Benefits of Mobile GIS for Utility Crews

Posted April 30, 2019

Mobile GIS (geographic information system) technology can make life easier for utility field crews during “blue sky days” and emergency situations. This type of GIS deployment is typically provided in trucks or via employees’ tablets or smart phones. Unfortunately, even though similar technology is used in corporate headquarters and regional offices, traction in the field can lag.

Why Mobile GIS has not Taken Hold in the Field

There are several key reasons why mobile GIS has not gained as much traction in the field, including:

Outdated, irrelevant or inaccurate GIS information.
Too much information provided.
Current solutions are one-size-fits-all, which is ineffective.
Lack of feedback or involvement from field personnel regarding decisions around GIS technology.
Lack of integration with internal and external systems.

There are other issues as well, but these seem to be the main culprits.

Best Practices for Mobile GIS

The lack of traction is unfortunate, as the technology can simplify hundreds of tasks ranging from equipment inspections to maintenance tasks to damage assessment.

Despite the benefits, the reasons for lack of adoption are real, and they clearly must be addressed when working on any GIS deployment. Some will be easier to overcome than others, but none are impossible to overcome. Here is a partial list of best practices for deploying GIS to the field:

Limit each employee’s mobile GIS functionality / data only to those items directly tied to their jobs. Specific apps can be provided for specific tasks such as those required to be performed by troubleshooters or field designers or maintenance personnel to name just a few. Providing selective information based on role is critical.
Integrate field GIS into other company systems for seamless, continuous real time data.
Tie the functionality into third party platforms when necessary to, for example, access traffic or weather data.
Ask field employees about their wants and needs and incorporate this feedback into deployment decisions.

The last bullet point might be the most important – employees will be reluctant to adopt mobile GIS, or any technology for that matter, if they do not buy-in to the benefits, or if they fail to understand how the technology can make their lives easier. For that reason, mobile GIS initiatives must follow a ground-up approach.