Map display in utility vehicles

In 1992, Cobb Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC) of Marietta, Georgia found a need to expand the benefits recognized as a result of their AM/FM implementation to other nontraditional areas, such as line maintenance. With over 115000 customers covering 415 square miles in a rapidly growing metropolitan region, Cobb EMC needed to automate its external operations. Through funds provided by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Rural Electric Research (RER) Program, Cobb EMC, together with Power System Engineering (PSE), Madison, Wisconsin has completed a visionary project which automates the access of digital maps and facility data in the field. The in-vehicle map access project effectively eliminated the need for traditional truck map books by replacing them with notebook computers. The new computerized system automates the process of locating outages, customers, and facilities by providing a digital map and associated database which contains descriptive information about each facility and customer. The net result is a system which enables line personnel to rapidly access up-to-date maps and facility data before they reach the problem site