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Introduction and overview

This reference architecture represents a foundational network information management system for utilities and telecom, or any other organization that manages utility data. It’s based on the data management and editing system pattern and includes three implementation options.

Note:

This reference architecture represents an example blueprint for this system type. The design does not reflect the needs of all network information management systems, including those that may combine multiple system patterns.

Successful system design involves the selection of workflows used to define requirements as well as designs for both logical and physical architectures. This reference architecture is based on a specific set of workflows identified for network information management systems, which are described in the intended workflows section.

Capabilities

A network information management system refers to an ArcGIS system which is designed, built, and operated to enable user personas across an organization to create, edit, maintain, view, and analyze the network features and relationships across an as-built network. A foundational network information management system delivers all of the base capabilities defined in the data editing and management system pattern. In particular, it focuses on delivery of network information management capabilities that include:

  • Spatial context necessary for understanding and optimizing network management activities
  • Service-based editing of geometry, attributes, and relationships
  • Enable enforcing data rules and consistencies through subtypes, domains and attribute rules
  • Data collection workflows using smart forms, mobile applications, or maps in ArcGIS Pro, optimized for productivity -Complex utility network information management using the ArcGIS Utility Network as an advanced data model
  • Interactions such as querying and viewing the utility network through web applications and experiences, including status or data reporting
  • Analytical workflows such as upstream and downstream trace analysis based on the utility network maintained in this system

Network information management systems can be deployed in different ways depending on an organization’s business and technical requirements and deployment preferences, including Software as a Service (SaaS) and as traditional software in a Windows/Linux or Kubernetes pattern. Each deployment pattern offers different levels of network management capability, scalability, security, and control.

Software components

This reference architecture has been constructed using recent versions of the following ArcGIS software components. The system also supports connections from and interactions with other Esri software or client applications, but the workflows and testing of this system were focused on these components:

The role of each of these components is further detailed in the deployment patterns.

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