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 geospatial 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.