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  • Western Power Distribution

    Electronic Mapping Utility on the iPad

    Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom

Project Summary

Project

Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) asset data encompasses 220,000 kilometers of electricity cables and overhead lines, and 185,000 electricity substations covering an area of 55,500 kilometers. To update mapping and asset data, WPS field operatives regularly brought their laptops to local offices for this time-consuming task, reducing field time available to customers. With 5,000 data changes monthly, WPD needed a quick and simple system to enable asset and mapping changes to be distributed and downloaded to mobile devices in the field to support an operational workforce with a range of IT skills.

Solution

Using Bentley Map Mobile, WPD implemented an industry-leading, Bentley-developed solution that identifies changes to WPD company asset data and distributes the delta changes as i-models to more than 3,000 iPads in the field via Bentley MANAGEservices. The information mobility of Bentley products provides WPD operational staff quick and easy access to updated mapping and asset data necessary to work on the electricity network.

Outcome

Using Bentley’s mobile solution and MANAGEservices, this GBP 200,000 project provides WPD field staff the mapping and asset data necessary for the part of the electricity network where they are working, anywhere in WPD’s service area, quickly and simply. Having access to the most current data improves WPD’s daily operational efficiency, allows for quicker restoration and troubleshooting during outages, and supports WPD’s regulatory requirements for quick response to incidents. The information mobility of Bentley solutions optimizes decision-making and reduces risk, enabling WPD work to proceed promptly and safely.

Software

WPD used Bentley Map Mobile to deliver data to its field and office workforce, quickly and efficiently. The interoperability and information mobility of Bentley software and services enabled WPD to implement a system that isolates changes to the DGN asset database and then packages that data into an i-model for distribution to mobile devices. Bentley Map Mobile allows WPD operatives immediate, up-to-date iPad access to accurate mapping and asset data, optimizing operations and supporting regulatory compliance and safety.

Outcome/Facts
  • WPD implements an innovative Bentley-developed solution using Bentley Map Mobile to provide asset and mapping data and changes for approximately 5,000 data changes monthly to field operatives with a range of IT skills.
  • Bentley technology and services enables WPD to identify changes to its asset data and distribute the delta changes as i-models to more than 3,000 iPads, providing the field and office workforce with the accurate map and asset data needed to maximize operational efficiency.
  • The information mobility and interoperability of Bentley solutions allow for quicker restoration and troubleshooting during outages, supports WPD’s regulatory requirements for quick response to incidents, reduces risk, and enhances safety.