Fusion ä Network Editor— The Distribution Network Modeling GIS

What is the Network Editor?

The Fusionä Network Editor is a Distribution Network Information System designed to accurately model connected networks. It enables utility companies (electric, gas & water) to manage their distribution network today and progress with the data modeling demands of the future.

Fusion’s database structure has been designed as a Utility Distribution Network Information System as opposed to a Geographic Information System. The database structure is built specifically for the utility industry thereby ensuring a fully connected data model and a precise behavior configuration and the Network Editor offers all the required functionality to achieve these objectives.

Quality of data above all

The Fusionä Network Editor has been developed recognizing the need for utilities to establish and maintain the connectivity of their entire distribution network. It allows the users to build and maintain a distribution network model with fully validated data and full connectivity through every device, from power generation plants to customers’ meters.

The ability to implement interactive data validation rules reduces to a minimum the introduction of data anomalies into the distribution network data when being maintained by Network Editor’s users.

Validation triggers management is done through a intuitive user interface.

Modeling underground structures with Fusionä Network Editor

Modeling underground networks has always been the one of the most challenging tasks for utility companies. Most of the time, the network data stored in a GIS database is a compromise between connectivity, precision and available space to represent the existing network and civil structure features. This is especially true for dense area such as distribution substations and downtown areas.

The Fusionä Network Editor contains all the necessary functions to conceive and maintain the most complex and complete civil structure networks. Internal worlds are used to create detailed butterfly views for vaults and manholes, and also to create cutaway views of duct line containing multiple conduits.

Multiple Fusion Views displaying civil structures geographically positioned (top left view), a duct line cutaway view (bottom left view), and butterfly views of two vaults(top and bottom right views)

Data accessibility and versioning capabilities

The Fusion ä Network Editor works on top of an Oracle-based Fusion data model. Storing 100% of the distribution network data in an open database architecture allows 3^rd party applications to access this valuable information through any Oracle compatible mechanisms.

Optional versioning capabilities

The Fusion Network Editor can be used with Oracle Workspace Manager (OWM) as a data versioning engine. This optional feature allows the Network Editor users to modify the distribution network data without impacting the ‘as-built’ network data until, their work is completed.

When the changes are ready to be committed to the ‘as-built’ network, a sophisticated user interface guides the Network Editor user through the different steps required to post his updates to the ‘as-built’ model.

Versioning can be utilized to perform any type of data updates on the distribution network data, from minor attribute value updates to major work order designs.

Reliable and inexpensive technology foundation

Like all the other Fusion plug-ins, the Network Editor is a Microsoft .NET application. By complying with this industry standard, the Network Editor user community is benefiting of the latest technology advancements offered in each new release of the Microsoft .NET development environment.

Adding new feature classes or modifying the definition of an existing one is simple thanks to the flexible metadata model used by the Network Editor. No more mandatory software development to add a new object class.