Latest Contributions by SpatialNinja

At this years GeoConX we showed how the suite of ArcGIS Fields Apps could improve the cost accuracy and decrease the response time for new service connections.  This was done by streamlining the data collection of pole locations and other sites to attach telecom network to, then using that data to automatically optimize a network route with spatial analysis.  Lets recap all the apps shown. Serviceability using Web AppBuilder The Serviceability app allows direct sales reps or sales engineers to instantly generate a cost estimate for a new service connection by calling upon a Network Analyst service that generates a route based on pre-defined business rules.  Those business rules can optimize the route based on shortest path, highest ROI, or even least cost path which looks for routes with existing infrastructure or the highest amount of aerial build potential (poles we can attach to).  The serviceability app was configured using Web AppBuilder and the Service Qualification solution template. Required Esri Technology Recommended Experience Service Qualification Solution Template  Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS (Developer Edition) ArcMap (Advanced)  Network Analyst Extension for ArcGIS ArcGIS Enterprise Publishing GIS services Authoring web maps Publishing applications using Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) Telecom Attachment Site Inspection Survey using Survey123  The Telecom Attachment Site Inspection Survey allows field engineers to quickly collect information on locations to attach telecom network to. The locations and information collected from the field can be made instantly available for the Network Analyst service to optimize network routes, or to help engineers manually cost out routes. The site inspection survey was built using Survey123. Ninja Pro Tip: What is New in Survey123 for ArcGIS v 2.4 (September 2017) Required Esri Technology Recommended Experience Survey123 Survey123 Web Designer or Survey123 Connect ArcGIS Enterprise or ArcGIS Online Survey123 Web Designer or Survey123 Connect Work Order Management using Workforce Workforce for ArcGIS allow management teams to quickly assign field work based on a survey grid within a web map, and allows field personnel to view their work orders and keep their management teams informed of their status and progress. Workforce for ArcGIS also integrates with Navigator, Survey123, and Collector to help streamline workflows in the field. Required Esri Technology Recommended Experience Workforce (Web - Dispatcher) Workforce (Mobile) ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro (for creating and publishing survey grid) ArcGIS Enterprise or ArcGIS Online Publishing GIS services Authoring web maps Creating map grids Setting up Workforce projects Map Notes & Redlining using Collector Collector for ArcGIS allows field personnel to collect field data via a map and their GPS location.  The example data collection workflow using Collector that was shown at GeoConX was focused on map notes & redlining to alert engineering teams in the back office of updates to an outside plant facility map or construction as-built's.  The Collector based map notes & redlining workflow was configured using the Map Notes solution template. Required Esri Technology Recommended Experience Map Notes Solution Template Collector ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Enterprise or ArcGIS Online Publishing GIS services Authoring web maps Running tasks in ArcGIS Pro Service Request Tracking using Operations Dashboard The Service Request Tracking Dashboard allows management to view the real-time status of all requests for new service connections, and the locations of their field engineers or direct sales reps.  The dashboard can also pull in the performance metrics of your service quotes, like quote accuracy (initial quote vs. actual project cost) and quote response time (time to provide the customer with a cost estimation).  The dashboard was configured using Operations Dashboard for the web.  Required Esri Technology Recommended Experience Operations Dashboard ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Enterprise or ArcGIS Online Publishing GIS services Authoring web maps Configuring Operations Dashboard To view the demonstration again, check out the video below. Feel free to reach out with any questions or for more information on how to configure any of the ArcGIS Field Apps. Patrick Huls Technical Evangelist - Utilities and Communications LinkedIn: Patrick Huls| Twitter: @SpatialNinja| GeoNet:Phuls-esristaff ... View more

Meeting customers’ growing expectations for new telecommunications services is challenging and crucial in a highly competitive market. Upgrading networks with the latest technology is only part of the solution. Delivering a superior customer experience also requires real-time dynamic visibility and insight into your network and business operations. For this, you need Operational Intelligence enabled by Web GIS and ArcGIS Enterprise 10.5. ArcGIS Enterprise The true power of a Web GIS is the ability to expose geographic data management, map visualizations, and powerful spatial analysis tools to anyone in your organization through Web Services.  These Web Services when paired with apps create windows into your data, maps, and analysis results. ArcGIS Enterprise is a complete Web GIS platform with new distributed GIS capabilities that allow for real-time data ingestion, big data storage, and spatial analysis, both in real-time and near real-time on big data.  These new capabilities allow for telecom organizations to have better operational intelligence by monitoring, in real-time, customer touch points with their services, enabling them to analyze the big data spatially, quickly prioritize and respond to customer demands, automatically report to executive teams, and be proactive.  Resolving a network issue before its customer experience affecting, and better understanding how your customers interact with your services will ultimately improve customer experience. So how do you provide to your organization better operational intelligence through Web GIS and ArcGIS Enterprise? First. Setup up your enterprise Web GIS with ArcGIS Enterprise Web Services are the foundation of operational intelligence. Installing and configuring ArcGIS Enterprise will give your organization the foundation and framework to start publishing these web services, whether they be data management services, map services, or geoprocessing and analysis services. Ninja Pro Tip: Architecting the ArcGIS Platform: Best Practices   Second. Create a destination, create groups, and provision users. Portal for ArcGIS is the content and identity management system of ArcGIS Enterprise. This portal manages your web services, web maps, web apps, and gives users access to them.  Setup your portal with your organizations branding, group structure, and then add users to their appropriate groups so they know where to find your organization’s maps and geographic content. Ninja Pro Tip: The Model Portal - Solution Template Download   Third. Create and share foundational information products. A content rich portal is a happy portal. The more maps and geographic content shared within your portal, the more likely users in your portal will return looking for more, and contribute new content themselves. But to start, focus on the geographic data you have within your organization, and create the foundational maps and apps that would initially provide the most value. An OSP facility map, service territory map, and customer location map are few foundational data layers and web maps that serve multiple purposes, and provide value to a lot of members of your organization. Also, start to think about what real-time and field collected data you would like to ingest, create your data schemas and databases, and publish those web services and web maps. Ninja Pro tip: Getting Started with ArcGIS Pro for Curating and Publishing Web Services   Fourth. Enable field mobility. Start taking advantage of the Web GIS pattern for field mobility and the suite of field apps ArcGIS offers. Once you start ingesting and analyzing call detail records, network information, and other customer experience feeds, you’ll need to send crews into the field for upgrades, repairs, and new builds, so enable them with mobile apps to quickly see asset information on live web maps and easily collect field data on their tablet or smartphone.  You can also take advantage of field mobility without requiring additional real-time and big data engines. Ninja Pro tip: Apps for the Field   Fifth. Tap into real-time data feeds, store big data, and analyze the heck out of it. Once you have ArcGIS Enterprise and your portal configured, you can deploy and take advantage of GeoEvent Server for ingesting real-time feeds.  Set-up and store that data in the ArcGIS Spatiotemporal Big Data Store and then deploy GeoAnalytics Server and start analyzing that big data. The GeoAnalytics Server tools can be accessed and run through ArcGIS Pro, your portals web map viewer, and now through Insights for ArcGIS.  Insights for ArcGIS is another application to enable geographic data interrogation. If you are still in the data exploratory phase, then Insights for ArcGIS is a great tool to examine your big data to derive patterns and trends. Ninja Pro Tip: Understanding Spatial Analytics   Sixth. Share the results, start to improve customer experience, become the hero. Everyone loves maps because they tell a story and gives you a unique perspective on data. Providing real-time maps and analytics into the hands of decision makers empowers them to address issues quickly, minimizing their impact before they negatively affect customer experience. The Web GIS pattern and ArcGIS Enterprise allows you to quickly share information through configurable web apps. Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS is just one of many ready to use apps that will act as a window into your real-time data and analysis results. Ninja Pro Tip: Apps for the Office   Seventh. Get Started Today. The technology to empower everyone in your organization with maps, apps, and spatial analysis to improve operational intelligence is here. Service providers have seen great return on investment and improved customer experience when ArcGIS and the Web GIS pattern are deployed to its fullest potential. I encourage you to start looking at how maps and spatial analysis could be better utilized within your telecommunications organization today, and check out this Webinar and Story Map for more information on Operational Intelligence in telecommunications. Patrick Huls Technical Evangelist - Telecommunications‌ LinkedIn: Patrick Huls| Twitter: @SpatialNinja| GeoNet:Phuls-esristaff ... View more

Esri's ArcGIS Telecom Team has put together a set of interesting and insightful apps, story maps, and tools for the telecommunications industry.  We have shared these publicly via the gallery below.  Be sure to check this thread frequently as new content is regularly shared to the ArcGIS Telecom Team Interactive Demo Gallery. ArcGIS Telecom Team Interactive Demo Gallery Thanks, ArcGIS Telecom Team #telug‌ Join the Discussion Below! ... View more

Last week the ArcGIS for Telecommunications site was updated.  This August release included an enhancement to the Antenna Structures Information Model as well as two NEW solution templates.  ArcGIS for Telecommunications is a series of free and easy to deploy solution templates, web maps, and apps for adding telecom specific configurations to the ArcGIS platform.  Listed below is the update to the Antenna Structures Information Model and information on the two new solution templates, Serviceability Lookup App and Service Request GeoForm. Antenna Structures Information Model (Enhancement) An additional model has been added to the Antenna Structures Information Model to allow for cell site and sector feature class creation from a csv file.  Once the site and sector data is in feature class format, the update site and sector script can be run to generate pie slice shaped geometries to represent the sectors.  These sectors can then be hooked up to live sector KPI data using GeoEvent Processor in order to track sector KPI’s. Serviceability Lookup (New Template) The Serviceability Lookup app is a configuration of ArcGIS Online for the public to view available services for a given location. This app is designed to be embedded on the company's website or as a standalone app. Service Request (New Template) The Service Request app is a configuration of ArcGIS Online to allow the public to request service information. The app allows a user to complete a service request form and submit the location for service using an input address, current location, or coordinates. The requests can then be used by customer service to contact these potential new customers. ... View more