In order for a GIS to adequately serve the needs of multiple departments, its design should also adhere to five basic principles, as appropriate:
The GIS should contain a complete and accurate inventory of the utility’s field-based assets.
GIS and Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) integration is essential to obtain accuracy work histories / maintenance costs of each asset throughout their life-cycle.
The GIS should offer an accurate network model (i.e. able to trace sewer networks upstream and downstream, perform isolation traces on water distribution networks) and easily export data into modeling software packages supporting daily O&M activities as well as long-term planning projects.
As much as possible, GIS data layers should be cartographical adept (e.g. symbology, labeling, annotation) supporting (web) map production at multiple scales.
With time-enabled features now in ArcGIS, a possible emerging industry best practice is to consistently include an installation or acceptance date across all asset classes to give a correct historical viewing of the GIS database and integrated datasets.
A Utility GIS that is designed and implemented with a laser-focus on tangible outcomes associated with these types of integration priorities and design principles is likely to obtain an excellent, measurable, return-on-investment (ROI).