Software helps design distribution networks

Autodesk and its subsidiary Gentry Systems have announced Autodesk Utility Design, a rules-based application that helps small to large electric utility companies design distribution networks

Autodesk and its subsidiary Gentry Systems today announced Autodesk Utility Design, a rules-based application that helps small to large electric utility companies design distribution networks.

The application provides important utility-specific design functionality to Autodesk Powerline, Autodesk's enterprise GIS solution for electric utilities.

Autodesk Utility Design combines the features and functionality of Gentry Systems' Utility Design System and GenStake into a single design application that gives users the capability to efficiently create network sketches, calculate labour and material costs and order necessary equipment.

Designing an electric utility network involves many steps that typically have required manual and redundant operations, including entering the same data multiple times at different points in the workflow.

Autodesk Utility Design, which takes advantage of the powerful mapping capabilities of Autodesk Map, enables designers to create a construction sketch and use it to perform engineering calculations according to the utility's specific engineering standards.

The user can then order both standard and special materials required to install the job.

Material and labour costs can then automatically be calculated to create an overall job estimate, saving time and increasing accuracy.

"Autodesk Utility Design enables us to automatically gather material data for construction in conjunction with creating the graphical piece of a distribution design, all in one environment," said Kodi Berg, technical support analyst at Idaho Power Company.

"We have eliminated duplicate data entry and cumbersome file management processes, decreased design time, improved standardisation of design and construction methods, and streamlined data flow.

Autodesk Utility Design has proven to be an invaluable tool for eliminating manual tasks and allowing us to develop processes that gain efficiencies and ultimately provide better service to our customers.

"Autodesk is very committed to delivering applications and services that help electric utility companies manage their businesses more efficiently and more profitably," said Hal Gentry, director, Utility Solutions.

"Autodesk Utility Design provides electric utility designers with critical tools for efficiently and accurately designing networks.

It also serves as an essential element of the Autodesk Powerline solution, which gives electric utility companies a complete solution for automating their processes and making AM/FM/GIS a mainstream operational system.

Autodesk Powerline builds upon and integrates proven tools with innovative technologies, providing immediate access to information that speeds up response time and improves customer service and safety.

Built on an information framework that models distribution networks in terms of facility characteristics, locations, connectivity, and routing from the substation to the customer, Autodesk Powerline automates labour-intensive processes while integrating with a company's operational systems.

From planning to engineering, from design and construction to operations, maintenance, and billing, Autodesk Powerline is an end-to-end solution that equips enterprises with the tools and data-sharing capability to power technical tasks and executive decisions.

Autodesk Powerline is comprised of the Autodesk GIS Design Server, Autodesk Map, Autodesk MapGuide, and Autodesk OnSite*with industry-specific services and capabilities of Autodesk GenMap and Autodesk Utility Design software.

Back to top