able users to see assets as a whole or individually by type. Each asset has a drop-down box that, when clicked on, reveals information about that asset such as model number, date installed, repaired, replaced, and inspected. Even service requests can be made on-the-fly from the field when using GIS. Plus, any number of characteristics can be custom- ized into the program. While some water distribution system owners may be hesitant due to costs, grants and zero-interest loans can make this an achievable goal. Utilizing Esri software and web applications along with third-party asset management programs such as VUEWorks Asset Management software will give system owners a powerful tool to help them main- tain and plan for system updates throughout the life of their assets. Asset inventory requirements The WQAA’s directives begin with program development for inspec- tion and maintenance of all water supply and treatment facilities, detailed engineering analysis of asset condition, and estimated service lives of water mains and replacement program. Then it continues down the line to the location verification, inspection, identification of valves and hydrants, and program development for annual testing and flush- ing, and repair or replacement. As the assets are field-verified for their location, operating checks are collected. A field observation can be captured into a GIS program using mobile applications. A simple field form can be created using Esri Survey123 for ArcGIS for identifying the need for clearing of the area around the valve to ensure full access to the valve for operat- ing purposes. A simple Pass/Fail or Yes/No answer can be acquired through a mobile field form to alert the supervisor of the need for field maintenance. Work order assignments for clearing around a valve or cleaning of the valve box can be deployed through mobile work order applications such as Esri Workforce for ArcGIS or VUEWorks Mo- bileVUE. The GIS program is highly customizable and can capture additional information such as the amount of turns for exercising the valve and what fire hydrant is controlled by the valve. After collecting the location of fire hydrants, assignment of flushing IDs can be added to the GIS hydrant dataset. Maps can be generated for a visual tool for field staff to follow as flushing takes place. A recorded date of flushing along with condition inventory of the hydrant can be captured through Esri Survey123 for ArcGIS and Esri Workforce for ArcGIS. Web-based GIS Today’s GIS programs are also web-based, which gives users the ca- pability to store a large amount of data within a secure web server (the cloud). This means that asset data can be accessed and updated in the field through hand-held devices with platforms such as Windows, iOS, and Android. As the data is collected or edited, it is sent to a secure web server in real time for simultaneous use in the office. It also can be configured to enable staff to launch live service requests, manage, and report on the status of those work assignments directly from the field. The beauty of a GPS/GIS-based asset management program is that,
nance, repair, and rehabilitation of the infrastructure. The sheer number of assets that need to be located, maintained, and tracked is one thing, but keeping the details related to each asset from year to year at their fingertips has been a longtime struggle for asset managers. Over time, system owners have used a variety of methods to keep their assets maintained, from using manual drawn record documents to database inventories of their systems. Historically, to gain information about system assets, conventional boots-on-the ground survey methods were used to collect asset infor- mation in the field. Hand written field books were used to describe features with station and offsets to surrounding surface features or road centerlines. As the maps were hand-drawn from this information, corresponding tables were typed out showing coordinate locations (x,y,z), materials of those assets, and sizes of pipes. These maps and tables were stored in a manageable fashion, either rolled up in tubes or in space-eating flat files. Detailed asset maps had corresponding key maps showing the spatial location of each feature, which could be more than 100 maps. At the time, a paper system was the best way to manage inventory, but it was cumbersome, hindered streamlined communications, and sometimes even the integrity of the data from field-to-office. While moving toward an electronic system was a good way to move forward, early technology wasn’t perfect either, and over time, the rate at which technology grew left many users with disjointed systems. It’s been a constant struggle to keep up with software updates, newer programs and hardware, application differences, and systems that don’t talk to each other because their platforms aren’t compatible. To make it worse, some managers may be using a combination of electronic and paper systems, or even multiple electronic systems that don’t communicate. Introduction of a geographic information system (GIS) that encompasses all needs and can easily handle everything from data collection to storage has made all of this a thing of the past. What does GIS do? Before implementing GIS, it is necessary first to understand what it is. In an average water distribution system, thousands of infrastructure assets need to be monitored and managed for the duration of their life cycle. The WQAA has mandated verification of the location of existing assets using GPS technology. However, several requirements can be satisfied using a combination of GPS and GIS. For utilities with an exhaustive history, confirming asset location using GPS and condition can be a daunting task. But, if you’re dedicating valuable time and staff to making this gigantic effort to satisfy the WQAA, adding the GIS component into the mix at the same time not only makes sense, it’s the most efficient way to track and maintain assets going forward. The end product is an interactive GIS base map to which layers of information can be added as an overlay to show information about the corresponding street system that might show the location of valves, fire hydrants, storm drains, outfalls, stop signs, etc. These overlays en-
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august 2018
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