)

Thank you!

Questions?