And so we moved on…and began the conversion process…In the fall of 2000 we decided to move to ESRI
We began the process in 2001, hired a full-time GIS person and started bringing the landbase into the map With the help of USG and CableCad’s Conversion to Shapefiles Program, we spent the winter of 2001-2002 converting our mapping to ESRI
Kandiyohi Power Cooperative ESRI Technology
in Action
Hello, I’m Sandy Peters, I’m the CAD Technician at Kandiyohi Power Cooperative in Willmar, Minnesota. I’d also like to introduce Steve Spoors who is the Engineering Coordinator and Mapping Supervisor. We’d like to share with you our ESRI experience to this point.
To introduce ourselves …
We are located approximately 100 miles west of Mpls/St. Paul and our service territory is primarily Kandiyohi County with facilities in 4 surrounding counties.
Our cooperative was established in 1935. We currently employ 35 people, maintain 1700 miles of line and serve 7,853 accounts.
We are located approximately 100 miles west of Mpls/St. Paul on Highway 12. Our service territory is basically Kandiyohi County.
The Cooperative was established in 1935. We currently have approximately 1700 miles of line. The customer base is made up of some farm, some industrial loads, and a large portion of seasonal accounts.
When it all started…
Our mapping system consisted of paper maps until 1992
GRE Co-op’s formed a GIS Committee and they selected CableCad as the software of choice
1. Until the early 1990’s, we relied totally on hand-drawn maps. Around that time, a GIS evaluation committee was formed at United Power. Their objective was to select a computer based mapping software that all the UPA Co-op’s would use. The intent was to achieve uniformity throughout the UPA Cooperative system. As a result of their investigation, Enghouse Systems CableCad software was selected. One of the reasons for picking CableCad was its ability to run on a stand-alone PC.
We became doubtful…
Using a third party software by NMT Corporation called Legend, we were able to place the map in a limited number of desktop and laptop PC’s. One of the limitations of Legend was cost. Unlike ArcReader, which is a freeware, Legend had a cost of $1800 per license.
We became skeptical of CableCad’s ability to carry us forward in our GIS progression. While ESRI became the mapping software leader, CableCad was only giving us bug fixes with no software enhancements. We wanted to be able to put maps in every truck. The ArcReader freeware gave us that option without the added substantial cost.
And so we moved on…and began the conversion process…
In the fall of 2000 we decided to move to ESRI
We began the process in 2001, hired a full-time GIS person and started bringing the landbase into the map With the help of USG and CableCad’s Conversion to Shapefiles Program, we spent the winter of 2001-2002 converting our mapping to ESRI
In the spring of 2000, Steve attended the GITA Conference in San Diego to compare available mapping softwares. As a result of that trip and after conferring with USG and other GIS personnel, we made the decision to switch software vendors to ESRI.
In April of 2001, I was added as a CAD Technician to the Engineering Staff at KPC. I began training on the ESRI software by importing and improving the shapefile landbase background for our system.
We chose a target date of March 1, 2002 for the conversion. The transition from CableCad to ESRI began in December of 2001. After updating the map from summer construction in CableCad, we turned over control of the map to USG and they, with the help of the CableCad to Shapefile Conversion software, converted our mapping data.
The clean-up continues…
We spent all of 2002 importing existing information from CableCad, making map corrections and cleaning up data
1. Because of coordinate projection problems in CableCad, the converted shapefiles needed to be cleaned up. This involved relocating lines and equipment on the map to actual locations. Also in 2002, the decision was made to totally Turtle our system. In conjunction with this program, we took GPS points at meter locations and imported them into the map.
Laptops were added…
In the spring of 2003 several Panasonic 28’s were purchased for use by the staker, substation equipment man, and the line trucks. We chose the ArcReader software to read the map.
The reason we chose ArcReader was because (a) it was freeware, and (b) it displayed our symbols as drawn in the map. The laptops and ArcReader gave us the capability to mobilize the map.
Wireless transmitters for the linemen…
1. We use a Linksys wireless router for our network transmitter. The router has transmission distance limitations and because of that you must be in the garage for it to work. This gives our guys the opportunity to update their map and other special programs on their laptops without being hardwire connected to the network.
Once again, USG helps us out…
USG has written links between our CIS system and other equipment programs to populate data on the map
USG has played a supportive role in our transition and in our ongoing effort to keep up with technology. The numerous programs they’ve written to make our day-to-day operations run smoother include: Service Summary, Regulator, Recloser, Substation, Neutral Isolator, Capacitor, Equipment Shipment, Open and Tie Point, Pole Sorting, Substation Mobile Maintenance, Recloser and Regulator Mobile Readings, and Disconnected Consumers. Most of these programs interact with our map and can be revised to meet our changing needs.
Our intention here is not to sell or promote USG’s programming, but to emphasize ESRI’s ability to interact well with other customized programs. This ability was one major reason for KPC selecting ESRI.
Our Regulator Program…
The regulator program helps us keep track of the location of each regulator on our system. It also stores information such as install and overhaul dates, maintenance, and quarterly readings. Any oil or PCB test results also get recorded here. Selected information from this program is used to populate the regulators on the map.
Our Substation Maintenance person updates the Regulator Program by entering data collected through a hand-held device, then uploading it to the program. This eliminates excess paper and is also more convenient for entering the information at the site.
Our Recloser Program…
We can see at a glance the ratings/specs, manufacture and location data with our Recloser Program. Purchase, install and overhaul dates are recorded here as well. As with our other equipment programs, the readings and history information is documented.
Information from this program is also transferred to the map.
The Recloser Program too is updated by our Substation Maintenance person, much in the same way as they do in the Regulator Program. Reports generated from the program include:
1) Change Out by Install Date
2) Recloser Faults by Substation
3) Line patrol OCR Readings
Custom reports can be made at any time as long as the data is there.
How we benefit from our specialized reports…
Our Service Summary Program provides equipment and pole number information in a user friendly format.
Our Service Summary Program is an invaluable tool used by our line and office personnel to provide them with information on consumers and equipment in a very usable format. Customer information flows from our CIS Software as does equipment from the map.
One of the reports generated by the Service Summary is the Service Summary On-Line, which shows the transformer numbers and sizes and also meter numbers. These are handy references when our linemen are out in the field and need to check on services by meter number or to verify which transformer a consumer is hooked up to .
Our Substations…
Our Substation circuit drawings were digitized by USG and imported into our map. This layer is drawn at a very small scale but can be enlarged for viewing purposes.
1. Our Substation maintenance person uses these drawings for circuit and equipment reference. They are set up to display at a certain distance, which eliminates extra clutter on the map. The Substation equipment information is populated from the CIS software and other programs.
Aerial photographs …
1. We downloaded these 1 meter x 1 meter pixel color photographs through a DNR website at no cost to us. They are based off of USGS quads and are compiled in Mr. Sid, which is an imaged compressed format.
Tie point reference …
1. We use a Pole Numbering System at KPC. To help our linemen during outages or line changes, USG developed an Open and Tie Point Program that lists the pole numbers available for alternate feeds. It is updated using our mapping system and a paper copy can be printed for access outside of the trucks.
Outages in KPC Newsletter…
Outages are displayed on the map. Each month we create an outage list for our newsletter using the map information. This gets sent out to all KPC members.
Outages are displayed on the map using a symbol representing the year and type of outage. This “layer” can be easily turned off to eliminate excess clutter on the map.
The Outage information is taken from the map then exported to a spreadsheet. Once the data is filtered and sorted it is then sent to the Customer Service Manager, who forwards it to our newsletter printer.
Contract locators use our map…
Periodically, and more often during construction season, someone from the locating company brings in their laptop for updating. At that time, we also supply them with an updated CD to share with their employees.
We have created an annotation layer on the map. We use this for specific notes on cable placement and other pertinent information. This displays with a large red asterisk and alerts them to this information.
Individual Township Maps…
1. Although the linemen can access all this information through their PC’s, there are times when the hard copy is preferred. These maps are also useful for pole contractors, tree trimmers, and other outside contractors who need facility information.
On to new & better things!....
We are currently exploring new CIS software and expect the interaction will change. The data will be live and we will eliminate the downloading procedure. The mobile PC’s will still present a problem.
1. We’re looking forward to the new challenge of live integration with our mapping system and our customer information system. We are eager to utilize the new technology available in the marketplace today. Our goal is to achieve real-time interaction between both softwares. Although real-time interaction is our goal, the mobile PC’s will pose special problems in achieving that capability.
As we continue to move on…
® We are currently preparing to implement the Adeline Staking program. This software will help us streamline our work order process. We are hoping the USG staff will once again guide us as we stumble our way through this new phase of technology.
1. We are currently staking on hand-drawn staking sheets. We feel the move to computer-based staking will improve our work order efficiency and minimize errors. This program will link to our mapping software and produce updates from staking sheet drawings.
Comments