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Margaret L. Engasser, NYSEGMargaret L. Engasser, NYSEGLanaLana Khitrik, Gomez & Sullivan Engineers, P.C. Khitrik, Gomez & Sullivan Engineers, P.C.

GISGIS--based Utility Vegetation Management based Utility Vegetation Management at at NYSEGNYSEG

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NYSEGNYSEG serves electric and natural gas customers in New serves electric and natural gas customers in New York State. Our customers are mostly in rural areas York State. Our customers are mostly in rural areas

and small towns. and small towns.

Our 13 foresters manage about 4,400 miles of Our 13 foresters manage about 4,400 miles of transmission rightstransmission rights--ofof--way.way.

•• From 34.5 kV to 345 kVFrom 34.5 kV to 345 kV•• Most rights conveyed through easements Most rights conveyed through easements •• Vegetation managed on a 6Vegetation managed on a 6--year cycleyear cycle•• Treatment done by contractorsTreatment done by contractors•• InventoryInventory

–– WhatWhat’’s there now? s there now?

•• TreatmentTreatment–– What do we want done? What do we want done?

•• FollowFollow--upup–– Was it done successfully? Was it done successfully?

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Regulations for utility vegetation management Regulations for utility vegetation management in New York require annual reports.in New York require annual reports.

•• CostCost•• Treatment type (acres)Treatment type (acres)

–– Must track Must track ““edge workedge work”” separatelyseparately

•• Herbicide UseHerbicide Use–– Formulation Formulation –– QuantityQuantity

We also track other measures: We also track other measures: •• Land useLand use•• Vegetation DensityVegetation Density

–– Compatible and incompatible speciesCompatible and incompatible species

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Before GISBefore GIS

•• Paper maps used for Paper maps used for –– BiddingBidding–– By field crewsBy field crews–– As a record of what was doneAs a record of what was done

Forester had the only set of maps in some divisionsForester had the only set of maps in some divisions

•• Tabulation of acreages done by handTabulation of acreages done by hand–– Ex. Number of acres of hand cutting, or foliar sprayingEx. Number of acres of hand cutting, or foliar spraying–– Trimming, danger trees quantified after the factTrimming, danger trees quantified after the fact

•• SystemSystem--wide records captured in a mainframewide records captured in a mainframe--based programbased program–– Introduced circa 1980Introduced circa 1980

–– Forms & key punching Forms & key punching

•• System Transmission Forester ran yearSystem Transmission Forester ran year--end reportsend reports

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The paper maps were old, and treatment prescriptions The paper maps were old, and treatment prescriptions were drawn in by handwere drawn in by hand……

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…… and a laborand a labor--intensive process was required to transfer intensive process was required to transfer data to the reporting program. data to the reporting program.

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In 2005, we learned that the mainframe computer In 2005, we learned that the mainframe computer was to be retired.was to be retired.

•• An opportunity to combine record keeping An opportunity to combine record keeping andand mapping mapping

•• PSC order relating to treePSC order relating to tree--caused outages allowed for cost caused outages allowed for cost recovery of new systemrecovery of new system

•• Existing applications didnExisting applications didn’’t match state reporting requirementst match state reporting requirements–– Some also incorporated things like LIDAR, and were expensiveSome also incorporated things like LIDAR, and were expensive–– Custom programs also expensive, and would not fit our schedule Custom programs also expensive, and would not fit our schedule

•• System developed for NY Power Authority met our needs System developed for NY Power Authority met our needs –– Vendor was able to customize, but most functionality had alreadyVendor was able to customize, but most functionality had already been been

programmedprogrammed

The transition from old to new presented challenges. The transition from old to new presented challenges.

•• Required VM team to learnRequired VM team to learn–– New vocabulary: schema, feature class, domainNew vocabulary: schema, feature class, domain……

We had to teach, too. We had to teach, too.

–– IT organizationIT organizationWho does what, and reports to whom? Who does what, and reports to whom? 4 different offices in 2 states4 different offices in 2 statesExcellent cooperation Excellent cooperation

BiBi--weekly status calls with vendorweekly status calls with vendorHelped us capture historical data before mainframe was retiredHelped us capture historical data before mainframe was retired

–– GISGISOverwhelming possibilities at firstOverwhelming possibilities at first……. had to stay focused on VM . had to stay focused on VM requirementsrequirements

And we had to learn how to give up the old and familiar. And we had to learn how to give up the old and familiar. EGUG 2007EGUG 2007 99

GIS Map

Automated Reports

We had a few things going for us. We had a few things going for us.

•• Had recently created GIS data for all our transmission Had recently created GIS data for all our transmission assets assets

•• Talented Technical Services group existed Talented Technical Services group existed –– Manager pushing to use GIS for other company work; success of Manager pushing to use GIS for other company work; success of

VM program was important to him, and lucky for us!VM program was important to him, and lucky for us!–– Skilled and patient group, understand our level of GIS knowledgeSkilled and patient group, understand our level of GIS knowledge

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Some of the vegetation management staff were hesitant to Some of the vegetation management staff were hesitant to give up the old system.give up the old system.

•• Old prints have been used Old prints have been used ““foreverforever””, contain lots of historical information, contain lots of historical information

•• Foresters were the best source for these maps in their local divForesters were the best source for these maps in their local divisions; isions; afraid they would lose control of the recordsafraid they would lose control of the records–– Also risk being Also risk being ““out of the loopout of the loop””

•• But, some of the foresters couldnBut, some of the foresters couldn’’t believe we hadnt believe we hadn’’t gone to such a t gone to such a system years agosystem years ago–– Use their enthusiasm to support othersUse their enthusiasm to support others

•• Strong desire to leave a history of what was done, and when, to Strong desire to leave a history of what was done, and when, to help future help future managersmanagers

And there were issues with our collective computer IQAnd there were issues with our collective computer IQ

•• Different levels of comfort with navigationDifferent levels of comfort with navigation•• Database access/securityDatabase access/security

–– Worry that they might Worry that they might ““crash the whole systemcrash the whole system””

•• LaptopsLaptops–– CheckCheck--in/check outin/check out–– LicensesLicenses

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The new systemThe new system……

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Some details about the GISSome details about the GIS--based VMS based VMS

•• Aerial photographs with old maps as a layerAerial photographs with old maps as a layer–– So nothing is So nothing is ““lostlost””–– Pole locations reconciledPole locations reconciled

•• ROW edges must be verified firstROW edges must be verified first–– Maintained width vs. actual rightsMaintained width vs. actual rights–– Has taken time, and will not be complete until after one entire Has taken time, and will not be complete until after one entire cyclecycle

•• Foresters check out one segment at a time, complete inventoryForesters check out one segment at a time, complete inventory–– Generate cost estimateGenerate cost estimate–– Print maps and tables as necessaryPrint maps and tables as necessary

•• Crew completes work, and treatment is enteredCrew completes work, and treatment is entered–– Changes easy to track by comparing to inventoryChanges easy to track by comparing to inventory–– Allows flexibility in data collectionAllows flexibility in data collection

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Benefits includeBenefits include

•• Consistency between divisions due to standard menusConsistency between divisions due to standard menus–– Ex. Ex. ““Special conditionsSpecial conditions””–– Makes things easier for field crews, who work in more than one dMakes things easier for field crews, who work in more than one divisionivision

•• Acres calculated automaticallyAcres calculated automatically

•• Electronic data storageElectronic data storage–– Historical records can be easily retrieved and copied to begin Historical records can be easily retrieved and copied to begin

the next cyclethe next cycle’’s inventory s inventory

•• Custom maps from desktop, or display in field on laptopCustom maps from desktop, or display in field on laptop–– Good for customer interaction, onGood for customer interaction, on--thethe--fly changes with field crewsfly changes with field crews

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More benefitsMore benefits……

•• Standard symbols on mapsStandard symbols on maps–– Bidding should be easier for contractorsBidding should be easier for contractors–– Prices might be lowerPrices might be lower

•• Database queries give contractors/foresters/managers Database queries give contractors/foresters/managers different ways to look at the datadifferent ways to look at the data–– Ad hoc reporting (for example: residential trim sites)Ad hoc reporting (for example: residential trim sites)–– No longer limited to one knowledgeable personNo longer limited to one knowledgeable person

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The forestry staff has a powerful tool in their toolboxThe forestry staff has a powerful tool in their toolbox

•• Can apply their new insights elsewhere in the company Can apply their new insights elsewhere in the company –– Will support their divisions with accurate mapsWill support their divisions with accurate maps–– Eliminates fear of losing controlEliminates fear of losing control

•• Allows them to grow in their positionsAllows them to grow in their positions–– Can provide support as other departments begin to use GISCan provide support as other departments begin to use GIS

Outage managementOutage management

•• Brings forestry staff on same plane as other resource managers aBrings forestry staff on same plane as other resource managers around round the worldthe world–– Enhances communication and learningEnhances communication and learning–– Provides a skill that can be transferred to other jobsProvides a skill that can be transferred to other jobs–– Makes NYSEG an attractive workplace for a new generation of foreMakes NYSEG an attractive workplace for a new generation of foresterssters

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End users are thinking about how to maximize the End users are thinking about how to maximize the systemsystem’’s capabilitys capability

•• Aerial patrol requirements/NERCAerial patrol requirements/NERC–– Lat/long from the helicopter to the VMS = a good map for followLat/long from the helicopter to the VMS = a good map for follow--upup

•• Substation weed control Substation weed control –– Precise maps and acreagesPrecise maps and acreages

•• Have contractors enter treatment data as work is done Have contractors enter treatment data as work is done –– System designed for this System designed for this –– UpUp--toto--date billingdate billing–– Easier followEasier follow--up/QA up/QA

•• Real Estate Real Estate –– Link easements to mapsLink easements to maps–– Could be greatCould be great…… but a lot of work required on but a lot of work required on NYSEGNYSEG’’ss side to gather dataside to gather data•• Gomez & Sullivan solution already in place at NYPAGomez & Sullivan solution already in place at NYPA

•• Eventually, a Eventually, a ““TeamNYTeamNY”” solution: NYSEG + RGEsolution: NYSEG + RGE–– Helpful to have had IT group on board from the beginningHelpful to have had IT group on board from the beginning–– Could facilitate electronic biddingCould facilitate electronic bidding

OUR APPROACH - Keep it Simple for Users DEPLOYMENT – in 5 months

What is simplicity?

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”Leonardo da Vinci

PowerfulGood supportEasy to modifyPowerful enough

Data Schema (Simple?)Data Schema (Simple?)

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VMS Data SchemaVMS Data Schema

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Base Map Layers

VMS Data SchemaVMS Data Schema

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Base Map Layers

Transmission Assets

VMS Data SchemaVMS Data Schema

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Base Map Layers

Transmission Assets

Inventory

VMS Data SchemaVMS Data Schema

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Base Map Layers

Transmission Assets

Inventory

Treatment

VMS Data SchemaVMS Data Schema

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Base Map Layers

Transmission Assets

Inventory

Treatment

Planning

How it works

Maximize use of ARCGIS Desktop:Edit Functionality

Disconnected Editing

VMS Tools

• Launches the Current VMS Session form.• Transfers a feature from a Historical Inventory layer to the current Inventory layer.

• Transfers a feature from the Inventory layer to the Treatment layer.

• Copy/Paste the attributes from the currently selected Treatment feature.

Backs up the check_out.mdbgeodatabase to the geodatabases folder.

Creates VMS reports based on data stored in the Default version of the enterprise geodatabase. This command will be unavailable on the field

computers.

Demonstration – Create Inventory Record

Add Danger Tree(s) Record

Add Edge Work (Widening and Edge Trimming) Record

Add Actual Treatment Record

REPORTS

Cost Report

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Its so easy, maybe weIts so easy, maybe we’’ll outsource data entry. ll outsource data entry.

Questions? Questions?

Peg EngasserPeg EngasserManager, Vegetation ManagementManager, Vegetation Management

NYSEGNYSEG(607) 347(607) 347--20072007

mlengasser@nyseg.commlengasser@nyseg.com

Lana KhitrikLana KhitrikGIS Program ManagerGIS Program Manager

Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, P.C.Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, P.C.(716) 250(716) 250--49604960

lkhitrik@gomezandsullivan.comlkhitrik@gomezandsullivan.com

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