Annova FieldToGIS AI · for electric utilities
From field sketches to GIS-ready changes
Annova FieldToGIS AI reads work orders, field sketches and as-built drawings, including handwritten notes, and turns them into a clear list of changes your GIS team can review and post. It does the reading and your mappers make the edits.
Reading takes longer than editing
Before a mapper can update the network, someone has to read the paperwork. Every work order and field sketch has to be opened, read and understood.
Field documents come in many forms: typed work orders, CAD printouts, red-pen markups, scanned paper and handwritten notes. Reading them is slow, repetitive and easy to get wrong. Meanwhile the backlog grows and the GIS falls behind what is actually in the field.
For every document, a mapper must work out
- What needs to change: add, remove or modify?
- Which equipment: pole, transformer, conductor, fuse, switch?
- Which equipment ID?
- What are the new specifications?
- Where exactly is it?
FieldToGIS AI answers these for you, with proof from the page.
Let AI do the reading
Annova FieldToGIS AI reads each document the way an experienced mapper would. It picks out every change instruction and presents it as a structured, location-tagged record that is ready to check and post.
Your GIS team stays in control. The AI never edits your production GIS. It prepares the work and your mappers make the final call.
“Here is the place, here is the equipment, and here is what needs to change.”
From a folder of PDFs to reviewed GIS changes
Upload
Add one PDF or a whole folder: work orders, field sketches, as-built drawings or scanned paper forms.
AI reads
Text, tables, drawings, redlines and handwriting are read, and every add, remove and modify instruction is found.
Built-in checks
Clear rules check every record for missing IDs, unusual coordinates, duplicates and conflicting instructions. Anything uncertain is flagged.
Ready-to-use results
A summary report, an Excel-ready table and map points that open directly in ArcGIS Pro or QGIS.
Mapper finishes
Your mapper reviews each point against the source document and makes the GIS edit with confidence.
Real-world field paperwork
- Typed work orders and job packages
- Construction sketches and CAD printouts
- Red-pen markups and as-built redlines
- Scanned paper forms
- Handwritten field notes and survey tables
- Coordinates in decimal degrees or degrees-minutes-seconds
A structured change record
- Action: add, remove or modify
- Equipment type: poles, crossarms, transformers, conductors, fuses, switches, reclosers, guys, streetlights, services and more
- Equipment ID, exactly as written
- Specifications: size, class, rating, material
- Location: latitude and longitude, converted and checked
- Proof: the page and area in the document each change came from
Built for the way utility GIS teams work
People stay in charge
The AI prepares the changes and your mappers make every final GIS edit. No silent changes to your network data.
Rules, not guesswork
Simple, transparent checks decide what needs a second look, not the AI’s own opinion of itself.
Your map stays safe
FieldToGIS AI produces reference points only. It never draws lines, changes connectivity or edits your production database.
Every result is traceable
Each change links back to the page it came from, and every run is logged for audit.
Handles real-world paperwork
It reads clean printed documents and messy handwritten field sketches alike, and flags crossed-out values, missing coordinates and unclear notes.
Works with your tools
Outputs open in Excel, ArcGIS Pro and QGIS, so you don’t need to change your existing workflow.
Built for every kind of field change
- New underground service: subdivisions, padmount transformers, handholes, cable loops
- Storm restoration: replaced poles, relocated structures, damaged equipment
- Overhead-to-underground conversion: removed poles, new duct banks, switchgear, risers
- Reliability upgrades: reclosers, tie switches, reconductoring
- Field verification: location fixes, wrong tags, missing assets, customer-to-transformer links
Who it’s for
- Electric utilities looking to shrink their as-built backlog and keep GIS current
- GIS service providers handling high volumes of posting work
- Engineering and field service contractors delivering as-built packages to utilities
Backed by Annova’s utility network and GIS data conversion teams.
Frequently asked questions
Does FieldToGIS AI replace our mappers?
No. It removes the reading and interpretation work so mappers can spend their time on accurate GIS editing. Every change is reviewed and posted by a person.
Can it read handwriting?
Yes. It is designed for real field documents, including handwritten notes, red-pen markups and scanned forms. Anything unclear is flagged for review rather than guessed.
Will it change our GIS automatically?
No. FieldToGIS AI creates reference points and change records only. Your production GIS is never edited directly.
What GIS platforms does it work with?
Results are delivered as CSV, JSON and GeoJSON, which open in ArcGIS Pro, QGIS and most GIS and asset systems.
How do we get started?
Start with a pilot on your own work orders. We measure accuracy and time saved together before any wider rollout.
Ready to clear your as-built backlog?
Let’s try Annova FieldToGIS AI on your own work orders and see how much time it saves your team.