Improving co-operative working in the utility industry through mobile context aware geographic information systems

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a mobile context aware geographic information system (G.I.S.) based upon IEEE 802.11 compliant standards and equipment, distributed database systems, and modular software components. Delivered across a high bandwidth wireless intranet, and developed from standard “off the shelf” products, the system presents a unique integration of existing technologies that when applied, could be beneficial to a number of industries that rely on remote access to distributed geo-spatial data. Results from extensive field trials of the system in Manchester (UK) are then presented, in terms of the potential impact of the system on both the co-operative and the isolated working practices of field engineers in the Utility Industry.