Tri-State Selects the Archer with Field Express Chameleon

17 Jan 2011

Founded in 1952, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is a wholesale electric power supplier that serves 44 electric cooperatives. Tri-State generates and transports electricity to its member systems across a 250,000 square mile service territory throughout Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming and is responsible for over 5,200 miles of transmission line. As part of its reliability process, Tri-State line crews and substation technicians perform regular inspections of its transmission infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable power delivery. As a result of recent federal regulations requiring accurate record keeping of structure and line inspections, Tri-State selected the Juniper Systems Archer Field PC® and 3-GIS Field Express Chameleon as its rugged mobile solution.

The Archer Field PC® is an ultra-rugged, compact handheld built to survive the most extreme environments. Tri-State field users identified the Archer as the rugged handheld that would most accurately collect data that is imperative to federal regulation compliance. John Tyll, GIS Manager for Tri-State explained, “Our field users selected the Archer because its prolonged battery life, configuration options, and reliability are key when working in the adverse conditions faced in our area.” The Archer is built to IP67 and MIL-STD-810F standards for water, humidity, sand and dust, vibration, altitude, shock, and temperature.

3-GIS and ESRI provided the software solution for Tri-State’s maintenance and asset tracking needs by using GIS technology based on Field Express Chameleon and ArcGIS Server. Field Express Chameleon is a leading edge field editing tool built entirely around the mobile technology of ArcGIS Server. Field Express Chameleon allows the user to edit data while on-site, capture inspections, and manage various related records, while the embedded ArcGIS Server enables the transfer of data updates to and from the Archer Field PC®.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association had unique needs that 3-GIS was able to meet. Using the ESRI Transmission Data Model as a template, 3-GIS configured a GIS transmission data model that included the creation of a structure inspection record. After migrating existing line and structure data, 3-GIS installed ArcGIS Server at the Tri-State facility and created a GIS website using the ArcGIS Server technology. Using the administrative toolset, Express Conductor, Field Express Chameleon was then configured to meet Tri-State’s requirements of data editing, line and structure inspections, and vegetation management. Once Field Express Chameleon was completed and configured according to Tri-State’s needs, it was loaded onto 30 Archers and sent into the field.

The data editing capability within Field Express Chameleon allows Tri-State crews to capture and edit assets (structures, access roads and gates, aerial markers, etc.) in the field, as well as edit and view facility related data, such as poles associated with a structure. These tasks will assist Tri-State in building a more complete GIS database for use by the entire organization. The inspection capability within Field Express Chameleon allows the user to perform structure inspections, as well as record right-of-way condition locations, such as encroachments or required tree trimming. This enables maintenance and line summary reports to be generated through a web interface to ensure regulatory compliance.

The two aforementioned capabilities created by 3-GIS enables efficient and accurate tracking of these recorded conditions. When the information is saved into the GIS database, a condition object is created for every issue that is reported from the field. For example, a structure that had a damaged insulator and cross arm would result in a condition object being created in the GIS database. A Tri-State manager may then assign these condition objects to a work order and have a field user follow up on that particular work order. The field user can then logon in the field and download the active work order so it can be resolved.

By leveraging the capabilities of the Archer Field PC®, along with Field Express Chameleon and ArcGIS Server, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has succeeded in deploying a mobile GIS solution that meets the needs of both its office and field users.