Future-Ready Utilities: Smart Upgrade Strategies for GIS

I talked a little bit yesterday about building a master database with on-net locations. I have used Esri before and they are very good. Esri Canada is helping communications service providers modernize how they plan and operate their networks. By leveraging ArcGIS, telecom teams can: ✅ Optimize network operations with location intelligence — manage assets, monitor performance and streamline field workflows. ✅ Improve sales and customer service by combining geospatial data with market analytics to identify growth opportunities and enhance the customer journey. ✅ Support planning and engineering with tools to design, document and manage wireline and wireless networks; location information is foundational whether you’re building fibre or 5G. ✅ Use precise Canadian geocoding (thanks to Esri’s partnership with LightBox) to confidently map civic addresses, sub‑addresses and multi‑unit buildings. ✅ Plan equitable broadband expansion by analysing underserved communities and visualizing proposed projects. So, esri.ca could help provide the geospatial platform, geocoding services and telecom‑specific workflows needed to build and maintain the database, but you would still be responsible for collecting detailed coverage information from providers and integrating it into the system. Who wants to build this with me?

𝗜𝗳 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗦 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗚𝗜𝗦 𝗼𝗿 𝗤𝗚𝗜𝗦 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿? There’s far more to GIS than pushing buttons in a tool. 𝗚𝗜𝗦 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀: ► Analyze and interpret spatial data to uncover insights. ► Connect domains like utilities, planning, retail, and environment. ► Guide decisions with evidence-based strategies. ► Bridge the gap between raw data and strategic outcomes. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: A GIS professional doesn’t just map power lines. They model outage risks, optimize crew deployment, and help utilities decide where to invest millions in grid upgrades. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 “𝘮𝘢𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨”, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴-𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵. Yes, we produce maps, but those are only the surface. The deeper value lies in analyzing patterns, connecting domains, and guiding choices that affect real communities and real dollars. 👉 That’s the truth leaders outside GIS need to hear. Over the next few posts, I’ll share how this plays out across other industries, such as retail, urban planning, and environmental management. 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗜𝗦 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸-𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. #GIS #LocationIntelligence #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation #Utilities

A modern grid can’t run on misaligned maps and inaccurate data.  Years of asset drift, land base changes, and manual edits have left many utility GIS foundations fragmented — especially across multiple networks.    This white paper outlines WDI’s proven methodology for utility GIS conflation at scale: 🔹 5M+ features aligned with parcel-accurate precision  🔹 QA-driven workflows that eliminate rework  🔹 A structured path from legacy data to ADMS readiness 🔹 Eliminate unnecessary tooling and freeze downtimes!     🔍 Read how leading utilities are fixing the foundation — before building the future.    📥 Download the paper: https://lnkd.in/e5DT8sAa    #GIS #Utilities #SmartGrid #ADMS #GeospatialData #DataQuality #GridModernization #Conflation 

GIS Software Market: Key Players & Growth Insights The Geographic Information System (GIS) software market is experiencing significant growth, with projections estimating a rise from USD 7.5 billion in 2024 to USD 15.0 billion by 2033. This expansion is driven by the increasing demand for spatial data analytics across various industries, including urban planning, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure development. For professionals seeking comprehensive insights into this dynamic market, a detailed report is available for download: 🔗 Download Sample Key Players in the GIS Software Market The GIS software landscape is characterized by a diverse range of companies offering innovative solutions. Some of the notable players include: Esri Hexagon AB Autodesk SuperMap Software Co.,ltd Trimble Inc. NV5 Geospatial Software 3GIS LAYERMARK GeoMarvel Felt GIS SOFTWARE HOUSE iamGIS GISinc (now Axim Geospatial) GovPilot Bridge MapBusinessOnline - The Most Trusted Business Mapping Solution Land Vision Group Simple GIS Software VertiGIS HAVELSAN These companies are at the forefront of GIS innovation, providing solutions that enhance spatial data analysis and decision-making processes across various sectors. For a more comprehensive list and detailed analysis, professionals are encouraged to explore the full report: 🔗 Download Sample #GISSoftware #GeospatialAnalytics #MarketResearch #LocationIntelligence #SpatialData #UrbanPlanning #InfrastructureDevelopment #GISInnovation #TechTrends #DataVisualization

Should it be a Barrage or a Dam? Where I come from, structural engineers debate endlessly about dams versus barrages — ecological, geographical, and meteorological reasons aside, it ultimately comes down to one thing: flow. In the low-code world of Power Platform, you now have better tools at your disposal to manage flow with the same mindset. 👉https://lnkd.in/g5RjPMJA dependencies | where timestamp > ago(1d) | where type == "Cloud Flow/Cloud flow actions" | extend cd = customDimensions | extend parsed = parse_json(tostring(cd.Data)) | extend FlowDisplayName = tostring(parsed.FlowDisplayName) | summarize count() by FlowDisplayName When a Flow goes down in production, debates quickly spiral into design flaws, missed throughput predictions, and licensing costs. With proactive alerts like this, you can catch throttling early, sidestep the blame game, and keep production steady. 💡 Executive view: When a Flow disruption occurs, discussions often center on design gaps, unanticipated throughput, and escalating licensing costs. Proactive alerts like this shift the conversation from post-mortem debates to foresight and resilience — ensuring continuity, controlling cost, and protecting executive confidence. #PowerPlatform #CloudFlows #FlowMonitoring #Dataverse #KQL #ProactiveAlerts #LowCode #MicrosoftCloud #FlowThrottling #PluginDesign #EnterpriseIntegration #TechLeadership #PraveenThonda #Dynamics365 #FlowResilience

This year’s Esri User Conference highlighted the AEC industry’s growing embrace of GIS. There were countless examples of how large infrastructure projects are leaning on GIS to provide critical context to support organizations’ strategies. https://ow.ly/Lpb630sOVuP

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), today announces that broadband provider Fibrus has won a Special Achievement in GIS Award (SAG) at Esri’s annual User Conference in San Diego. Fibrus was recognised for its application of Esri’s ArcGIS technology to accelerate the delivery of next-generation fibre broadband to homes and businesses across Northern Ireland and Cumbria. The technology was implemented across its government backed infrastructure rollouts, including the recently completed Project Stratum in Northern Ireland and Project Gigabit in Cumbria. Esri’s User Conference is the world’s largest GIS conference, with over 18,000 attendees. The prestigious SAG Awards celebrate organisations worldwide who have gone above and beyond in their innovative applications of Esri’s technology. Using this technology, Fibrus has created streamlined and collaborative processes that have resulted in cost savings of up to £5 million on the rollout of fibre networks. It was selected from over 700,000 eligible customers globally. https://lnkd.in/eQ8tF5a6

Paper forms, disconnected systems, and rigid workflows keep agencies stuck in the past—slowing down projects and increasing compliance risks. GEO.works changes that. ✅ Fully configurable to your needs ✅ Integrates with existing GIS & IT systems ✅ Evolves as your agency grows Future-proof your permitting. Don’t let yesterday’s tools hold you back from tomorrow’s challenges. 👇 Explore the full story in our latest carousel. #SmartCities #TfL #ROWManagement #DigitalTransformation #GIS #Infrastructure #Automation #TfGM #Permitting

🔗 True integration across all systems is what unlocks real value. When your EAM, GIS, EDMS and asset platforms don’t speak to each other, you’re stuck with gaps: duplicated effort, out-of-sync data and delayed decisions. Enter RedEye (an Accruent solution) integrated with GIS and Asset Management: ✅ Seamless connection between engineering documents, maps, equipment records and maintenance systems ✅ Instant access by teams in the field, office or remote sites ✅ Unified workflows that span all your systems: EAM, GIS, EDMS, etc ✅ Full audit trails and data accuracy across platforms If your technology stack still feels like a collection of islands, it’s time to build bridges. Integration is your fastest path to resilience, efficiency and smarter infrastructure. Learn more about RedEye: https://lnkd.in/e8QY-yaD #Integration #EAM #GIS #EDMS #AssetManagement #CloudInfrastructure #DigitalTransformation

Here’s the straight talk, co-op friends: Most rural electrics are paying twice for GIS. First you pay the core legacy platform tax. Then you pay again for every add-on that “rides on top” of it. RRAD cuts that in half. We deliver the engineering-grade tools you need on an open stack you control. What “open” looks like in practice (QGIS + PostGIS + GeoServer + MapLibre): • Lower total cost: No per-seat tax just to view or edit data. RRAD’s software fees stay with RRAD, not a legacy platform vendor you don’t even use half the time. • Own your stack: On-prem or private cloud. Air-gapped if you need it. No forced upgrades that break your workflows right before storm season. • Built for operations: Editing that field crews can trust, fast map publishing, reliable outage and asset views, clean integrations to OMS/AMI/SCADA. • No vendor lock-in: Open standards, portable data, API-first. If you outgrow us, you take everything with you. • Performance without drama: PostGIS is a tank. Your maps and traces stay snappy even when the network’s busy and the radios are cranky. • Realistic changeover: We stand up open source in parallel. We keep your existing Esri setup stable during the pilot so operations never skip a beat. What you get with RRAD: • A co-op-savvy team that actually ships working tools, not slideware • Training that respects your people and time • Clear roadmaps, fixed-scope pilots, and honest pricing If you’re tired of renting your GIS and ready to own it, let’s talk. We’ll start small, prove it on your data, and grow from there—without the double-pay. #RuralElectric #ElectricCooperative #PublicPower #GIS #OpenSource #QGIS #PostGIS #UtilityGIS #GridModernization #CoopStrong