Innovative Applications
of Technology
Our extensive work history with all of the major telecoms
within the United States has provided us with an understanding
of the innumerable ways common problems can be addressed.
SpatialAge Solutions offers our clients a strong
advantage. From previous experience, we have been able
to develop a vast repository of requirements and designs
that can be applied to speed up implementation time
- we don’t start from scratch. We capitalize on
our extensive experience to provide customized tools
that generate highly leveraged, quick-payback applications.
The success of the projects in which we have been involved,
attests to our unwavering commitment to providing the
best services and the best products to our clients.
Improving Customer Service
A major telecommunications company located in the Dominican
Republic integrated its client information system with
Byers EWO. This company uses SpatialAge Web
Viewer to easily locate and then sell available pairs.
Web Viewer’s Java-based technology enables the
provider to link their client demand with their service
offerings, field work forces, and network engineering.
This combination of applications led them to such exceptional
service response that the company experienced a rapid
gain of market share in a very short period as a result
of their efforts.
Adding Data Intelligence During
Records Maintenance
A national telecommunications provider within the United
States uses SpatialWORX to post work orders to their
raster files. This application uses intelligent feature
placement capabilities, extended with VBA, to place
intelligent vector elements over raster document files.
Because the application sets validations on individual
attributes on the data entry form, all subsequent input
meets client requirements at the time of placement.
As the user posts work orders, he or she can continue
to edit all aspects of these intelligent features, such
as geometry and attributes. When the user completes
all of their work orders, the application merges vector
elements into the original raster files to produce a
new raster file that contains all of the work order
updates. By placing these features as vector elements
first, the resulting output data in the raster files
are clear, sharp, and legible. This resulting vector
data is now ready for use in the incremental conversion
process.
Improving Engineering Productivity
Through Front-End Analysis Tools
A major telecom was able to project productivity improvements
of 20%, in engineering time, by making information from
long range planning, cable fill, trouble history, and
network capacity available as a front-end to the engineering
design tool. This capability saved considerable research
time and allowed engineers to build-to-plan rather than
work in “relief” mode.
Field Data Capture Using Pen
Computers
A large gas distribution company implemented a pen-based
system to capture time and material reporting during
maintenance and repair operations. The application provided
digital mapping and facilities data, as well as access
to company practices. Their current activities and next
day’s assignments were then uploaded and downloaded
daily via a docking station.
Widespread Access to GIS Data
As early as 1994, the largest Canadian gas utility
in the Northeast began an aggressive program of massive
distribution of GIS data via CDs and the Intranet using
Byers Map Viewer. This provided unprecedented access
to those disparate groups such as customer service,
repair and maintenance, engineering, marketing, and
locate groups.
Contractor Engineering Support
Byers worked with a major EWO client to enable access
of their server data to their contract engineering firms
allowing their design work to be tightly integrated
into everyday activities.
Collaborative User of Records
A client, to whom we provide outsource posting services,
uses eQuorum’s ImageSite® application for
viewing the most current version of their posted facility
records via the Web.
Loop Qualification for DSL
Provisioning
SpatialAge Circuit Qualification Tool (CQT)
is a server-based program that uses information from
the geospatial network inventory model and the line
assignment system to pre-qualify each serving terminal
location for high-speed data (HSD) service. With CQT,
service providers correlate their geospatial database
with the line assignment system so they can instantly
identify clients who qualify for advanced services such
as a digital subscriber line (DSL). CQT determines the
"best" circuit path for providing advanced
services and then reports the results at a terminal
level with the distribution terminals that meet specified
MEDR requirements highlighted.
Y2K "War Room" -
Compilation of GIS from Disparate Data Sources
SpatialAge Solutions worked with a national
telecommunications service provider in order to compile
spatial data from a variety of systems and formats into
a consolidated view. This consolidated view of the data
allowed the company to analyze their network based on
various criteria and then act swiftly depending on the
results. SpatialAge successfully helped this
company examine their entire service territory in one
view — including copper, fiber, COs, remotes,
and cell towers — and conduct spatial queries.
Building Continuous Data Improvements
in to Operations
An energy client built a process that allowed them
to build continuous data improvement into day-to-day
operations by utilizing SpatialWORX to send records
correction notices from the field via email.
System Requirements and Integration
SpatialAge Solutions recently provided consulting
services to an incumbent local exchange company looking
to upgrade its current customer information system.
We conducted a detailed needs assessment to evaluate
their assignment system, wrote a specification for a
new fully integrated assignment system, and then developed
a strategy for field data capture and assignment data
cleanup.
Special Map Production
SpatialAge Solutions collaborated with an
international provider of fiber optics and other telecommunications
services to create a special fiber map for parts of
a major metropolitan area showing fiber equipment and
interconnections. Adobe® software was a part of
this process to create these special maps.
Work Order Design
With SpatialWORX, a telecom client produces high-quality
designs, digital work prints, and material lists that
can be loaded into a fully functional GIS. In addition,
the client is able to bundle its GDT landbase, thereby
providing a backdrop for its network data. The application
includes a GPS interface, making it possible to import
geocoded data and place intelligent features.
SpatialWORX is a desktop engineering tool designed
to streamline the work order and materials management
process. The integration of this application into a
telecommunications environment shortens the development
cycle by providing a graphic template designed specifically
for the telecommunications industry, thus practically
eliminating the need for customization.
Data Warehouse Design and
Construction
SpatialAge Solutions assisted the western
office of a national local and long distance provider
in developing a data mapping and migration procedure
for loading their data from a legacy system into a geospatial
data warehouse.
Data Integration
SpatialAge Solutions developed an application
for pulling engineering and assignment data into a common
geographic location. This application enabled engineers
to perform “exhaust studies” in order to
discover when it would be necessary to provide relief.
GIS Field Data Capture
One of Byers' value-added resellers of our SpatialAge
products and services developed a system for capturing
business locations in the field using GPS technology.
We worked with the reseller to build a market research
database that would anticipate potential clients and
project demand.
Automated Contractor Work
Activity Update
A major telecom implemented a Byers custom system to
report daily work activity. This system allowed for
faster updates of as-built status and streamlined the
contractor work verification and payment process.
Automated Data Cleanup
SpatialAge developed a data purification environment
for a massive data improvement initiative. Based on
EWO, this tool uses an enhanced set of custom error
identification and resolution tools. The tool also has
all of the standard data validation routines including
cable source connectivity, illogical data conditions,
and terminal address matching.
Conduit System Conversion
SpatialAge custom-built, and is currently
using, an application for converting conduits, manholes,
and boundaries. This application includes a full suite
of feature placement, data validation, and error resolution
tools for accurate and efficient conversion of features
from a paper to a digital geospatial environment.
Custom System Development
and Integration
SpatialAge worked with a major Rural Electric
Authority to develop a continuing property records asset
management system. We developed software to design work
orders, to load and maintain the asset management system,
and to spin transactions to update the assignment database.
Chronic Terminal Rehab
SpatialAge assisted a client with the interfacing
of its trouble history system to allow for the display
of high maintenance cost distribution terminals. This
effort provided for better scheduling of replacement
terminals as a part of their normal service activities.
Automated Vehicle Locating
Byers Map Viewer software currently possesses capabilities
that enables companies to implement an automated vehicle
tracking module. Although we do not offer a COTS application
for this functionality, our applications include extensive
GPS and Visual Basic support that allow for this ability.
Byers has recently developed a custom configuration
for one of our large utility customers that when used
in conjunction with our Map Viewer application will
enable them to write latitude and longitude points and
graphically display these points via predefined symbology
on their maps. Based on your requirements and our software’s
inherent capabilities, we will be able to build an AVL
application that is specific to your needs.
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