One of our favourite mapping/GIS integrations is the PI Integrator for Esri ArcGIS. OSIsoft define the PI system as:

The PI System is a suite of software products that are used for data collection, historicizing, finding, analyzing, delivering, and visualizing. It is marketed as an enterprise infrastructure for management of real-time data and events.

We were first interested in the real-time aspect of PI. Bringing real-time data from the PI system into the ArcGIS platform offers an amazing wealth of opportunities to visualize and analyse asset data. In this blog post we will focus on asset management, and show how to combine PI Coresight widgets with Workforce for ArcGIS to manage assets.

PI Integrator for Esri ArcGIS for Real-time Asset Management

PI Coresight (soon to be re-branded to PI Vision) is a flexible web application built into the PI system suite. It is both configurable and customizable. The app provides a way to visualize and ask questions of real-time data against an organizations implementation of the PI system. PI Coresight is built using widgets, these can be used in other applications. The PI integrator for Esri ArcGIS provides a seamless way to view PI data in a mapping interface powered by ArcGIS.

Below is an image of Esri’s operations dashboard with embedded PI Coresight widgets. The real-time data feed in this example is from wind turbines. This is a dashboard view of the wind turbine data, with graphs pulled directly from the PI system. Operations dashboard with PI Coresight widgets can be configured to link map interactions with graphical output.

Let’s explore an asset management workflow which starts with Esri’s operations dashboard with embedded PI Coresight widgets. Breaking the workflow into phases:

Phase 1 – In the image above we see a turbine is highlighted in red: there is a problem. A manager needs to send a member of staff out to inspect the turbine.

Phase 2 – The manager opens Workforce for ArcGIS (see image below). He sees the PI data and creates a work order, attaching it to the problem turbine. The work order consists of:

Work order type, asset location, worker assigned, priority, due date, notes and any relevant attachments (circuit diagrams, turbine specific data etc) .

The work order is created and staff member notified of task.

Phase 3 – The assigned worker opens the work order mobile app on his tablet or smartphone (see image below). In the mapping interface he can view the work order. Real-time turbine data can also be viewed by the worker in the mapping interface. The direction widget (see left side bar below) provides turn-by-turn directions if needed. The worker drives to the problem turbine.  

Phase 4 – The assigned worker arrives at the problem turbine. From the work order he knows the reported problem. Next he need to create an inspection: this is how he will report on work done and additional tasks needed. In the work order app pop up (shown above), he hits the ‘Create Inspection’ button. The inspections screen loads (see below). From here he can create an inspection, complete the fields in the map pop up (both required and optional). When the assigned worker submits the inspection this will be pushed into the ArcGIS system for the manager and others within the organization to view.

The edit widget (see left side panel below) allows editing of static (not realtime) asset data. So for example if a turbine data field (eg generator A type) stored in ArcGIS, and shown in the asset pop up, is incorrect the assigned worker can edit and correct that field.

That’s it. A seamless work order workflow from Esri’s operations dashboard with embedded PI Coresight widgets, to Workforce for ArcGIS, to mobile workorder and inspection app. This workflow could integrate into any work order management system. The realtime data here means organizations can act quickly when problems are reported by sensors or other detection equipment. Field staff can quickly arrive on site, understand and fix the issue, report on work completed which can then be shared across the organization.

Interested to learn more? Contact us on 801.733.0723.

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Author: Matt Sheehan

Matt Sheehan is a Principal at WebMapSolutions. Matt evangelizes GIS and location intelligence around the world through keynotes, articles, tweets and his books. Follow him on Twitter: