United Power Reaps Benefits of TruckMap* Implementation; Utility plans to expand and extend system based on worker feedback

har*GIS, LLC, provider of mobile Field Information Systems that dramatically improve field crew productivity, today shared results to date realized by its customer, United Power, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. United Power lineworkers have reported increased time savings and productivity thanks to their use of the har*GIS TruckMap* system.

(PRWEB) June 7, 2004 -- har*GIS, LLC, provider of mobile Field Information Systems that dramatically improve field crew productivity, today shared results to date realized by its customer, United Power, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. United Power lineworkers have reported increased time savings and productivity thanks to their use of the har*GIS TruckMap* system.

The explosive growth of our service area drove the need for improved field crew efficiency and effectiveness," said Larry Hepp, Operations/Engineering Manager, United Power. TruckMap* is becoming an important work tool that allows our lineworkers do their job more quickly and efficiently."

Prior to implementing TruckMap*, lineworkers performing maintenance, repairs and upgrades in the field were unable to access current GIS data and facilities information while they were in transit or on a job site. The field maps they relied on were expensive to produce, required extensive labor to update, and rapidly fell out of date due to explosive growth and development in the utility's service area.

TruckMap* now exports information from United Power's ESRI ArcGIS facilities database, from the customer information system, from a transformer database, and from circuit and manhole drawings, then provides that information to field crews via ruggedized tablet PCs. The system allows integrated viewing and querying of the data from these different systems, and enables field personnel to quickly locate any customer record and instantly view distribution equipment.

Lineworkers express appreciation at having information in the field that helps them easily locate facilities. They report significant time savings thanks to the ability to quickly and easily locate facilities where upgrade, repair or expansion is necessary. Field crews have asked for more laptops to be made available, as the system has become an important work tool that saves them time and increases their efficiency, particularly in outage situations. They have also asked for additional tools and features to be added to the system, which are included in the recently issued update to TruckMap*, version 4.1.

About United Power
United Power, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Brighton, Colorado. The utility provides electricity to nearly 50,000 meters and 90,000 people in a rapidly growing area northeast of Denver. Its service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek Canyon and Golden Gate Canyon to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson and Keenesburg. For more information, see www.unitedpower.com.

About har*GIS, LLC
har*GIS, LLC develops Field Information Systems, mobile systems that dramatically improve field force productivity. By combining wireless communications, enterprise information systems, and location-based services, the TruckMap* product line delivers information and support to mobile field crews and dispatchers, using standard Windows® Mobile and PC computers. Field Information Systems automate field operations for the utility, municipal/government, communication, transportation and route services industries. har*GIS LLC is a Microsoft Windows Embedded Partner, a Trimble Business Partner, and an ESRI Business Partner. For more information, see www.truckmap.com, or email info@har-gis.com.

Trademarks
TruckMap*, GeoConfigure, GeoForms, GeoQuery, GeoTracker, GeoRouter, Gloves-On, Field Information Systems and the logo are trademarks or brand names of har*GIS, LLC. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
###