Best practices for UN client visualization

Question

Good morning everyone,

I'm currently working with a few clients on modernizing their utility geonetworks to the UN. I've become more and more aware of the disconnect between UN SME's, general GIS employees and management/senior staff, with regards to the understanding of the UN.

I've found that many stakeholders want a visual representation of the planned UN. As such I attempt to provide my clients with the material needed to make their cases.

The problem becomes how to best represent the current data and the planned UN roll out. My process of migration involves many tables, trying to use those for someone who doesn't understand the UN has caused issues.

What tools do you use to visualize both the UN and legacy GN data? I want something that is interactive but simplistic enough for anyone to be able to use.

GIS_kiwi4 · Answer

Hi Adam,

I think you can use ArcGIS Pro (read-only Geometric Networks) to visualize the two data sources but ArcGIS Pro will also help in highlighting the other differences. Visually and interactively representing this in one place can be hard. You can use bookmarks and split windows to achieve this. An easy way is to set up different examples across the network and work through them.

You can also use this opportunity to demo the differences between the two. 
High Fidelity Modelling - Terminals, non-spatial objects, connectivity between spatially disjoint objects, containers, etc.

You can use the content pane to display the change in the schema and show the Network Properties

You can also demo advanced tracing functionality.
Maybe make some edits in the UN to show network validation and effect of connectivity rules.

You will obviously need to cater this for the audience but this might be a good start.
If you were inclined to take this one step further you could use tasks within ArcGIS Pro to design a custom walkthrough.

You can also use ExB if you think that's what your customers might prefer seeing but you might not be able to demo everything in there. You might need to purpose specific demo - editing, viewing, administering.

All the best!

JasonDrost_FPUA · Answer

Hi Adam,

I could not agree with you more on the communication aspect.  I too have struggled trying to translate Utility Network migration using utility industry language to SMEs.  They don't speak asset group, asset type, subnetworks, simple data mapping, etc. and I don't expect them to.  Instead, in the very beginning I'm providing them with specific details about how the Utility Network will provide value to their specific role as good starting point and what they can do to contribute.  Essentially telling them up front that as a mobile worker you will be able to do XYZ now, what information do you need to do this?

As we progress beyond concept, they are going to want to see something.  ***Please be aware that this is untested and only a concept thus far.***  I had planned to use the Compare Instant App with two maps synced together.  One with the GN Map Service and the other with a UN Map Service.  Sync the maps together and sync the popups so they can see both the map display and attributes showing the differences between the two.  You would need to have some sort of pilot area migrated to the UN if you are planning to use the clients data to show this or perhaps you could get some data from a previously successful migration or Naperville.

My thought process on communicating this migration to the organization is to focus on three areas:

* How does this impact my role and what I do?
* What can the SME do to help us out and contribute?
* What is it going to look like on the map?

Hope this helps.

Jason