Project Highlights:
- Arizona Public Service Company
- Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona
- Serves 1.4M electric customers
- Largest and longest-serving energy provider in the state
Arizona Public Service (APS) is partnering with UDC on several initiatives to prepare the utility organization and its electric transmission and distribution assets for transition from the geometric network to the ArcGIS Utility Network. This first phase of the utility’s digital transformation and digital twin effort involves assessing data compatibility with the new model and deploying a UDC-hosted Amazon Web Services (AWS) sandbox environment to support a GIS migration proof of concept (POC).
For the POC, the electric GIS data was migrated into the sandbox environment, enabling APS GIS editors to explore third-party data management tools within the new model using their specific utility workflows and data. This, coupled with the ability to test the Utility Network in a cloud environment, is supporting APS’s goal of creating a tailored, detailed request for proposal (RFP) for full implementation.
Network Management Goals
The move to Utility Network will support APS in addressing key business challenges related to GIS administration and maintenance, data quality and completeness, digital process adoption, data accessibility, and power restoration preparedness. APS is working to build a robust network information management system and create an end-to-end digital twin of the electric grid within the Utility Network for its substation, transmission, and distribution networks. The digital transformation project aims to integrate the utility’s GIS with other business systems to drive higher sustainability, reliability, and efficiency. Additionally, this move will enable greater access to GIS across the organization, improving business processes, data integration, and decision-making on an organizational level.
Assessing the Electric Data
UDC collaborated with various departments at APS, including GIS Services, IT, PMO, Design, and Spatial Management, to review the utility’s existing systems, data, and workflows. The reviews included workshops related to mapping, web and mobile, and advanced distribution management system (ADMS) integrations. To assist APS in evaluating the readiness of its data for modern network management, UDC used its automated HEIDE tool to perform a source and Utility Network data analysis.
Cloud-powered UN Exploration
The cloud approach is helping APS identify the best tools for the organization’s needs and workflows before full implementation. UDC configured sample data sets for the Utility Network and stood up editing templates and applications in the cloud for both the transmission and distribution networks. This configuration included editing, integrations, functionalities, and extensions for ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Workflow Manager. Key editing templates, specifically switching cabinets, were configured in the cloud to align with the utility’s process testing needs, and two of APS’s day-to-day GIS mapping workflows—Work Order Construction Mapping and As-built GIS Mapping—were configured in the environment to support the utility’s exploration.
Through the POC, including the hosted cloud environment, APS is experiencing a streamlined approach to evaluating Utility Network solutions and their functionalities, with reduced internal overhead and system management. This helps the utility choose the best options for its organization and informs the RFP development, while a tailored RFP simplifies selection, ensures accurate pricing, and guides APS to the right partner for implementing a modern network management solution.
POC/Cloud Components
The cloud-supported ArcGIS Utility Network POC includes:
- Deploying the AWS environment and configuring a two-way network connectivity with the APS network
- Assessing the current electric data for Utility Network compatibility
- Configuring Esri applications in the cloud
- Configuring extensions for ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Workflow Manager
- Building and configuring web applications
- Evaluating mapping, productivity, mobile, and web workflows in core environments
- Standing up ArcGIS Experience Builder and ArcGIS Fields Maps
- Converting three existing auto-updaters to attribute rules in ArcGIS Pro
- Documenting Utility Network workflows and tools to aid with future asset data update needs
APS continues to use the sandbox environment to test and define requirements supporting technology decisions. UDC continues to support APS in this exploration by managing AWS cloud services and performing system administration tasks, including applying monthly patches and conducting security monitoring.