Utility-centric GIS Applications

Working at the intersection of utility networks & GIS Applications.

We work at the intersection of utility networks and geographic information systems. Our focus is to provide customers with a solid foundation for supporting utility GIS applications. Elements of this GIS foundation include a data model designed to meet your business needs and processes to load and maintain the Geodatabase that is built for you based on that model. BSL experience in utility GIS data modeling, migration and maintenance can help ensure the success of your GIS implementation project.

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GIS Services

ArcFM/ArcGIS Data Migration

We are experts at migrating and validating data from existing mapping systems into an ArcFM Geodatabases, and our rates are some of the best in the industry!

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Data Enhancement

Data sources within a utility organization, both GIS and non-GIS data sources, are built in many ways and grow along many paths. We will seamlessly incorporate them into your GIS.

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Implementation Tasks

We specialize in Data Modeling, Data Migration Design, and Quality Assurance for GIS projects, which are critical tasks to insure a successful and accurate GIS implementation.

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GIS Tools

The Blair Services CAD Converter allows you to define a precise and complete mapping of ArcMAP features and graphic elements to AutoCAD (DXF or DWG file compatible).

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GIS Case Studies

Unexpected uses for an Electric Connectivity Extract

Unexpected uses for an Electric Connectivity Extract

We created a “Device Connectivity” table from an ArcFM™ Feeder Manager-managed electric distribution network to support a single, isolated business function. In the course of a year’s time we found and implemented multiple applications all taking advantage of the same table. Could have been a little serendipitous, but in our case the initial investment proved quite worthwhile.

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Seriously Fast ArcFM Designer QA

Seriously Fast ArcFM Designer QA

Sometimes quality assurance processing can be, shall we say, um… sluggish. We recently had an experience where ArcFM™/Designer QA performance was quite so. This article describes how we diagnosed performance issues and ultimately improved things. A lot.

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Multiple ArcGIS Geometry Fields on a Feature Class

Multiple ArcGIS Geometry Fields on a Feature Class

In a previous post we discussed methods for providing multiple geometries for a given feature. The options described included ArcSchematics, cartographic representations and use of related feature classes. In this post we take on a similar but different topic of creating an additional geometry definition in an existing feature class that is managed entirely by a custom application.

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Migrating the “Unusual” into ArcGIS/ArcFM

Migrating the “Unusual” into ArcGIS/ArcFM

Migrating data from well-known technologies such as AutoCAD, Microstation or Smallworld has established processes and infrastructure. This post addresses aspects and strategies to be applied when the migration source is not so well-known.

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Client Stories

When CenterPoint Energy adopted Schneider Electric’s Designer Express for gas distribution construction design, replacing previously used CAD-based software tools,  they still needed to provide CAD drawing products to both external and internal customers.  The solution was the ArcGIS/ArcFM-based CAD Converter tools.  CenterPoint has built standard mapping configurations (or ‘profiles’) defining detailed mappings from dozens of feature classes to corresponding CAD entity types, layers and layer properties.  The standard configurations are used repeatedly by designers to generate CAD drawings that faithfully reproduce feature geometries, map symbology and annotation.  Particularly important for CenterPoint is that CAD Converter also exports both data view and layout view graphic elements.

CAD Converter is also considered an essential tool used daily by the CenterPoint Landbase group for importing detailed new plat information from developers. Just as with the export process, profiles can be established to map source CAD layers to target ArcGIS feature classes.

Client Story

CenterPoint Energy CADConverter – Project Summary

Before the Designer Express rollout, we were using CAD Converter to export and import Landbase layers to perform Landbase work within AutoCAD software. Currently CAD Converter is used by our Gas Designers and Landbase group.  CAD Converter is “essential” to our Landbase editors.  Cynthia Salas, Centerpoint Energy

Client Story

Centerpoint Energy CAD Converter – Customer Quote