Customer Story
2 December 2010
featured story
Tri-State Selects the Archer with Field Express Chameleon
Founded in 1952, Tri-State Generation and Transmission
Association is a wholesale electric power supplier that serves
44 electric cooperatives. Tri-State generates and transports
electricity to its member systems across a 250,000 square
mile service territory throughout Colorado, Nebraska, New
Mexico, and Wyoming and is responsible for over 5,200 miles of
transmission line. As part of its reliability process, Tri-State line
crews and substation technicians perform regular inspections of
its transmission infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable power
delivery. As a result of recent federal regulations requiring
accurate record keeping of structure and line inspections, TriState selected the Juniper Systems Archer Field PC® and 3-GIS
Field Express Chameleon as its rugged mobile solution.
The Archer Field PC® is an ultra-rugged, compact handheld built
to survive the most extreme environments. Tri-State field users
identified the Archer as the rugged handheld that would most
accurately collect data that is imperative to federal regulation
compliance. John Tyll, GIS Manager for Tri-State explained, “Our
field users selected the Archer because its prolonged battery
life, configuration options, and reliability are key when working
in the adverse conditions faced in our area.” The Archer is built
to IP67 and MIL-STD-810F standards for water, humidity, sand and
dust, vibration, altitude, shock, and temperature.
3-GIS and ESRI provided the software solution for Tri-State’s
maintenance and asset tracking needs by using GIS technology
based on Field Express Chameleon and ArcGIS Server. Field
Express Chameleon is a leading edge field editing tool built
435.753.1881
|
js@junipersys.com
|
“Our field users selected
the Archer because its
prolonged battery life,
configuration options,
and reliability are key
when working in the
adverse conditions faced
in our area.”
John Tyll
GIS Manager
Tri-State
www.junipersys.com
Customer Story
2 December 2010
entirely around the mobile technology of ArcGIS Server. Field
Express Chameleon allows the user to edit data while on-site,
capture inspections, and manage various related records, while
the embedded ArcGIS Server enables the transfer of data
updates to and from the Archer Field PC®.
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association had unique
needs that 3-GIS was able to meet. Using the ESRI Transmission
Data Model as a template, 3-GIS configured a GIS transmission
data model that included the creation of a structure inspection
record. After migrating existing line and structure data, 3-GIS
installed ArcGIS Server at the Tri-State facility and created
a GIS website using the ArcGIS Server technology. Using the
administrative toolset, Express Conductor, Field Express
Chameleon was then configured to meet Tri-State’s requirements
of data editing, line and structure inspections, and vegetation
management. Once Field Express Chameleon was completed and
configured according to Tri-State’s needs, it was loaded onto 30
Archers and sent into the field.
The data editing capability within Field Express Chameleon
allows Tri-State crews to capture and edit assets (structures,
access roads and gates, aerial markers, etc.) in the field, as well
as edit and view facility related data, such as poles associated
with a structure. These tasks will assist Tri-State in building a
more complete GIS database for use by the entire organization.
The inspection capability within Field Express Chameleon
allows the user to perform structure inspections, as well as
record right-of-way condition locations, such as encroachments
or required tree trimming. This enables maintenance and line
summary reports to be generated through a web interface to
ensure regulatory compliance.
435.753.1881
|
js@junipersys.com
Field Express Chameleon allows the user to
edit data while on-site, capture inspections,
and manage various related records, while the
embedded ArcGIS Server enables the transfer of
data updates to and from the Archer Field PC®.
Archer Features:
▪ Windows Mobile® 6
▪ 520 MHz Processor
▪ 512 MB internal data storage
▪ PC & microSD card slots
▪ Bluetooth wireless technology
▪ USB Host & USB Client on board
▪ RS-232 serial 9 pin D connector
|
www.junipersys.com
Customer Story
2 December 2010
The two aforementioned capabilities created by 3-GIS enables
efficient and accurate tracking of these recorded conditions.
When the information is saved into the GIS database, a condition
object is created for every issue that is reported from the field.
For example, a structure that had a damaged insulator and cross
arm would result in a condition object being created in the GIS
database. A Tri-State manager may then assign these condition
objects to a work order and have a field user follow up on that
particular work order. The field user can then logon in the field
and download the active work order so it can be resolved.
By leveraging the capabilities of the Archer Field PC®, along with
Field Express Chameleon and ArcGIS Server, Tri-State Generation
and Transmission Association has succeeded in deploying a
mobile GIS solution that meets the needs of both its office and
field users.
435.753.1881
|
js@junipersys.com
|
www.junipersys.com