Dutch Utility DELTA: Communication Matters!

“Utilities generally have a dusty image – which we want to get rid of!” Wim Joosse, Program Manager IBIS at the Dutch multi-utility company DELTA says, that this is a task, his company is currently working on. His personal role is, to manage the migration of the former TDIS network information system to the new IRIS ( Infra Registration Information System ). But the image question is not the issue for the replacement of TDIS. The main reason is primarily its outdated base technology.

Introduction of a GIS

Beginning of the nineties, the first generation of GIS at DELTA started to be the tool of the draftsmen, thus “automating” their drawing tables and enabling conversion of analog to digital data. In this first phase, the work consisted mainly in object-oriented digitizing of the different kinds of assets (gas, electricity, water, telecom and sewage) in a database.

Keeping in mind the ongoing developments in the utility sector, DELTA finally concluded in 2003 that their existing GIS technology had become obsolete and was not suitable anymore to ensure profitability. The fact, that the maintenance for TDIS was about to be stopped by the provider, made the decision to replace the GIS even easier.

The decision was followed by a tender for a new GIS that clearly targeted standard technology, thus avoiding major customizing efforts. “Another important requirement was the option to integrate SAP and network calculation systems”, explains Joosse. In the end of the process, DELTA opted for implementing their new GIS IRIS, based on ESRI technology and combined with the standard application for utilities, ArcFM UT by Germany-based AED-SICAD.

The migration project as a whole was called IBIS and started in 2004. The focus lies on the step-by-step data migration from the former TDIS to the new IRIS system. IBIS consists of sixteen sub-projects, which are about to be finished in early 2008. The current GIS at DELTA is mainly an infrastructure information system. Its advantage lies on fast data exchange and integration ability. IRIS will help DELTA to rapidly identify affected infrastructure areas during excavation work, utility breakdowns and other maintenance tasks. This allows the management to take the necessary measures without delay.

Data conversion – a complex process

The process of data conversion must not be underestimated. A major part of the labor was taken over by GIS consulting company Tensing. DELTA employees mostly concentrated on the design and testing phases. Altogether, around forty persons are involved in the IBIS project.

The electricity and gas networks have already been migrated to the new data format. Currently, the team is working on the conversion of the water network and the telecom data. Wim Joosse says: “DELTA is a multi-utility company. Data of all sectors, like electricity, gas, water, sewage and telecom have to be integrated into one single system.” His colleague, René Koole, agrees: “That's why data conversion is such a complex process. By now, the service points have been connected to the network. With the old system, this would not have been possible.” Currently, Koole has a full-time job consisting of data migration and testing. Once this is finished, the data can be viewed in IRIS. “Temporarily, the old TDIS will be run as a back-up for the new IRIS. This is just to avoid trouble in case of problems during the warm-up period”, so Joosse.

Over three hundred users can access the information retrieval system. The web based solution provides DELTA's entire geographical network information to be viewed by the employees. “As this is now a central topic in the company, we have a so-called ‘sneak preview' once a month, where we inform the end-users about the latest development progress”.

Of course, not everybody within DELTA showed immediate enthusiasm, when the introduction of a new system was announced, for example the service staff. Joosse explains: “For them, the reason was hardly comprehensible. After all, GIS is not their primary tool.”

This situation shows clearly, that open communication, explaining the necessity of the new system, is essential. “In addition, we write about the project progress in our internal newsletter and up-to-date information can be retrieved in our Intranet at any time. The employees appreciate this: Now, everybody really understands the necessity of the migration to IRIS.”

Contact:
Wim Joosse
Program Manager IBIS, DELTA N.V.
mailto:wjoosse@DELTA.nl