Since Esri’s first introduction of the Utility Network, named specifically to reflect its focus on utility infrastructure, users have questioned whether utility-specific solutions like EcoStruxure ArcFM are still necessary.
As the number of organizations embarking on grid modernization strategies – including a transition to modern network management – increases, the question is asked more frequently than ever. To answer this question, we need to take a closer look at what the Utility Network offers, and where ArcFM adds unique value.
First, what challenges does the ArcGIS Utility Network solve?
Prior to the inception of the Utility Network, Esri’s Geometric Network connectivity was based solely on geo-coincidence. Assets could only be connected if they were in close physical proximity, which made for a crowded map with limited ability to truly model how networks exist in the real-world. As many know, this logic introduced significant data integrity errors and severely hindered the accuracy of mapping data that could be used in grid operations.
For hundreds of utilities using the Geometric Network worldwide, ArcFM was a game-changer as ArcFM tools were designed to help detect and repair such issues. Utilities came to rely on the ArcFM editing toolbar within ArcMap for this reason. Fundamentally, ArcFM extended the Geometric Network to make it usable for utilities, but it relied heavily on custom scripts, manual configuration, and workarounds.
Today, Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network enables more sophisticated, real-world modeling capabilities by introducing rule-based logic, associations, and topology validation. The ArcGIS Utility Network offers a new, rule-driven framework that’s more scalable, maintainable, and integrated across platforms.
What challenges are not solved by Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network alone?
While Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network offers a robust framework for modeling utility infrastructure, it doesn’t address all GIS modeling challenges. Key issues that utilities continue to face every day include:
- Digitization of the design-construction-commissioning process requires additional software and potentially heavy customization.
- Design workflows are problematic as embedding proposed features directly into GIS can lead to performance and data quality issues, especially without proper lifecycle management.
- Mobile-first or unified field workflows are not fully supported by the Utility Network requiring customization.
- The Utility Network lacks integration with engineering tools for calculations like voltage drop or pressure modeling.
- Finally, and critically, the Utility Network lacks native integration with grid operations systems like ADMS, making sharing critical GIS data a heavy lift.
How can utility-specific solutions that leverage the ArcGIS Utility Network solve these additional challenges?
That’s where our next generation of ArcFM – EcoStruxure ArcFM Solution XI Series – comes in. With our more than 40 years of utility-specific expertise, ArcFM acts as a bridge between Esri’s powerful Utility Network and the real-world needs of utility companies.
Today, ArcFM not only offers productivity tools for end users through our integrated ecosystem of applications that are purpose built for designers, engineers, field crews, and various members of the GIS team; it also offers tools for network intelligence, data validation, automation, and digital workflows tailored to your business operations as well as native interoperability between the GIS and grid operations.
ArcFM delivers these powerful enhancements to the Utility Network through our One Digital Grid Platform. With a common data hub, supported by hybrid-cloud, services-based architecture, the platform facilitates interoperability between ArcFM applications, the GIS, and all other utility systems. What does this mean for utilities?
- Jobs flow seamlessly between work and customer management systems to each member of the team involved in the design-construction-commissioning process.
- As-built designs flow to the operations team in a proposed state during the design process for validation and feedback.
- Due to native interoperability, the data provided by GIS to operations is rigorously accurate, driving the reliability of service to customers.
- Since ArcFM is platform-supported, workflows can be easily tailored to the needs of individual utilities without heavy, complex customization through our extensibility framework.
In summary, ArcFM and Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network combined offer everything that makes the network usable, scalable, and efficient. With ArcFM and Esri, utilities can deliver projects faster to their customers, achieve regulatory compliance with greater ease and efficiency; as well as plan and manage a safer, more reliable, more resilient grid to keep life on for their customers.
Here’s what we’ve heard from utilities using ArcFM on Esri’s Modern Network Information Management System.
- ArcFM Designer eliminates backlogs from 2,000+ designs to zero. Saves $425K annually.
- ArcFM Mobile reduces the use of paper maps in the field by 99%. Saves $575K annually.
- ArcFM Editor makes users up to 75% faster in ArcGIS Pro. Saves $750K annually.
- ArcFM Editor enables 99% GIS data accuracy.
- ArcFM Geodatabase Manager saves users 1 hour per day per user. Saves $125K annually.
- ArcFM Feeder Services reduces integration from weeks to minutes. Saves $125K annually.
- Annual Savings from Adoption of the ArcFM Solution XI Series Exceeds $2.5M.
**(Savings reported by customers with 2M meters.)
Transitioning to ArcFM and Esri’s Utility Network is the leap forward in grid modernization that utilities need. We are excited to work with you on this journey.
You can get started with trying ArcFM Editor XI within ArcGIS Pro on the ArcGIS Utility Network today with a 30-day guided experience.
About the author
Matthew Crooks, Global Product Management Leader for ArcFM
With over 14 years at Schneider Electric and a deep well of industry experience, Matt plays a key role in shaping the vision and strategy behind ArcFM XI and EcoStruxure™ Grid Asset Performance (EGAP) tools.
Add a comment