Latest Contributions by SpatialNinja

Contents: ArcGIS Powered Network Information Management Systems Telecom organizations are facing unprecedented pressure to expand fiber and 5G networks across diverse architectures while managing increasingly complex physical and logical assets spanning fiber, wireless, coax, and copper infrastructures. Many organizations struggle with fragmented inventories, disconnected systems, inconsistent maps, and data that lacks the accuracy and context needed to support confident decision-making. These challenges create barriers between planning, construction, operations, and business teams, leading to inefficiencies, duplicated efforts, and growing technical debt from overlapping tools and redundant datasets. At the same time, limited location intelligence, aging systems that lack scalability and security, and workforce constraints are forcing organizations to do more with fewer resources. To remain competitive, service providers need a modern, geospatially enabled network information management approach that delivers authoritative, actionable data, unifies network records across the enterprise, and provides a secure, scalable foundation for planning, building, operating, and growing their networks. Esri offers a comprehensive geospatial platform, ArcGIS, that enables organizations to implement modern network information management systems. As a comprehensive geospatial platform and network information management system, ArcGIS provides a broad portfolio of configurable applications, data, and services that support workflows across the entire network lifecycle. Telecom organizations can leverage these capabilities to streamline asset management, planning and design, operations management, construction management, mobile operations, and customer engagement through a unified system.   Asset Management Esri Product Typical Use within the System ArcGIS Pro Network editing, fiber modeling, tracing, QA/QC, analysis. ArcGIS Utility Network Connectivity engine, topology, tracing, network rules, and advanced network modeling. Communications Utility Network Foundation (ArcGIS Solution) Solution accelerator providing a telecom data model, preconfigured traces, diagrams, editing tools, and implementation jumpstart. ArcGIS Data Reviewer Data quality validation. ArcGIS Data Interoperability Create Spatial ETL tools to geoprocess any data. Communications Pole Audit (ArcGIS Solution) Solution accelerator used to streamline the pole audit process and help ensure accurate information for attachment billing.     Planning & Design Esri Product Typical Use within the System ArcGIS Pro Network editing, fiber modeling, tracing, design workflows, QA/QC, analysis. Generate staking sheets and drawings. ArcGIS Web Editor Browser-based light weight editor app for network maintenance and updates. ArcGIS Workflow Manager Design, permitting, and engineering workflow management. Desktop, web, and mobile app coordination. ArcGIS Business Analyst Perform demographic analysis and compare market areas for new fiber builds. Network Path Planner (ArcGIS Solution) Solution accelerator used to plan fronthaul routes to wireless equipment such as 5G sites, backhaul routes from wireless towers, and plan routes to residential neighborhoods or business locations.   Operations Management Esri Product Typical Use within the System ArcGIS Experience Builder Configurable app builder. Network operations web apps and executive dashboards. ArcGIS Dashboards Reporting, outages, project status, serviceability tracking. ArcGIS Instant Apps Easy to configure network viewers and stakeholder access. ArcGIS Web Editor Browser-based light weight editor app for network maintenance and updates. ArcGIS Velocity Real-time analysis software and IoT spatial capabilities. Device monitoring and real-time integration with GIS.   Construction Management Esri Product Typical Use within the System ArcGIS Workflow Manager Construction workflows and approvals. ArcGIS Dashboards Build progress monitoring. ArcGIS Field Maps Map centric construction inspections and status updates from the field. ArcGIS Survey123 Form centric as-built collection and contractor reporting. ROW and Easement Data Management (ArcGIS Solution) Solution accelerator used to develop an inventory of public rights-of-way and easements and share right-of-way and easement information with internal and external stakeholders.   Mobile Operations Esri Product Typical Use within the System ArcGIS Field Maps Map centric asset updates, inspections, redlines, field verification. ArcGIS Survey123 Form centric pole audits, splice closure inspections, as-built collection. ArcGIS QuickCapture Rapid collection during construction or walkouts. ArcGIS Dashboards Monitoring of field work and data collection.   Customer Engagement Esri Product Typical Use within the System ArcGIS Hub Customer and contractor engagement platform for sharing data, collaborating, and engaging stakeholders. Communications Service Availability (ArcGIS Solution) Solution accelerator used to share service availability with prospective customers and help staff understand customer interest.   System Architecture ArcGIS is a well-architected IT enterprise platform for developing solutions and systems. Esri offers best practices and design recommendations for telecom organizations implementing a network information management system. Core System Components Esri Product Typical Use within the System ArcGIS Enterprise Primary system software, including the following components: Portal for ArcGIS, ArcGIS Server, and ArcGIS Data Store  ArcGIS Online Provides basemaps and other location services. Esri Developer Developer documentation for ArcGIS products and location services. ArcGIS Monitor Monitoring and optimizing the system components and overall health. ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World The foremost collection of geographic information from around the globe. It includes demographics, live weather feeds, AI-ready data, and government curated data, such as the FCC BDC.   AI and Agents ArcGIS is evolving into a Geospatial AI Platform that combines AI-powered analytics, embedded assistants, and autonomous agents with authoritative network, asset, customer, and operational data. ArcGIS AI Capabilities Typical Use within the System AI Tools & Models   Use AI to automate the creation, maintenance, and analysis of telecom data. Extract fiber assets, poles, structures, and facilities from imagery and engineering documents. Identify network anomalies, outage patterns, and service impacts. AI Assistants   Embedded AI assistants help users interact with ArcGIS using natural language, making GIS easier to use while improving productivity. Build maps and analyses through conversational prompts. AI Agents   ArcGIS is enabling the next generation of geospatial agents that can reason, plan, and execute multi-step workflows using GIS data and tools.   Network Management Release Plan The 2026 Network Management release of ArcGIS reflects Esri’s continued commitment to helping utilities and telecommunications providers transition from legacy systems to modern, enterprise-grade network information management systems. By combining stability and targeted enhancements, this release enables organizations to move forward with confidence as they build more connected, resilient, and future-ready network systems. For more information, visit Esri’s network management release plan.     Investing in the Future of Network Information Management for Telecom Esri continues to invest in the future of ArcGIS through advancements in Geospatial AI, intelligent assistants, autonomous agents, spatial analytics, cloud services, and industry-specific capabilities. Our vision is to make location intelligence more accessible, automate complex workflows, and bring geospatial context into enterprise decision-making. For telecommunications organizations, this means continued innovation that supports network planning, design, operations, customer engagement, and business growth while protecting existing technology investments. ... View more

  Join us for an Esri Telecom User Community Meetup on November 18th!     In this virtual meetup, you’ll learn what’s new in spatial analysis and have an opportunity to connect with others virtually in the telecom user community.   What's new in geospatial AI and spatial analysis Big data use cases for ArcGIS GeoAnalytics Engine AI in action   Don't miss your opportunity to learn how GIS technology is helping organizations meet challenges in the telecom industry.    REGISTER TODAY   ... View more

Join Esri and the Telecom User Community for a community meetup! This time we'll be getting together in Palm Springs at Esri IMGIS. Along with getting together at the IMGIS socials, we'll also get together on Wednesday evening for an informal BYOB event.    Where? Rooftop 262 Bar & Grill 262 S Palm Canyon Dr Ste 200 Palm Springs, CA 92262 rooftop262.com   When? Wednesday October 29 7:00 pm - ????     Please RSVP to this event post and we'll see you there! ... View more

  We invite you to the Esri Charlotte Regional Meetup in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosted by the Esri Telecommunications Group. Grow your community We don't want you to miss out on the upcoming Esri Charlotte Regional Meetup. Join Esri for a day of great presentations and conversations focused on using ArcGIS to support your needs and grow your business. Let's work together to grow our knowledge and strengthen our telecom community! About this event Connect with like-minded peers facing similar challenges in the telecom industry.  Learn how GIS technology is being implemented at different telecoms across the country. Find out about the latest ArcGIS updates from Esri experts and get your questions answered. *Breakfast and lunch are provided at no cost to attendees.   Where? Esri Charlotte Regional Office 3325 Springbank Lane, #200 Charlotte, NC 28226   When? September 16, 2025 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM (EDT)   REGISTER TODAY This event has limited space.  Please note that this in-person meetup for ArcGIS users in the Telecom User Community only.  ... View more

  Join us for an Esri Telecom User Community Meetup on September 16th!     In this virtual meetup, you’ll learn what’s new in field operations and have an opportunity to connect with others virtually in the telecom user community.   What's new in ArcGIS mobile apps Leveraging GeoAI in mobile workflows Managing fieldwork with ArcGIS Workflow Manager and ArcGIS Field Maps tasks   Don't miss your opportunity to learn how GIS technology is helping organizations meet challenges in the telecom industry.    REGISTER TODAY   ... View more

Join Esri and the Telecom User Community for a community meetup! This time we'll be getting together at a bar in the Gaslamp San Diego during the Esri UC. Join us for a casual meetup afterparty following the Esri infrastructure social.  Nothing formal, just a few like minded geogeeks in the telecom industry hanging out.    Where? Tom's Watch Bar 815 J Street, Suite #101 San Diego, CA 92101 https://tomswatchbar.com/san-diego/   When? Tuesday July 15th 8:00 - ???? - Following the Infrastructure Social     Please RSVP to this event post and we'll see you there! ... View more

  In this virtual meetup, you’ll learn what’s new in ArcGIS and have an opportunity to connect with others virtually in the Telecom User Community. What you’ll learn in this meetup What is an enterprise mapping and spatial analytics system? Self-service mapping with AI assistants Enterprise architecture considerations for ArcGIS   Meetup FAQ If I would enable such an Enterprise System on premises, which type of shared storage should I have so that to support Highly Available Scenario. I have visited Esri Documentation, but I noticed that the documentation does not provide specific deployment, instead it provide high level specifications for the shared storage like for example (consistence read after write, random I/O access). Could you describe specific storage deployment in Windows Server Environment?  - You can find more information on high availability patterns, including considerations for your relational datastore and ArcGIS data store here: https://architecture.arcgis.com/en/framework/architecture-practices/reliability/high-availability.html#high-availability-patterns   You mentioned that Esri was incorporating AI assistants into other apps. What are some examples?  - Esri is developing many opportunities for users to leverage AI assistants in our technology. In addition to the demonstration shown in the meetup around ArcGIS Business Analyst and ArcGIS Survey123, there are also AI assistants integrated in ArcGIS Pro, the ArcGIS support website, ArcGIS Hub, Microsoft Copilot, and ArcGIS Survey123 submission using Computer Vision for image extraction,   Is the pole audit workflow that was shown available as a preconfigured application?  - Yes, the Communications Pole Audit Solution is available for users to deploy as part of our ArcGIS Solutions for Telecommunications. You can find more information HERE   Are there ways to check if my ArcGIS Enterprise environment is architected properly for my workflows?  - We recommend checking out the ArcGIS Architecture Center as architecture.arcgis.com. You can also reach out to your Esri Account Manager to get connected with a Solution Architect on our team to learn about best practices for growing your enterprise mapping system.   Can I make my own AI assistant in ArcGIS?  - Yes, leveraging the ArcGIS SDKs and APIs you'll be able to extend the LLMs and AI Assistants from Esri.    On one of the architecture diagrams, Neo4j was listed as one of the data stores.  Is the graph database used for the network model or does it also include other geospatial data?  - The network model shown leveraged the ArcGIS Utility Network to handle the network topology of the fiber and wireless network. ArcGIS Knowledge, which works with graph engines, would allow you to interact with and visualize your graph data inside of ArcGIS.   If there are additional questions on this topic, please reply to this post or post your question under the Telecommunications Questions board. See you at the next meetup!   -Esri Telecom Team   ... View more

In this episode of TGI5 we walk through how to publish your own web styles from ArcGIS Pro to use in your web mapping.   Use Published 2D Symbols in ArcGIS Online Communications Data Management Solution Thanks for watching! ... View more

    In this virtual meetup, you’ll learn what’s new in Esri Developer and have an opportunity to virtually connect with others in the Telecommunications Community. What’s new in ArcGIS Developer Technology Overview of Esri client APIs and extension SDKs How to get started with Esri Developer   Meetup FAQ Is the enclosures add-in for splice diagrams available publicly? If so, where could we find it for download?  - Yes, there is a splice diagram template in the Communications Utility Network Foundation ArcGIS Solution, and the enclosure diagram shown on the webinar can be accessed here: https://github.com/esri/arcgis-pro-sdk-community-samples/tree/master/NetworkDiagram/CreateDiagramWithACustomLayout Are the new GEOAI tools a product we need a license for?  - No, there are AI capabilities across ArcGIS apps. To access those apps a user needs the proper user type licensing, but GeoAI is not an ArcGIS product, its capabilities built into ArcGIS. How we can provide input into with open-source libraries Esri supports?  - If you are interested in providing feedback please reply to this post and we can connect. Can I incorporate my own logic into Esri AI Assistants?  - Yes, leveraging the Pro SDK Can I use web maps from the GIS portal in the web application I am building?  - Yes, you can leverage the web map ID in your app development to bring in web maps from your portal. When will the 3D tiles basemap service be available?   - Later this year. Be sure to follow the ArcGIS Blog.   If there are additional questions on this topic, please reply to this post or post your question under the Telecommunications Questions board. See you at the next meetup!   -Esri Telecom Team ... View more

  In this episode we discuss ways to stay involved with the Esri Telecom User Community in 2025. Community page Esri Community Meetups Video Series ... View more

  Join Esri and the Telecom User Community for an in-person meetup!   Where? Esri Louisville Denver Office 167 S Taylor Ave Louisville, Colorado 80027   When? Wednesday March 19, 2025 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM MST   Register for the Event This event has limited space and requires registration and confirmation.  Please note that this in-person meetup for ArcGIS users in the Telecom User Community only.  ... View more

  Join us for an Esri Telecom User Community Meetup on April 1st!     This virtual meetup is focused on What's New in Esri Developer and is for the Esri Telecom User Community. This is your chance to hear technical updates, talk with Esri staff, learn from other members of the community, and stay informed.     What's new in ArcGIS developer technology Overview of Esri client APIs and extension SDKs How to get started with Esri Developer   Don't miss your opportunity to learn how GIS technology is helping organizations meet challenges in the telecom industry.    ... View more