Telecommunications Sessions

If you own, manage, operate, or maintain infrastructure related to telecommunications utilities, you can’t afford to miss the innovative and ready-to-implement ideas presented at this event. Register now to check out these targeted sessions, and much, much more!

Tuesday, March 11, 8:30

Enhancing Business Process Monitoring with Spatial Databases
Track: New Technology and Market Directions
Dr. Jayant Sharma, Oracle Corporation

Learning Objectives:

• Get an introduction to spatial and near-real-time event database technology.
• Understand the impact of event and spatial data dissemination on business process monitoring.
• See how to transform static infrastructure data into real-time spatial data.

In the dynamic world of utility operations, it is important to use various real-time data to update static geospatial data and transform it into near-real-time spatial data. The use of spatial databases and event computing frameworks can provide real-time spatial data to end-users with an up-to-the-minute system status, leading to improved utility operation. Such database technology also could be used to visualize historical events over a period of time to analyze past events more effectively.
Copresenter: Brian Owenson, Oracle Corporation

Enterprise Spatial Databases Advance GIS for Infrastructure
Track: Enterprise Architecture & System Integration
Francois Valois, Bentley Systems, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn more about spatial databases.
• Learn more about how they can be used in GIS systems.
• Learn how different systems can be integrated.

For years, GIS and its associated data stores were seen as an outsider to IT standards and architectures. Open enterprise spatial databases from vendors such as Oracle and Microsoft provide for IT standards compliance, enable a higher degree of interoperability, and facilitate use of spatial information in new and innovative ways. This presentation will examine the implications of enterprise spatial databases for traditional GIS users, new classes of spatial information users, IT professionals, and GIS vendors.

Tuesday, March 11, 10:30

Benefits of Application Management Outsourcing for CE GIS
Track: Return on Investment/Business Case
James Rice, Exelon Corporation

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the business case and benefits for using application maintenance outsourcing, from the operator and vendor perspectives.
• Get ideas on possible ways that an outsourcing arrangement can be structured.
• Gain knowledge of the challenges before and throughout the execution of an outsourcing contract.

This presentation will explore the application maintenance outsourcing (AMO) arrangement used to support ComEd’s mapping and engineering design businesses, supporting over 400 users and 10,000 designs. We will review the business and technical problems, the drivers for outsourcing, and the techniques used to facilitate collaboration and communications between the provider and the customer. This presentation will provide a perspective from the middle of this engagement, with the project about halfway through a 36-month term.
Copresenter: Brad Sileo, Ubisense Consulting

Leveraging GIS to Automate Field Inspections
Track: Mobile Applications
Jon Huddleston, NW Natural

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to leverage GIS to automate field inspections.
• Learn the benefits of a map-based approach to automating field inspections.
• Understand today’s code compliance process at NW Natural.

There are tremendous efficiencies to be gained through successful field automation that result in decreased costs and liability and increased safety and customer service. This session will demonstrate how NW Natural leveraged their GIS and integrated several disparate legacy applications to automate the code compliance inspection process from the field. Attendees will learn how the process has improved; not only are the inspections performed quicker, but the data is more accurate and consistent—resulting in measurable ROI.
Copresenter: Jay Lasseter, MapFrame Corporation

Tuesday, March 11, 11:30

Service Resiliency: The Next Generation
Track: Operations Management & Damage Prevention
Donald J. Stinson, Intergraph Corporation

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how real-time mobile technologies can drive efficiencies during storm situations.
• Learn how spatially enabling the assessment process will allow the utility to make faster and better decisions.
• Learn how to provide more accurate and timely information to executive management and the public on the status of a storm situation.

This presentation will focus on real-time mobile technologies that will enable utilities to streamline work processes for that critical period after a storm or major outage occurs. Being able to position crews and materials in the timeliest manner just after a storm is critical in getting your customers back in service as quickly as possible. Spatially enabling your decision process with real-time data in the field greatly impacts your efficiencies during storm situations.
Copresenter: Damon Dougherty, Intergraph Corporation

Tuesday, March 11, 2:30

Field Data Communications: Transition to the Fat-Pipe World
Track: Mobile Applications
Mark C. Hatfield, Enspiria Solutions, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

• See the benefits of high-speed data communications.
• Discover what other utilities have done.
• Evolve to take advantage of high-speed data.

This session will examine potential business issues and benefits for utilities to adopt “fat-pipe” communications available via the continually expanding range of commercial high-speed data networks (3G cellular, WiFi, and WiMax technologies with data speeds over 300 kbs). The presenter will show utility initiatives to date, as well as barriers that can prevent utilities from reaping the potential benefits. It discusses how utilities can upgrade technology and change business processes to take advantage of high-speed data.

Tuesday, March 11, 3:30

The GISCI Certification Program
Track: Organizational Impacts & Project Management
Scott Grams, GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)

Learning Objectives:

• Get information about the GISCI application process.
• Learn about future direction of certification and professional development.
• Understand the importance of certification to establishing professional identity.

This session will detail the GISCI Certification Program for GIS professionals. Started on January 1, 2004, this is a recognition program for established GIS professionals. It is a non-examination, portfolio-based system. Strategies for filling out the application as well as detailed information about the history of the effort and the institute will be provided. Information about certification in relation to licensure and state endorsements of the program will be offered as well.

Tuesday, March 11, 4:30

Convergence: Improving the Flow of Critical Infrastructure Data Within the Organization
Track: New Technology and Market Directions
Geoff Zeiss, Autodesk, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what convergence means for the utilities and construction industries.
• Learn how to extract more value from your CAD/BIM data.
• Understand the implications of convergence for urban planning and emergency preparedness.

CAD/BIM applications are the source of most of the precision design data about the world’s infrastructure data including buildings, roads and highways, pipelines, utility, and telecommunications networks. In organizations responsible for infrastructure, precision design information is critical for operations and maintenance—but the flow of this essential information between groups within the organization is inefficient. The benefits of convergence include improving the performance of buildings and facilities over their full life cycle.

Wednesday, March 12, 9:00

Information Pipeline: A Geospatial Approach to Pipeline Management at the Tarrant Regional Water District
Track: Work and Asset Management
Jeffery Coffey, Tarrant Regional Water District

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the development of a pipeline management decision-support tool.
• Discover innovative ways to create GIS data from existing nonspatial data.
• See how a geodatabase can support a pipeline management strategy.

The Tarrant Regional Water District is developing a comprehensive pipeline management strategy that depends upon an accurate, manageable GIS database of information that supports all pipeline operation and maintenance activities. This presentation will examine the development of the pipeline geodatabase at TRWD and discuss how the organization effectively acquired, developed, and migrated disparate sources of data into the pipeline geodatabase, developed access for non-GIS users, and how that supports our operation and maintenance activities.

Wednesday, March 12, 10:00

Structured Approach to Benefits Modeling
Track: Return on Investment/Business Case
Alistair Davidson, PA Consulting Group

Learning Objectives:

• Get an overview of return on investment modeling.
• Understand structured approach benefit modeling.
• Use modeling techniques, e.g. determining base case, sensitivity analysis, and yearly tracking.

Increasingly, GIS managers need to quantify value delivered by their programs/projects and are looking to build full return on investment (ROI) models to achieve this. In many cases, a simple approach to identifying, quantifying, and tracking benefits is compelling enough to support a business case and budget requests, while providing a good base for a full ROI model—if required later. This presentation explores a proven, structured approach to benefits modeling with worked examples.
Copresenter: John Kirkwood, PA Consulting Group

Building and Sustaining a Geospatially Enabled Enterprise Asset Register Capability
Track: Work and Asset Management
Paul J. Yarka, Accenture

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what technology solutions other organizations are using to integrate enterprise GIS with enterprise asset management systems.
• Develop an understanding of a single business process that can be used to optimally maintain a synchronized, asset-centered database.
• Discover lessons learned in implementing a geospatially enabled enterprise asset register.

T&D Utilities has invested heavily in enhancing their asset management operating model, processes, and tools. An enterprise asset register is a component of these improvements, providing a foundation for asset-related decision making. The geospatially enabled enterprise asset register is envisioned to provide a single system of record for the majority of assets. Some utilities are driving the enterprise asset register toward providing a 360-degree view of assets, enabling all asset planning and work execution.

Wednesday, March 12, 11:00 

Maximizing ROI on Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions
Track: Return on Investment/Business Case
Kecia Pierce, Intergraph Corporation

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize that the ROI for general purpose GIS is 1:1.
• Understand the downstream applications that deliver the real ROI for impacting the bottom line.
• Learn how companies have increased ROI and benefits with geospatial infrastructure solutions.

Geospatial infrastructure solutions provide many benefits to utilities and communications companies. They are not just for distribution and operation maps; they can maintain and manage the facility network model. The downstream applications that leverage the geospatial network model outage management, mobile workforce management, engineering network analysis, customer reporting, and work and asset management deliver real results that impact the bottom line. Real-world examples will be presented along with the resultant benefits.
Copresenter: Brimmer Sherman, Intergraph Corporation

Wednesday, March 12, 1:00

Balancing Onshore and Offshore for Maximum Value
Track: Organizational Impacts & Project Management
Jenifer Hartnett-Bullen, PA Consulting Group

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to select the right GIS project and partner for offshoring.
• Understand how to deliver anticipated offshore savings by managing onshore risks.
• Get details on planning project, risk management, and onshore support for offshore projects.

GIS project managers—whether implementing a new GIS application or a significant enhancement project—are lured by the promises of financial savings from working with an offshore delivery partner. But “out of sight, out of mind” does not guarantee the project will be delivered to your specifications without your involvement. Only by selecting the right offshore partner, providing enough onshore support, anticipating and mitigating risks, and planning for quality can anticipated cost savings be realized.
Copresenter: Karl Boone, PA Consulting Group

Case Study: Integrating GIS and Work Management
Track: Enterprise Architecture & System Integration
Samuel Newman, Cobb EMC

Learning Objectives:

• Gain an architectural understanding of how to integrate WMS with other systems.
• See the benefits of integrating WMS with GIS, CIS, and ERP.
• Understand the challenges facing integration of WMS, GIS, CIS, and ERP.

The power of a work management system can be enhanced upon integration with GIS and ERP systems. Work management by itself improves work order management capabilities. By integrating work management with ERP, and particularly GIS, a company realizes a more complete solution that can create a work order, design a job for the work order, requisition assets for the work order, manage charges for the work order, and finally unitize the assets.

Wednesday, March 12, 2:00

Beyond Mashups: The Enterprise Geo-portal
Track: Internet and Web Services
John Nelson, IDV Solutions

Learning Objectives:

• Enhance GIS presentation.
• Make GIS investments more actionable.
• Take advantage of Web services and rich Internet applications.

Organizations have made significant investments in geographic information systems. The presentation tier of this investment, however, has been typically limited, static, and labor intensive. Enterprise portals are increasingly popular for organizations that wish to visualize geographic data in a more current and collaborative sense. This presentation will identify options, barriers to entry, benefits, and technical challenges to the process of building and implementing a geographic enterprise portal. Specific examples will be cited.

Wednesday, March 12, 3:00

Benefits of Using Geo Mashups for the Enterprise
Track: Internet and Web Services
Michael Baker, Intergraph Corporation

Learning Objectives:

• Define what geo-mashups are.
• Explain are they are created.
• Explain the benefits of mashups to the enterprise.

A mashup is a system which combines two or more separate data streams to create original content. A geo-mashup is a website which draws on a large, pre-existing online map collection and an API for the creation of maps. Just a few of the advantages of an enterprise using geo-mashups are: lower cost, lower risk and a quicker time-to-market. These and others will be discussed in the session.