Field Inventory
 

Field Inventory of facilities is an economical process to solve a many of the needs and goals of a utility. 

In many instances, the utility may already have data, in cards, staking sheets, even in a cad environment. The question is if the data were available whey would we want a field inventory? 

The answer is to save the utility money and time. 

First, let us get a feel for the existing data models and the shortcomings of there use, this does not mean the existing data cannot be used to minimize the cost of the field inventory. 

Data cards for poles or water system are good tools, but they are only good tools at a specific location.  To tie locations together to view a group of locations, like circuits or main line pipes, a connectivity of facilities is required.  When utility personnel need to change conductor or replace pipe many locations are involved.  A group of cards is very difficult to assemble and view to evaluate or plan a project.  The reason is it; the cards are so numerous that the utility planners cannot get their arms around the data. 

Staking sheets have the same problem, which can be a larger problem in that many staking sheets or as built work; orders are filed not only by small pieces of plant, but chronologically.  With staking sheets, the information on one location may be touched many times with many different work orders or staking sheets. 

Even cad systems may be awkward to use, if the data is not behind the graphic feature. On many occasions, the system will not allow us to see the data that we would like to see.

The field inventory if completed correctly will solve these and many more problems.  Let us look at what a good field inventory consists of: 

• Accurate locations

• Connectivity from the substation to the customer (Engineering)

• Materials and framing for Engineering, Work Orders

• Construction standards for Work Management and Continuing Property Records

Let us look at the benefits of accurate GPS locations and the benefits of having good locations.  If the inventory locations are correct we can uses base maps from sources, like counties that are using GIS or sat alights, or aerial photos, or contractor state plan submissions that are accurate, which in turn provides the utility the ability to place plant in the correct right of way.  Which in allows the easements to be correct. As the world becomes more accurate in the geographical sense.  The utilities plant is already, their which eliminates redrawing, adjusting, or somehow making to plant fit. 

The savings in having accurate plant can amount to as much as 30% of the cost of plant update of changes to the facilities.

The connectivity of plant is difficult to measure. However, a value of sorts can be placed on the ability to do the following:

• Minimize outage periods

• Generate outage reports

• Automate line sections for engineering applications

• Provide fuse coordination applications

• Validate transformer loading

• Check on conductor and neutrals for impedance

• Open and close switches of Substations and creating new data in the database and map 

• Analyze urban densities or circuits

• Identify conductor by phase with miles of line or wire miles

The materials and framing information can save enormous time in many areas:

• How many TV Telephone or Fiber contacts are on our poles?

• Testing of poles based on vintage years

• Contact clearances based on height and class

• Installed date of Transformers, sectionalizes, capacitors, regulators and switches

• Facilitate maintenance repair and upgrades

• Establish or update CPR values

• Establish or maintain depreciation values

Since the cost of field inventory is significant how we can put a value on getting the information and maintaining it in an economical value or payback for field inventory. 

Case Study on measured pay back. Within one year

Cost of field inventory $100,000.00                  =100%

Savings

Saving for crews and utility using

Up to date maps and data base                         =25.5% 

Work order and maintenance

Efficiency by Utility                                           =25.5%

Work order closing to CPR’s

Office entry’s by office personnel                      =25.5%

Job layout and estimates                                   =07%

Correct framing, quantities, planning                  =14%

Based on field inventory cost this utilities pay back for good information on the utilities largest asset is 97.5% payback with in the first full use of the system.

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