Redlands, California-May 6, 2010-Electric utilities can now access the ArcGIS Data Model for MultiSpeak, a ready-to-use geodatabase template that conforms to the latest release of the widely used, industry-standard MultiSpeak specification.

The ArcGIS Data Model for MultiSpeak meets the needs of ArcGIS users who design and maintain electric networks and associated infrastructure in the United States.

The MultiSpeak specification helps vendors and utilities develop interfaces so that software products from different suppliers can interoperate without extensive custom interfaces. The MultiSpeak Initiative is a collaboration of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), leading software vendors for the utility market, and utilities.

Bill Meehan, ESRI's director of utility solutions, said, "The ArcGIS Data Model for MultiSpeak will help utilities deal with the latest industry challenges including infrastructure improvements and smart grid implementation. ESRI is pleased to continue the long, positive relationship it has with the MultiSpeak Initiative and the NRECA."

NRECA's MultiSpeak program manager, Bob Saint, said, "The ArcGIS Data Model for MultiSpeak will make it significantly easier for utilities to create MultiSpeak-compatible GIS [geographic information system] models and for ESRI business partners to support MultiSpeak-interoperable interfaces in their GIS-related products. ESRI has taken an additional step to ensure that applications built on the data model will interoperate with other MultiSpeak-enabled applications."


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