The Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) in Omaha, Nebraska, has long been a pioneer in leveraging Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to manage its water and natural gas utilities. For over a decade, M.U.D. has utilized GIS to streamline operations, but recent advancements and regulatory pressures have pushed the district to take a significant leap forward. The implementation of Esri’s ArcGIS Enterprise and the migration to ArcGIS Utility Network are set to revolutionize how M.U.D. manages its infrastructure, and the sector should take note.
M.U.D.’s journey began with the implementation of ArcMap supported Utilities Viewer, which replaced paper workflows and reduced dispatch calls. However, the application had limitations, including the need for an active internet connection and slow map viewing. Over time, technology advanced, and M.U.D. integrated GIS with SAP, developed faster field applications, and created dashboards for data analytics. Despite these improvements, staff struggled with outage and project management, exacerbated by regulatory requirements like the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.
The decision to implement ArcGIS Enterprise and migrate to ArcGIS Utility Network was driven by the need to streamline technology and support modernization initiatives. Lindsay Dreckman, GIS Manager at M.U.D., emphasizes the importance of starting with a pilot project. “Take Esri’s advice to clean up your data and start with a pilot project. The pilot sets up a workbench that can be modified to meet your needs and support your migration. You will learn a lot and be better prepared for full implementation.”
The migration to ArcGIS Utility Network has empowered M.U.D. staff with a central GIS hub, powerful desktop capabilities, and GIS-based mobile applications. This shift has improved workflows and enabled the GIS team to support organization-wide initiatives. One of the most significant benefits has been the improvement in hydraulic modeling. Evan Martin, Director of Infrastructure Integrity at M.U.D., notes, “Using data from the UN [ArcGIS Utility Network] has resulted in less time fixing connectivity issues in the hydraulic model. The built-in connectivity rules ensure good data, which is very important when modeling flow through our system, knowing what’s connected to what and how the system flows together.”
The implementation of Aquanuity’s AquaTwin Water software has further enhanced M.U.D.’s hydraulic modeling capabilities. This software provides an all-inclusive water system hydraulic modeling solution built into ArcGIS Pro, aligning with the high-quality, accurate information required for Utility Network migration. The result is a more efficient and reliable hydraulic model that supports better decision-making and system management.
M.U.D. has also leveraged its robust water main break information to create a risk model analysis. This data is used to prioritize projects for replacement, with results published to a web map and shared across departments using ArcGIS StoryMaps. This approach enables clear communication about risk to water mains, prioritization of capital projects, and replacement program strategies.
The development of an outage application is another significant achievement. Prior to GIS modernization, staff used a custom tool in ArcMap that was time-consuming and prone to data inaccuracies. The new outage application, created using ArcGIS Experience Builder, leverages Utility Network trace configurations and integrates with SAP and the ArcGIS Enterprise portal to notify customers of outages. This improvement has streamlined the workflow and enhanced communication between field staff and customers.
The sector should pay close attention to M.U.D.’s journey. The district’s experience highlights the importance of data quality, the benefits of pilot projects, and the potential of modern GIS technology to transform utility management. As regulatory pressures and technological advancements continue to shape the water, sanitation, and drainage sector, M.U.D.’s approach offers a roadmap for others to follow. The district’s success in implementing ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Utility Network demonstrates the power of GIS to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and support sustainable development. The sector should expect to see more utilities following in M.U.D.’s footsteps, as the benefits of modern GIS technology become increasingly clear.
