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Indoor Mapping for Hospitals–A New Era of Operational Awareness
Indoor Mapping for Hospitals–A New Era of Operational Awareness
By Kurt Kirkpatrick 7/1/2025
Hospitals operate like complex organisms–multi-floor systems bustling with patients, clinicians, and equipment, all functioning around the clock. In this high-stakes environment, the difference between smooth operations and costly delays often comes down to one thing: visibility. Knowing exactly where people, assets, and resources are in real time can accelerate care delivery, sharpen emergency response, and optimize the use of space. That’s where indoor mapping, combined with real-time GIS technologies like Esri’s GeoEvent Server, is transforming healthcare operations from reactive to precise.
With hundreds or even thousands of rooms spread across intricate layouts, hospitals pose serious challenges for staff trying to locate equipment like ventilators, wheelchairs, or other critical items. Add in the need to coordinate patient transfers, staff assignments, and urgent interventions, and the importance of centralized spatial intelligence becomes clear. Yet traditional facility management systems often rely on static tools–manual updates, spreadsheets, or direct communication–that can’t keep pace with the real-time nature of clinical work.
Indoor mapping changes that paradigm. It digitizes hospital layouts, enabling stakeholders to visualize operations with pinpoint accuracy. When paired with RTLS (Real-Time Location Systems), medical assets can be tracked continuously, ensuring critical equipment is exactly where it’s needed–whether in an ICU, operating room, or mobile cart. During mass-casualty incidents or fire drills, these maps reveal dynamic movement of patients and staff, allowing security and emergency teams to respond with confidence. And for everyday use, interactive maps and mobile apps help patients, visitors, and employees navigate vast facilities, reducing confusion and improving efficiency across the board.
Beyond logistics, indoor GIS also empowers administrators to improve space planning. By analyzing how rooms and departments are used in real time, they can spot inefficiencies, eliminate bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions about expansions, renovations, or resource allocation. The result? A smarter hospital–one that’s safer, more responsive, and better equipped to deliver high-quality care.
Imagine a hospital that integrates indoor mapping with real-time ambulance tracking. As an ambulance approaches, the emergency department can see its location and estimated arrival time, prepare the appropriate rooms, and guide staff to meet patients efficiently. This is just one example out of many where spatially enabled information can provide efficiencies, better inform, and potentially save lives.
At SIG, we specialize in combining Esri’s ArcGIS Indoors with GeoEvent Server to deliver real-time operational awareness for hospitals and healthcare networks. Our tailored solutions can help hospitals:
Track high-value assets across multiple floors.
Build dashboards to monitor patient and staff flow.
Integrate indoor maps with IoT devices for enhanced facility management.
Command Center Dashboards–Real-Time GIS for Smarter Decision Making
Command Center Dashboards–Real-Time GIS for Smarter Decision Making
By Kurt Kirkpatrick 7/14/2025
In the face of disaster or critical system failure, recovery hinges not just on resources or manpower, but on information–specifically, how quickly decision-makers can access and act on it. Whether it's a wildfire advancing on populated areas, a utility outage stretching across counties, or a public safety event demanding coordinated response, the ability to visualize operations in real time can mean the difference between disruption and control. Modern command centers, equipped with real-time GIS dashboards, offer this visibility. They become the centralized platform–the single source of truth—that empowers organizations to respond with speed, accuracy, and confidence.
At the heart of any effective command center is the dashboard–a dynamic interface that turns raw feeds into actionable insights. By aggregating live data from systems like GeoEvent Server, IoT devices, mobile field units, and external sources such as weather services, organizations can maintain complete situational awareness. These dashboards allow staff to visualize the precise location of vehicles, personnel, and key assets as events unfold. Instant alerts triggered by geofencing or threshold violations notify teams of emerging risks: from approaching storm fronts to unexpected equipment failures. By centralizing this intelligence in a shared interface, cross-functional teams–from field operatives to executive leadership–can make unified decisions and avoid the confusion that often accompanies complex emergencies.
These dashboards are especially vital for mission-driven sectors where timing and coordination are non-negotiable. First Responders can track units in the field, monitor dispatch statuses, and view unfolding incident details to guide interventions. Utility Providers benefit from visibility into service disruptions, crew assignments, and environmental factors that influence restoration timelines. Government Agencies rely on up-to-the-minute geospatial insights to manage emergency operations, public events, and natural disasters with clarity and control.
From the front lines to the back office, command centers with real-time GIS foster communication, boost responsiveness, and help protect both infrastructure and communities when it matters most.
Consider a county emergency management office monitoring a hurricane. Using a GIS-powered dashboard, they can track shelter capacities, evacuation routes, and utility outages, while live weather data streams directly onto the map. This unified view enables faster, more informed decision-making–and ultimately saves lives.
At SIG we design customized command center dashboards that integrate Esri’s GeoEvent Server with live data sources–from vehicles and assets to sensors and third-party APIs. Our dashboards give your organization:
360-degree situational awareness.
Intuitive, interactive interfaces.
Actionable intelligence for decision-makers.
The Future of Utility GIS: Why Moving from Geometric Network to Utility Network is a Game-Changer
The Future of Utility GIS: Why Moving from Geometric Network to Utility Network is a Game-Changer
By Seth Kirkpatrick 7/16/2025
For years, the Geometric Network (GN) in ArcGIS has been the backbone for modeling utilities like electric, water, and gas networks. But as infrastructure becomes more complex and demands for real-time data grow, GN’s limitations are becoming clear. Esri’s Utility Network (UN) is the next-generation framework, designed to handle the modern challenges utilities face–from asset management to advanced analytics and real-time operations.
Transitioning from the Geometric Network to the Utility Network isn’t just a technology upgrade–it’s an investment in future-proofing your utility operations.
Why Geometric Network Falls Short:
The Geometric Network was designed for a time when utilities needed only basic connectivity modeling. However, today’s utility providers face more complex challenges, including:
Real-time monitoring and IoT integration.
Detailed asset modeling (attributes, phases, conditions).
Multi-utility coordination (electric, water, gas, telecom).
Advanced tracing and analysis needs that GN can’t handle efficiently.
Limited support for modern web and mobile workflows.
Key Benefits of the Utility Network:
1. Enhanced Network Modeling
The Utility Network can represent assets in more detail and complexity than the Geometric Network.
Model real-world utility features down to poles, switches, valves, and conductors.
Incorporate hierarchical asset groups and network rules to ensure data quality.
2. Advanced Tracing and Analytics
The UN introduces new tracing capabilities that go far beyond GN’s simple connectivity checks:
Trace by conditions, phases, subnetwork, or specific asset states.
Simulate outages or service disruptions to improve operational planning.
3. Seamless Integration with Real-Time Data
The Utility Network pairs perfectly with GeoEvent Server and ArcGIS Dashboards for live tracking of field crews, sensors, and smart grid data. This integration helps utilities achieve proactive monitoring and faster response times.
4. Web and Mobile Readiness
With UN, data and maps are service-oriented, enabling field crews to access and edit network data directly through web apps and mobile devices–all connected to the same live database.
5. Future-Proofing Your Utility
Esri is investing heavily in the Utility Network as the standard for all utility GIS operations moving forward. Migrating now ensures your utility isn’t left behind as GN phases out.
What Does Migration Involve?
Migrating from GN to UN requires careful planning and execution:
Data Assessment: Cleaning and validating GN data to meet UN’s stricter rules.
Modeling and Design: Defining asset groups, rules, and domains that match your operational needs.
Testing and Training: Ensuring staff are ready to use the new tools and workflows.
Incremental Migration: Running GN and UN side by side during transition phases to avoid disruptions.
How SIG Helps with GN to UN Migration
At SIG, we guide utility companies through every step of this migration:
Gap Analysis: Identify current GN limitations and opportunities in UN.
Custom Migration Plans: Tailored to your data, systems, and operational goals.
Implementation and Support: Deploying the Utility Network with real-time dashboards, field apps, and training for staff.
Our approach ensures that utilities not only migrate but unlock the full potential of advanced GIS workflows.
The Bottom Line
The Utility Network isn’t just a replacement for the Geometric Network–it’s a modern platform for real-time asset management, advanced analysis, and smarter decision-making. Utilities that adopt UN are positioning themselves for efficiency, reliability, and innovation in an increasingly data-driven industry.
Top Challenges in Migrating from Geometric Network to Utility Network and How to Solve Them
Top Challenges in Migrating from Geometric Network to Utility Network and How to Solve Them
By Seth Kirkpatrick 7/26/2025
The Utility Network (UN) is the future of GIS for utilities. It offers advanced modeling, real-time capabilities, and tighter integration with modern web and mobile workflows. However, migrating from the Geometric Network (GN) to the Utility Network is not a simple “lift and shift” process.
At SIG, we’ve seen many utilities hesitate to start the transition due to concerns about cost, complexity, and downtime. The truth is: migration challenges are real–but they are absolutely solvable with the right approach.
Why Migration Matters
Esri is steadily shifting its focus toward the Utility Network as the standard for all new utility GIS development. While GN has served organizations well for years, it lacks the flexibility and advanced capabilities needed to meet today’s challenges, such as real-time IoT integration, advanced tracing, and web-ready workflows. Delaying migration means utilities risk falling behind in efficiency, data quality, and system interoperability.
The Top Challenges Utilities Face:
1. Data Quality and Readiness
The Utility Network enforces stricter data rules compared to GN. If your current network data has connectivity errors, missing attributes, or inconsistent schemas, these issues will surface during migration.
The Solution:
Conduct a data health assessment early in the process.
Use ArcGIS Data Reviewer or custom validation scripts to clean up connectivity, domains, and attribution.
SIG offers data cleanup and readiness audits to help utilities align their GN data with UN requirements.
2. Modeling Complexity
The Utility Network’s rule-based modeling is far more detailed and customizable than GN. While this is a huge advantage, it requires a redesign of your asset framework to include asset groups, asset types, subtypes, and association rules.
The Solution:
Develop a network model design plan that maps your existing GN structure to UN’s framework.
Leverage Esri’s industry data models (e.g., electric, gas, or water models) as starting points.
SIG’s experts can create a customized model that balances complexity with ease of use.
3. Fear of Downtime
Utilities worry about system downtime or operational disruptions during migration. The reality is that UN migration doesn’t need to be all-or-nothing.
The Solution:
Use a phased migration approach, running GN and UN side by side during the transition.
Start with a pilot project (e.g., a single service area or district) to test workflows and refine the process.
SIG’s migration framework ensures minimal disruption by planning for rollback contingencies.
4. Training and Adoption
The Utility Network introduces new tools, workflows, and concepts–such as associations, terminals, and subnetwork traces. Teams familiar with GN may feel overwhelmed at first.
The Solution:
Provide hands-on training for staff, tailored to their roles (e.g., GIS admins, field crews, and analysts).
Use interactive workshops and real-world scenarios to build confidence.
SIG offers Utility Network bootcamps and knowledge transfer sessions designed for quick adoption.
5. Integration with Existing Systems
Many utilities rely on legacy systems, such as SCADA, asset management platforms, or custom GIS applications. Ensuring these systems work with UN can be challenging.
The Solution:
Conduct a system integration audit to identify dependencies.
Use modern tools like ArcGIS Enterprise services and APIs to bridge gaps.
SIG specializes in designing integration pipelines to ensure a smooth transition to UN without breaking existing workflows.
How SIG Streamlines the Migration Journey
We approach GN to UN migration as a strategic modernization project, not just a technical upgrade. Our proven framework includes:
Readiness Assessment: Evaluating data quality, system integrations, and operational goals.
Custom Migration Roadmap: A phased plan tailored to your utility’s unique needs.
Pilot Projects: Quick wins that demonstrate UN’s value before full-scale deployment.
Full Implementation: Configuring UN, integrating with real-time GIS, and deploying modern dashboards and field apps.
Training and Support: Empowering your team with the skills to maximize UN’s capabilities.
Why the Effort is Worth It
Migrating to the Utility Network unlocks next-level GIS capabilities, including advanced tracing, real-time asset monitoring, web and mobile access, and predictive analytics. Utilities that make the move are better equipped to increase reliability, reduce downtime, and deliver superior customer service.
Real-Time GIS for Utilities – Enhancing Reliability and Response
Real-Time GIS for Utilities – Enhancing Reliability and Response
By Kurt Kirkpatrick 7/29/2025
For utility companies, downtime is not an option. Customers rely on electricity, water, and gas 24/7–and a single outage can affect thousands. Real-time GIS, powered by Esri’s GeoEvent Server, gives utility operators the live data they need to monitor assets, coordinate field crews, and restore service faster than ever before.
Utility providers are responsible for managing sprawling infrastructure networks that often extend across vast geographic areas. These networks include power lines, pipelines, substations, and service hubs–all critical components of daily life for residential and commercial customers. One major challenge is tracking field crews, especially during storm events or scheduled maintenance. With unpredictable weather and dynamic service demands, utilities need to know who is where in real time. Responding to outages is another pressing concern, particularly when customers are relying on uninterrupted service. The delay between outage occurrence and crew deployment can be costly, both financially and reputationally. Meanwhile, monitoring asset health is essential for preventing equipment failures that may cascade into larger system disruptions. And throughout all these operations, communicating timely updates to customers, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies remains a constant pressure point.
Modern GIS solutions offer utilities a powerful way to take control of the chaos. With fleet tracking, utilities can visualize the exact location of service trucks, field personnel, and contractors as events unfold, allowing dispatch teams to optimize routing and reduce response times. Integration with IoT sensors further enhances situational awareness–monitoring substations, meters, or pipelines for anomalies, and triggering alerts instantly when thresholds are exceeded. When combined with weather data and outage overlays, GIS enables vivid visualizations that pinpoint problem areas and help prioritize restoration efforts. Perhaps most transformative is the ability to use real-time trends and data models to anticipate issues before they occur. Proactive maintenance planning reduces downtime and saves money, while improving reliability and customer satisfaction.
Beyond internal workflows, real-time GIS can support transparency and engagement with the public. Interactive dashboards or customer-facing status portals can display crew locations, restoration timelines, and system-wide service status. These tools don't just provide information–they build trust by showing customers that progress is underway and responses are grounded in data. For utility providers seeking to strengthen relationships, improve operational agility, and prevent service failures before they begin, real-time GIS is no longer a luxury–it’s an essential capability.
Imagine a severe thunderstorm knocks out power across a region. A utility company equipped with a real-time GIS dashboard can see exactly where crews are, dispatch the nearest teams, and update outage maps for customers–all while monitoring weather conditions as they evolve.
Our team has extensive experience in utility-focused GIS solutions, including:
GeoEvent Server integration for real-time asset tracking.
Dashboards for outage management.
Predictive analytics and data visualization.
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