Copyright Dan Callister / Getty Images
Tdworld 2048 Seattlecitylight595
Tdworld 2048 Seattlecitylight595
Tdworld 2048 Seattlecitylight595
Tdworld 2048 Seattlecitylight595
Tdworld 2048 Seattlecitylight595

Seattle City Light Deploys New Field Management System

July 10, 2014
Seattle City Light has implemented TerraGo’s GeoPDF products to improve field service technology and operations.

Seattle City Light has implemented TerraGo’s GeoPDF products to improve field service technology and operations.

With more than 1800 employees and a large percentage deployed as mobile workers, Seattle City Light needed a better way to share geographic and electrical system data in the field. Prior to deploying GeoPDF, Seattle City Light relied on manual processes, radio communications and dispatch services to coordinate field work with necessary location data. The distribution system’s “flat map” data was stored in a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) database system, inaccessible to non-experts and field workers outside the system control center.

With TerraGo Composer, Seattle City Light was able to turn their CAD-based data into a portable, interactive, searchable map database that was available anywhere, even offline in disconnected environments. Now all personnel and field crews can search, access and update the entire map database from their desktop, laptop or mobile devices - even when they are off the network.

“With TerraGo, we were able to create a GeoPDF database that houses all of the maps and other information – such as photos of the interiors of underground facilities – pertaining to Seattle City Light’s electrical system,” said Marshall Hibnes, senior electrical engineering specialist, Seattle City Light.  “Now our crews and other personnel, with or without professional GIS experience, can access location data anytime and anywhere on their laptop device. This has made our entire system, employees and contractors operate more efficiently and help us complete projects faster at lower costs.”

According to George Demmy, CTO, TerraGo, “We invented GeoPDF to enable individuals to share easy-to-use location-based information with field workers. With Seattle City Light, we are able to realize how GeoPDF can be used to not only enhance, but truly transform field operations.”

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of T&D World, create an account today!