Whether it’s navigating the effects of climate change or embracing the digital transformation, location intelligence could be the key to addressing major utility challenges.
Today, every utility is grappling with a complex set of challenges. Whether we look to the telecommunications, water, gas or electricity sector, the obstacles are far beyond merely drawing lines on a map – they’re societal, environmental and economic.
Climate change, the push for net zero energy, population growth and issues of social equity and governance are reshaping the landscape.
To navigate these challenges, utilities are embracing the digital transformation and innovative thinking. Here, we unpack those the key challenges and explore how forward-thinking strategies, particularly geospatial information systems (GIS), can help overcome them.
The challenges
Climate change and natural disasters
Climate change significantly impacts how we manage natural disasters. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events demand robust planning and response strategies1. Utilities must adapt to these changes to ensure resilience and reliability.
Energy transition to net zero
The path to net zero emissions presents numerous challenges. Utilities must reduce emissions while managing the rise of renewable energy sources2. This transition requires modernising infrastructure and adopting new technologies to integrate renewable energy efficiently.
Population pressures and future planning
With growing populations, utilities need to plan future networks smarter and faster than ever before. This involves anticipating demand, expanding capacity and ensuring that infrastructure can support future growth sustainably.
Social equity and governance
Addressing social equity and governance is crucial. Utilities must ensure that all communities have access to reliable and affordable services3. This includes considering the needs of underserved areas and implementing fair governance practices.
The need for digital transformation
In a digitising world, no utility can afford to stand still. Digital transformation must be ‘the way we do things around here’. Considering the pace of change, digital transformation is not a one-off but an evolving and continual process. Done well, it delivers improved data quality, scalability, resilience and fidelity.
Empowering people and ensuring interoperability
Empowering employees with self-enablement tools on desktops and mobile platforms is essential. Interoperability allows seamless integration with other enterprise systems, both in IT and operational technology (OT). Secure data storage and distribution are essential for utilities classified as critical infrastructure.
Innovation and technological advancements
Innovation is key to keeping up with technological advancements. Utilities must introduce new techniques, such as AI, to improve processes and enhance efficiency4.
Success stories like US-based FirstEnergy’s implementation of Utility Network or Thames Water’s end-to-end geospatial data portal are shining examples of what is possible.
Lots of challenges, but what’s the solution?
As an ardent geospatial enthusiast, I recommend a spatial solution. Geospatial technology provides a comprehensive approach to addressing challenges, enhancing operational efficiency, and improving decision-making. A prime example is Esri’s ArcGIS, which offers tools for data management, mapping, visualisation, analysis, and discovery. ArcGIS serves as a foundational platform for every team working in utilities.
Real-world applications of GIS
GIS is used worldwide in various utility applications:
- Outage maps: keep customers and asset owners informed about the state of the network
- Vegetation management: plan vegetation clearing around transmission lines and other infrastructure. GIS and AI can also predict future growth to better manage maintenance
- 3D visualisation: supports the placement and inspection of transmission towers and other infrastructure
- Asset management: provides a single, comprehensive model to manage all network assets, ensuring data consistency and integrity
- Field mobility: indispensable in water and wastewater management, supporting operations like leak detection, quality visualisation and asset inspections
I had the pleasure of working at Esri headquarters in the US for 20 years. During this time, I worked with the Utility Network Model product team contributing to the design and end user experience. I met with customers directly, heard their concerns and partnered with the product team to deliver the technology which aligned with market requirements.
The Utility Network integrates multiple domains – power, water, gas and communications. One of the main things I love (and users do too) is that ArcGIS helps visualise and analyse complex transmission networks. Network schematics provide logical views that complement spatial representations, aiding in planning and decision making.
Integrating CAD models with GIS also allows for space planning and asset placement within multi-story buildings. For operational scenarios, such as responding to SCADA alerts, GIS enables tracing to identify affected systems5. Dashboards consolidate relevant information for collaborative problem solving.
Adopting an enterprise GIS system can significantly improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer service. If you’re ready to adopt GIS, the technology is ready to support you. If you are already using GIS, it can do and deliver more than most people realise. All you need is a good plan and strategy.
About the author
Sean Jones is the Sector Lead – Utilities and a Solutions Engineer at Esri Australia, a leading provider of GIS technology and geospatial solutions. With more than 30 years of experience in GIS and geospatial software development Mr Jones has dedicated two decades to Esri, contributing to the design and development of key products like ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, mobile applications, SDKs, ArcGIS Enterprise Geodatabase, ArcGIS Parcel Fabric and ArcGIS Utility Network. His expertise spans the utility, resources, telecommunications and defence industries. Mr Jones is passionate about bridging the gap between business needs and technical capabilities, making a tangible difference with GIS technology. Connect with Mr Jones at sjones@esriaustralia.com.au or via LinkedIn.
