Usability of GI for utility field workers

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Philip Robinson's presentation in the 2nd Workdshop on usability of geographic information, 23rd March 2010 at UCL, London. See details at http://www.virart.nottingham.ac.uk/GI%20Usability/index.html

Technology

GE
Energy

Usability of GI for Utility Field
Workers
Phil Robinson

Product Overview

• GE is a provider of field solutions for utilities
with its Mapframe product line
– Routing, Inspections, Storm Damage Assessment,
Vegetation Management, Design in the Field
• We also provide complementary back office
solutions with our Smallworld product line
– Data quality, reporting, design
• Ruggedised laptops, typically used in vans
• Also PDAs
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Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

Electronic Data – Usability Issues

• Accuracy in position and content
• Up to date
• Quality of layout
– But relatively low resolution
• Single biggest issue in the field is screen “real
estate”
– Lots of movement on the screen (pan, zoom)
• Simplicity of presentation and processes is
highly valued
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Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

Simplicity

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Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

Simplicity

• Traditional approaches
– Theme control, visibility, whitespace management etc
• But very important is simplicity through
context
– What are you trying to do?
– How does this data support you in doing it?
• Fundamental in the holistic user interface
design
– The UI guides the user through the map data
– Theme control supports the user context
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Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

Operational Context in the Product
Line
• The Mapframe product line includes…
– FieldSmart View
– FieldSmart Route
– FieldSmart Sketch
– FieldSmart Inspect
– FieldSmart Design
– Etc
• These products are designed to solve specific
problems
– Much of the context is embedded in their UI design and
process support 6
Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

“Demographics”

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Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

“Demographics”

• Often the users of geographic data in utilities
are not “computer” users
– Their paradigm is the paper map
• There is a tension between those who are
used to computers and those who aren’t
• But more and more users are familiar with the
computing paradigm
– How will we exploit that in the future?

8
Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

Geospatial Solutions as Commodity

9
Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

What is the Common Understanding?

• The advent of “commodity” GI translates to
generic concepts
– Pushpins, transparent callouts, one line search
• Shared symbology is very rare in utilities
– Sometimes even within utilities
• Gestures seem more natural but to whom?

10
Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

New Technology

• Tablet devices the next big thing
– Helps with real estate but other issues for the field worker
• Higher resolution, lighter screen technology
– OLTP, digital ink
• Augmented Reality starting to become usable
– Cf Street View – next evolution

11
Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

Thank you for your attention!
Questions?

12
Usability of GI for Utility Field Workers - Phil
Robinson
3/27/2010

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