Fort Collins, CO, July 17, 2002 — Miner & Miner announces the development of a new MultiSpeak based Electric Distribution Data Model for the ArcFM Solution. The new data model will combine the knowledge and experience built into the current ArcFM data models with the specifications of the MultiSpeak Initiative.
This new model will simplify implementations based on the MultiSpeak standard, and provide another Out-Of-The-Box ArcFM solution option for utilities.
The MultiSpeak Initiative has published a list of required specifications vendors can use to write interfaces for communication with other compliant software. The first report of the MultiSpeak specification has been established after a year-long collaboration between the Cooperative Research Network (CRN) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and a group of nearly 40 software vendors and consultants that serve the small utility market.
The goal is to create a unified platform to enable communication between various systems (customer information system, geographic information system, etc.). This eliminates the need to develop new interfaces or rewrite customizations when new vendors enter the market. It will ultimately increase the possibilities for integrating software applications in utilities and reduce the associated costs. This initiative also benefits vendors by unifying customization efforts.
“Miner & Miner embraces MultiSpeak as a standard for communication and integration of enterprise systems in the utility industry,” said Erika Murphy, Miner & Miner’s Director of Marketing. “We are thrilled to participate and contribute to this industry-wide effort, and believe that both Miner & Miner and the user community will benefit from it.”
The new model made its debut appearance at the ESRI International User Conference in San Diego, CA last week. Next, based on users’ feedback, both a logical and physical model will be published. In the future, an ArcFM Network Adapter will be supplied to allow the seamless integration of ArcFM Solution to other applications adhering to the MultiSpeak Initiative.
About Miner & Miner
Miner & Miner (M&M) is a developer of GIS software for utilities. M&M’s ArcFM Solution and extended services assists electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities in increasing productivity, lowering costs, and improving services by allowing them to effectively manage spatial information.
Founded in 1946 as a full-service electrical engineering firm, M&M has been a business partner of ESRI since 1987. This partnership has enabled M&M to become the world’s leading developer of ArcGIS applications for the utility industry. M&M services include implementation and customization of software to fit the needs of individual utilities. For more information, please visit www.miner.com.
About ESRI
For more than 30 years, ESRI has been a developer of GIS software with more than 300,000 clients worldwide. ESRI also provides consulting, implementation, and technical support services. In addition to its headquarters in California, ESRI has regional offices throughout the United States, international distributors in more than 90 countries, and more than 1,400 business partners.
ESRI’s goal is to provide users with comprehensive tools to help them quickly and efficiently manage and use geographic information to make a real difference in the world around them. ESRI can be found on the Web at www.esri.com.
For more information about the MultiSpeak Initiative, visit the MultiSpeak Website at www.multispeak.org.
