Mobile GPS
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mobile GPS Application Preserves Investment, Curbs Costs TWO RIVERS, WISCONSIN, March 14, 2006 Small Municipal Utility uses hand held Trimble Navigation’s GeoXT™ handheld to enter enormous amounts of plant data into mapping software in record time. Late in 2002, Two Rivers Water and Light (TRWL) engaged R&R Sy-TEC to perform a field inventory of their 6200-service electrical distribution system. R&R Sy-TEC personnel gathered plant asset information coupled with GPS locations. The inventory was completed in only 4 months utilizing R&R Sy-TEC personnel. The information was then used by R&R Sy-TEC to produce a plant database and digital map. The finished product was then delivered to TRWL; along with a suite of software products developed by R&R Sy-TEC. The combined purpose of the software and data-gathering was to facilitate construction planning, outage tracing, engineering analysis, plant valuation; and numerous other operational and financial aspects of utility system management.  Due to time constraints and heavy work loads TRWL was not able to complete the conversion to R&R Sy-TEC software until late December of 2004. In January of 2005 the TRWL went live with the R&R Sy-TEC software but had 2 years worth of new and rebuilt plant to enter into the mapping software as well as any new construction that would happen while the plant entry took place during 2005 calendar year. The fortunes of TRWL took a turn for the better in 2005; when Tom Bushman, after taking over as GM, contacted R&R Sy-TEC to seek advice on bringing the electronic plant model up to date. John Mitchell showed up on the Electric Utility Directors door step with a Trimble Navigation’s GeoXT. R&R Sy-TEC was just at the point of rolling out UIS-Mobile; a plant data gathering product designed to run on Trimble Navigation’s GeoXT™ handheld. As it
turned out, UIS-Mobile is designed specifically for utility use.
Most utilities use some sort of construction unit codes (mnemonic phrases) for
identifying different types of poles, insulators, pipes, etc. These codes can be
unwieldy to enter using the keys or virtual keyboards on field devices.
UIS-Mobile allows users to download the codes specific to that utility, and
quickly and accurately pick the codes for particular assets from lists while
recording an asset’s GPS location. This feature minimizes the use of keys and
maximizes operator efficiency in the field. The product allows users to quickly gather asset data and locations. Back at the office, the data can be imported to the plant database and mapped without further intervention. In addition, UIS-Mobile has a job planning mode, which allows users to record data and locations for new construction. When such data is imported, the R&R Sy-TEC GIS system automatically generates a job estimate, crew instructions, and material pick lists. It was decided that the line foreman and crew leaders – being the most familiar with the plant, would be the operators of the UIS-Mobile GeoXT handheld system . R&R Sy-TEC’s mobile application developer, John Mitchell, made several trips to Wisconsin to personally oversee the installation, training, and initial implementation of the product. Because of the simplicity of the UIS-Mobile user interface, and the minimal training curve; the crew leaders were able to catch up on several years’ worth of paper-work and mapping in less than three months - with sufficient time left over for their regular duties. Now, all new construction is planned and recorded using the UIS-Mobile/GeoXT combination.
As an added benefit, with the data brought up to date, it was possible to generate an accurate CPR ledger (utility talk for the long-term asset portion of the balance sheet). The citizens of Two Rivers will gain from this as well, as the system is further implemented to employ R&R Sy-TEC‘s connectivity tools; which allow users to rapidly pinpoint the source of a power outage. Two rivers Water and Light has, in effect, gained all the benefits of a new field inventory – at a small fraction of the cost. .. For More Information Contact: |
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