Reducing Paper Flow in Utility Infrastructure Management in St Paul, Minnesota

One of the challenges facing utilities and telecommunications firms worldwide is an inefficient paper-based process for managing engineering design information. The challenges associated with a paper-based information flow includes poor data quality, low productivity, multiple versions of similar information, and limited access to critical engineering information within the organization.  I’ve blogged about this recently
and several times in the past, for example, 2006 and 2009.

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In this guest blog Teresa Elliott, Utility Industry Marketing Manager at Autodesk, introduces an article in Municipal Sewer & Water, that describes how the St Paul, Minnesota, Department of Public Works began the process of converting their paper-based system to an electronic underground infrastructure management system. 

“St Paul Department of Public Works is a proactive and diverse community-based city department that through creative partnerships, effective tools and technology, provides a livable community for 287,000 residents.  St. Paul DPW faces challenges typical to many wastewater utilities, such as how to effectively rehab their aging infrastructure, coordinate with other departments, and manage the data associated with this effort.  In the May publication of Municipal Sewer & Water, St. Paul’s article, Pushing Out Paper (page 22), you will learn more about St. Paul DPW, their challenges and initiatives, and how they are using Autodesk technology (AutoCAD® Map 3D, Autodesk MapGuide®, Autodesk® Topobase™) and Oracle® database to convert 100 years of paper-based maps  to an all-electronic system for recording data on its underground infrastructure  to more effectively design and manage their sewer and storm water assets.”
Geoff Zeiss

Geoff Zeiss

Geoff Zeiss has more than 20 years experience in the geospatial software industry and 15 years experience developing enterprise geospatial solutions for the utilities, communications, and public works industries. His particular interests include the convergence of BIM, CAD, geospatial, and 3D. In recognition of his efforts to evangelize geospatial in vertical industries such as utilities and construction, Geoff received the Geospatial Ambassador Award at Geospatial World Forum 2014. Currently Geoff is Principal at Between the Poles, a thought leadership consulting firm. From 2001 to 2012 Geoff was Director of Utility Industry Program at Autodesk Inc, where he was responsible for thought leadership for the utility industry program. From 1999 to 2001 he was Director of Enterprise Software Development at Autodesk. He received one of ten annual global technology awards in 2004 from Oracle Corporation for technical innovation and leadership in the use of Oracle. Prior to Autodesk Geoff was Director of Product Development at VISION* Solutions. VISION* Solutions is credited with pioneering relational spatial data management, CAD/GIS integration, and long transactions (data versioning) in the utility, communications, and public works industries. Geoff is a frequent speaker at geospatial and utility events around the world including Geospatial World Forum, Where 2.0, MundoGeo Connect (Brazil), Middle East Spatial Geospatial Forum, India Geospatial Forum, Location Intelligence, Asia Geospatial Forum, and GITA events in US, Japan and Australia. Geoff received Speaker Excellence Awards at GITA 2007-2009.

View article by Geoff Zeiss

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