“Without location, data is only information. With coordinates, it becomes intelligence.” – MJ Martin
Introduction
In modern Advanced Metering Infrastructure workflows, spatial intelligence is no longer optional. Within Itron Temetra, latitude and longitude coordinates form the foundation of its visual mapping capability. These geospatial attributes enable utilities to transition from abstract meter lists to precise, map-based operational control. When properly implemented, coordinate data enhances field productivity, reduces collection time, and improves overall system awareness.
The Role of Latitude and Longitude in Temetra
Latitude and longitude coordinates provide an exact geodetic reference for each installed meter. In Temetra, these coordinates are used to render meter locations on a digital map interface, allowing operators to visualize service territories with high fidelity. This spatial layer supports route optimization for drive-by data collection, ensuring that meter readers follow the most efficient path through a service area.
The operational benefit is immediate. Instead of relying on static routes or legacy sequencing, utilities can dynamically generate optimized collection paths based on real-world geography. This reduces vehicle time, fuel consumption, and missed reads, while increasing the number of endpoints collected per session. In dense urban Canadian environments or dispersed rural networks, this capability becomes particularly valuable.
Best Practice for Data Storage
From a data architecture perspective, the preferred approach is to store latitude and longitude coordinates within the utility’s billing or Customer Information System. This ensures that spatial data remains part of the system of record and can be reused across multiple platforms, including GIS, outage management, and analytics environments.
However, many legacy billing systems lack native support for geospatial fields. This creates a structural limitation where coordinates cannot be stored, managed, or exported within the core system. In such cases, utilities must adopt a parallel data management strategy to preserve the benefits of spatial intelligence without disrupting existing billing workflows.
Importing Coordinates into Temetra Using CREF
Temetra provides a practical and effective workaround through the use of a Cross Reference table, commonly referred to as a CREF table. In this approach, latitude and longitude coordinates are maintained externally and then imported directly into Temetra.
The key to this process is the use of a stable unique identifier, typically the meter serial number. By aligning the coordinate dataset with meter serial numbers, Temetra can accurately associate each set of coordinates with the corresponding customer profile. This method ensures data integrity while bypassing the limitations of the billing system.
Once imported, the coordinates become fully functional within Temetra’s mapping environment. Utilities can immediately leverage route optimization, spatial validation, and visual inspection tools without requiring modifications to their upstream systems.
Managing Coordinate Export Constraints
While importing coordinates into Temetra resolves the visualization challenge, exporting this data back to the billing system introduces a different constraint. If the billing system does not support latitude and longitude fields, any attempt to return this data would result in errors or data loss.
Temetra addresses this scenario with a simple yet effective control mechanism. Users can disable the export of latitude and longitude coordinates by selecting the appropriate configuration setting. This prevents unnecessary data transfer attempts and maintains system stability. Simply check the box to prevent the export of the coordinates back into the billing system.
Temetra > Network Admin > Network Settings > Meter Extra Record Management
This approach represents a controlled and intentional limitation, allowing Temetra to function as the system of engagement for spatial data while the billing system remains the system of record for financial and customer information.
Summary
Latitude and longitude coordinates unlock the full potential of visual mapping within Itron Temetra, transforming meter data collection into a spatially optimized process. Although the ideal architecture places these coordinates within the billing system, practical constraints often require alternative solutions. By leveraging CREF tables for import and selectively disabling export functions, utilities can implement a robust and efficient workaround. This strategy enables immediate operational gains while maintaining compatibility with legacy systems, demonstrating a pragmatic path forward in the evolution of smart metering infrastructure.
About the Author:
Michael Martin is the Vice President of Technology with Metercor Inc., a Smart Meter, IoT, and Smart City systems integrator based in Canada. He has more than 40 years of experience in systems design for applications that use broadband networks, optical fibre, wireless, and digital communications technologies. He is a business and technology consultant. He was a senior executive consultant for 15 years with IBM, where he worked in the GBS Global Center of Competency for Energy and Utilities and the GTS Global Center of Excellence for Energy and Utilities. He is a founding partner and President of MICAN Communications and before that was President of Comlink Systems Limited and Ensat Broadcast Services, Inc., both divisions of Cygnal Technologies Corporation (CYN: TSX).
Martin served on the Board of Directors for TeraGo Inc (TGO: TSX) and on the Board of Directors for Avante Logixx Inc. (XX: TSX.V). He has served as a Member, SCC ISO-IEC JTC 1/SC-41 – Internet of Things and related technologies, ISO – International Organization for Standardization, and as a member of the NIST SP 500-325 Fog Computing Conceptual Model, National Institute of Standards and Technology. He served on the Board of Governors of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) [now Ontario Tech University] and on the Board of Advisers of five different Colleges in Ontario – Centennial College, Humber College, George Brown College, Durham College, Ryerson Polytechnic University [now Toronto Metropolitan University]. For 16 years he served on the Board of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), Toronto Section.
He holds three master’s degrees – in business (MBA), communication (MA), and education (MEd). As well, he has three undergraduate diplomas and seven certifications in business, computer programming, internetworking, project management, media, photography, and communication technology. He has completed over 80 next generation MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) [aka Micro Learning] continuous education programs in a wide variety of topics, including: Economics, Python Programming, Internet of Things, Cloud, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive systems, Blockchain, Agile, Big Data, Design Thinking, Security, Indigenous Canada awareness, and more.