For utilities, the field is where plans meet reality. Assets shift. Conditions change. Service depends on fast decisions and accurate data. But too often, geospatial intelligence stays trapped in the back office, locked inside systems that weren’t built for frontline field operations.
This white paper explores why that happens, and how utilities are changing it.
Most GIS platforms were built for mapping and analysis, not frontline work. Even with mobile extensions, many still expect users to manage schemas, draw accurate features, or interpret layers like a specialist. But the people doing inspections, repairs, and documentation don’t have time for that. They need tools that meet them where they are: on site, in motion, and under pressure.
You’ll see how utility teams are expanding their GIS capabilities without adding complexity. That includes tools for drawing lines and polygons in the field, snapping to known features for accuracy, and using location data to trigger tasks or guide decisions. These aren’t bolt-ons. They’re core parts of a field-first approach to geospatial intelligence.
The paper also shows how utilities are using:
It’s not about replacing GIS. It’s about removing the friction that slows teams down. That friction costs time, risks compliance, and erodes trust in the data. By bridging the gap between GIS systems and field operations, utilities are improving response, coordination, and reporting—all without asking field crews to become GIS pros.
If you’re leading field operations, managing GIS, or trying to improve how your organization captures and uses spatial data, this paper is worth your time. It offers a clear look at what’s working, where legacy systems fall short, and how to build a more connected, more responsive field operation.
