ArcFM XI and the Utility Network

The Utility Network (UN) by design offers a great deal more precision than its predecessor, which stopped short of providing a more structured data model, advanced features, and the ability to manage complex networks with multiple domains. The UN helps you model a more accurate representation of your network, a “digital twin” of the real thing. However, a more accurate network model is arguably not inherently valuable without the power of the ArcFM XI series.

Esri provides data loading workbooks and tools, which include Utility Network Package Tools and the Asset Package toolset, to help you transform your existing data into the Utility Network data model. Asset Packages allow you to load data into the UN in stages, which can be useful for smaller migrations or to get a better understanding of the process.

ArcFM is uniquely poised to utilize Esri’s UN configuration to give customers a configuration that supports the entire ArcFM XI series – Designer XI, Editor XI, Mobile XI, and Feeder Services XI. Additionally, ArcFM XI series apps in combination with the UN offer support for advanced systems like EcoStruxure™ Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS). That type of configuration lowers the cost of implementation while supporting extensibility where it’s relevant. More information about ArcFM UN configuration is available in the ArcFM Utility Network Configuration Guide.

The ArcFM XI series, tightly coupled with the UN, offers a robust framework to analyze data and detect validation errors. But those capabilities are only as good as the data used to model the network in the first place. Therefore, let’s discuss how clean your data is.