Mobile Data Technology at Florida Power Corporation
Scott Waldman
Florida Power Corporation
Mobile Data Technology and Integration Issues
This paper explores mobile technology and some of the issues involved in integrating mobile applications towards improving an electric distribution system’s overall reliability and service delivery. Issues include the technology impact on existing work practices. A case study of Florida Power Corporation summarizes the steps taken and the lessons learned in the successful implementation of mobile technology and its resulting measurable benefits, including better and more efficient field data capture, accurate and current positional information, and reduced communication bandwidth demands. FPC field crews and dispatchers get real-time updates of work status and work completed information. FPC the Company
FPC is the second largest investor-owned electric utility in Florida. Founded in 1899, the company serves approximately 1.4 million customers in central and north Florida. Its service area encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles, including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the rapidly growing area of central Florida surrounding Orlando.
Over the past five years the average number of new customers has grown by 2 percent annually-nearly twice the national average. In 1999,27,000 new customers were added to the network.
Approximately 4.5 million people live within the company’s service area, which covers 32 of the state’s 67 counties.
FPC Business Strategy
FPC effort to expand customer relationships is to provide competitively priced energy, excellent reliability, and outstanding customer service. The Delivery 2,000(D2K) project is a package of new technology and delivery systems that is streamlining operations and improving customer service.
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A mobile data plan was part of FPC initial business strategy in planning the D2K project.
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An analysis was performed on who would be using the mobile application to determine the number of units and training requirements. A review summarized where the users would be located ,how many would use the system, how often they would be in the field and for how long.
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All potential sources of data used and applications that would share the same data with the mobile system were identifide-along with where the data would be stored, how frequently the various would be accessed, if remote access to the data would be required from the field, and whether the data would be required in real-time or some other form.
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As part of the overall D2K evaluation of technology, FPC identified software and hardware providers and the support resources. FPC selected off-the-shelf solutions, which were less expensive and easier to implement than custom solutions.
The Technology at FPC
Mobile solutions have automated the distribution of crew workload at FPC, enabling dispatchers to focus on emergency situations and serve larger workforces and territories. By transmitting job status information to the office, dispatchers and supervisors can quickly monitor progress and reprioritize orders. Field crews stay informed through interactive messaging with dispatchers and access to critical corporate information systems. Mobile deployment at FPC has optimized crew efficiency mobile units provide field crews with mobile links to the dispatchers and electrical facilities data using electronic maps.
In June, FPC successfully implemented Intergraph In Service Mobile application as part of their D2K initiative to enhance customer service and increase operating efficiency across its 20,000 square mile service territory in north and central Florida.
By means of a CDPD communication link outage information is communicated to the mobile unit from the outage management system, and transmitted back is outage information as well as vehicle position information from the global positioning system (GPS) attached to the vehicle.
Table 1 D2K Technology
Application
Vendor
AM/FM/GIS
Intergraph FRAMME
Outage Management & Dispatch
Intergraph In Service OMS
Mobile Data
Intergraph In Service Mobile
WMS
Severn Trent STORMS
CIS
Anderson One
Mobile Hardware
Hammerhead, Walkabout and Panasonic CF25
Communication
GTE
In Service incorporates CDPD/Cellular switched, which enables FPC to carry more traffic with enhanced computing capabilities. Positioning information communicated to the mobile unit is transmitted to the In Service Outage Management System (OMS), which utilizes the GPS information to update position.
Mobile Data Technology
Mobile Data is when you send digital messages or data over a wireless net work, such as sending e-mail from the base station to a truck, because mobile data applications and AVL both use wireless communication networks, they are often integrated together.
FPC Mobile System Applications
Mobile data systems in general include a variety of hardware and software available to the user, as well as a variety of interfaces that can be implemented into the corporate system (GIS, OMS). FPC uses AVL with CDPD/Cellular switched technology communication.
Components of AVL
AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) is used for tracking field crews and mobile assets such as equipment. Each mobile unit has a GPS receiver that reports its position to the dispatch center over a communications net work. This allows the dispatch center to monitor the entire field crew and manage the mobile assets.
AVL makes dispatch much quicker, especially when integrated with Computer Aided Dispatch systems (CAD). Because AVL tells you the actual location and status of the vehicles, you can make much more informed dispatch decisions. For emergency services, AVL often reduces dispatch time from about a minute to less than 15 seconds.
GPS (Global Positioning System) is a collection of 24 earth-orbiting satellites. These satellites allow any person who owns a GPS receiver to determine his or her precise longitude, latitude and altitude anywhere on the planet. Used with Mobile Data , crew safety, location, and assistance response times are enhanced. GPS helps the field crew by providing a rapid assessment of available manpower for the dispatch centers.
GPS Satellites
The 24 GPS Satellites orbiting the entire globe transmit positioning and timing data day and night in all weather conditions.
Mobile GPS unit
In each vehicle you need a GPS receiver to track the satellites and calculate your position.
Routing and Dispatch
Wireless technology (i.e. CDPD) combined with GPS technology brings even more information into the hands of the dispatchers, reducing the workload in the Centers．Wireless technology allows Computer Aided Dispatch(CAD)centers to effectively route emergency services to their destinations quickly and efficiently．Crews are immediately locatable，and the dispatch center situational awareness is increased．
CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data)
A relatively new communications technology，CDPD places data into packets to send at very high speeds during pauses in cellular phone conversations．By addin******PD to an existing analog cellular system，data can be transmitted without building a new separated digital network．CDPD lets you send data over an enhanced cellular network．It uses a full voice channel，and can move your connection from one channel to another to avoid congesting voice communications．
The cellular networks deployin******PD enable mobile workers to use a single device to handle all of their voice and packet data needs．These digital systems have several advantages including better coverage，more calls per channel，less noise interference， and the ability to add new features and functions such as short messaging．Currently， the coverage for CDPD is mainly North America，New Zealand and emerging in Central and South Americas．The capability is data only transmission．
System Design．
Initiating your mobile computing project，the following systems design issues are important to consider：
Network design-selecting the right network
Integration (or not) of the mobile applications with the Internet and web
architecture
Capacity planning and calculating response time
Data compression considerations
System availbility design
Security issues
Ergonomic design considerations，such as form factor，battery life，method of input-pen，touch，keyboard or voice，ruggedness，fixed or portable installation
FPO Mobile Hardware
Most mobile data applications integate specialized hardware in the vehicle: Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) –- This is a display that usually mounted to the dashboard or floorboard. It may have a few pre- programmed buttons or a full keyboard. Some MDT’s are hard-wired for a specific application; others run on an open platform, such as Microsoft Windows CE, and may be reprogrammed for other applications.
GPS Unit – the GPS unit sends communications to the MDT or computer, which in turn passes the communications to the radio. This setup is advantageous when Mobile Data is the priority, when the radio is built into the MDT or installed permanently in the vehicle, or the GPS equipment is to bi added later.
Radio – Communications equipment depends on the network you are using. In thes setup an external radio is connected to the MDT or PC.
FPC Mobile Data Pipeline
The mobile data application software interfaces with FPC OMS/CAD System.OMS/CAD communicates with the mobile equipment to access all the AVL data, such as the vehicle’s position and status.
Integrating Mobile Data
To integrate mobile data applications in an AVL system, you need to install application software (In Service OMS/CAD) at the dispatch center and mobile hardware in the vehicles. The AVL system is used as a communications pipeline to pass data between dispatch and vehicles.
FPC has configured their mobile data solution with added AVL, where the GPS unit passes the GPS information to an MDT, which in turn handles the communication. We also have a configuration that the GPS is tied to the CDPD modem then the modem is receiving GPS information as well as packet data. The mobile application then repackages the position and outage information and re-sends it thru the CDPD infrastructure.
Summary
The mobile workforce within the utility industry represents at least one half of its total employees, making mobile data technology almost a requirement. Gaining new customers, retaining old customers, lowering costs, improving operational efficiencies and service reliability are essential for utility companies to maintain competitive advantages. Technology is enabling utklktkes to unify disparate systems and deliver complete end-to-end solutions to effectively manage the enterprise workforce and expand their services.
Mobile computing tools can be used to reduce power outage duration, manage field crews, improve service scheduling and capture field data at the source, improving accuracy and reducing operating costs.
The availability of such technologies as GS, wireless communication, and mobile computers, integrated with GIS, database, graphical user interface and operating systems components, creates a spatial information environment.
Mobile data solutions are changing and improving utility operations. Utilities can offer better customer service through their mobile field crew using a wireless link to enterprise applications services are delivered faster and workers are empowered to make informed decisions in real-time.
发表于 2009-5-30 23:09:01