WML: A Strategic Migration to Esri’s Utility Network
WML, the water company for the Dutch province of Limburg, provides drinking water to 1.1 million people across an 8,800-kilometre network. To secure future operations and embrace data-driven decision-making, WML recognised the need to modernise its core GIS. They partnered with Avineon Tensing to navigate the complex migration from Smallworld NRM Water to Esri's advanced Utility Network, transforming their approach to asset management and shaping a more resilient future.
Did you know…
- WML serves 1.1 million people across the province of Limburg through an 8,800-kilometre water network.
- The project replaced an outdated Smallworld GIS that could no longer support WML’s operational needs.
- We used FME automation to seamlessly migrate the entire network model to Esri’s Utility Network.
- A new mobile application was developed to empower 70 field maintenance crew members with real-time data.
- The new system integrates directly with WML's core business applications, including SAP and their hydraulic modelling software.
- By adopting a national data standard, WML is now positioned for more efficient collaboration with other utilities.
The Challenge: Overcoming a Fragmented GIS Landscape
WML’s operational foundation rested on an ageing GIS infrastructure that introduced significant business risk. Their core Smallworld NRM Water application was approaching its end-of-life, meaning it was no longer supported and would demand a costly, complex upgrade just to maintain functionality. This technological deadlock created a critical need for change, as continuing with the legacy system was no longer a viable or forward-thinking option for the organisation.
Beyond the technical obsolescence, the system fostered data fragmentation that directly undermined efficiency and strategic growth. Critical network data was replicated across multiple, disconnected applications, leading to synchronization issues, inconsistencies, and the absence of a unified operational picture. This lack of a single source of truth, combined with an inability to register assets beyond the primary water domain, created a barrier to WML’s ambition: to provide all stakeholders with reliable, anytime access to geographic intelligence and transition to truly data-driven decision-making.
The Solution: An Agile Migration Powered by FME
Avineon Tensing delivered a comprehensive migration project built on an agile, iterative methodology. We established a collaborative team, including experts from WML and other partners, to work in focused three-week sprints. This approach ensured continuous progress and stakeholder alignment, allowing us to prototype, test, and refine solutions, such as a new mobile application for WML’s 70 maintenance crew members, delivering a minimum viable product (MVP) with speed and precision.
Our solution centred on the powerful FME platform to automate the complex data migration. We engineered FME workspaces to map and translate all asset data to the new Utility Network model, based on the Dutch drinking water standard. A critical phase involved an iterative data quality cycle: we identified and fixed inconsistencies using FME and manual processes, tracked progress on a shared ArcGIS Enterprise dashboard, and ensured the final dataset was error-free, complete, and ready for production.
Our GIS environment was too complex and based on a “patchwork quilt” of applications and customised solutions.
The Result: A Unified Platform for Strategic Asset Management
The project delivered a fully configured, cloud-native Utility Network on WML's Azure platform, poised to go live by the end of 2024. WML now possesses a single source of truth—a fully connected and intelligent model of their water network. This empowers them with advanced network analysis, including tracing and subnetwork management, providing up-to-date intelligence on critical elements like pressure zones. By aligning with a national data model, WML is also positioned for more efficient collaboration with neighbouring utilities, strengthening the entire region's water infrastructure.
Key results:
- Future-Proof Platform: A modern, cloud-based Esri Utility Network replaced an outdated system.
- Single Source of Truth: Eliminated data silos and inconsistencies for reliable decision-making.
- Automated Data Migration: FME workflows ensured an efficient, accurate, and repeatable migration process.
- Enhanced Analytical Power: Unlocked advanced tracing and analysis for superior network management.
- Improved Collaboration: Standardised data model enables seamless cooperation with industry partners.
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