ArcGIS UN Migration Without Data Governance Is Built to Fail

ArcGIS Utility Network Migration Without Data Governance is Built to Fail

Published: July 2, 2025

Most ArcGIS Utility Network (UN) migrations treat data governance like a side salad, but it is foundational. Without integrating governance from the start, utilities risk costly rework, limited functionality, and long-term data quality issues that are harder to resolve later on.

Before diving into schema mapping or format conversion, it is worth asking: how confident are you in the quality and readiness of your current data?

Why "Just Get the Data In" Will Burn You Later

ArcGIS UN is designed for clean, well-structured data. But in practice, legacy datasets often contain issues that can disrupt performance or delay deployment. Simply mapping schemas and converting formats – without validating data quality – can lead to avoidable complications down the line.

Governance is what turns digital spaghetti into operational clarity. Without it, you’re staring down:

• Safety violations
• Broken network tracing
• Field crews chasing ghosts

That's where our 1Integrate tool comes in.

Think of it as the difference between checking your spelling and fact-checking your story. Most tools validate structure — 1Integrate validates truth.

Real Rules. Real-World Results.

1Integrate doesn’t just validate data; it enforces operational reality.

Unlike traditional validation tools, 1Integrate applies rules that reflect how your network actually functions – not just how it's modeled. Think of it as your automated QA team for spatial logic and engineering standards.

Here are a few examples of what it can enforce:

• Poles must be less than 100 feet apart. Prevents unrealistic spacing in electric distribution models.
• Pipes cannot self-intersect. Ensures logical flow and prevents modeling errors in water or gas networks.
• Assets must be physically connected. Flags disconnected features that would otherwise break tracing and analysis.

These aren't nice-to-haves. They're mission-critical constraints your network depends on.

With 1Integrate, you get:

• Automated rule enforcement before migration
• Domain-specific checks for electric, gas, water
• Audit-ready reports that keep regulators happy and stakeholders confident

You don't just pass QA. You set the standard.

Is Your Migration Built to Scale or Ready to Explode?

In many migrations, the initial focus is on speed – “just get the data loaded” becomes the guiding metric. But rushing without addressing governance can lead to fragile systems and long-term vendor dependency. Without clear rules in place, data-quality issues often emerge at critical moments, increasing support burdens on your team.

A governance-first approach, by contrast, builds resilience from the start: supporting scalability, maintainability, and confidence in your network.

How to Build a Self-Governing Utility Network

If you want a system that evolves with you — not one that breaks every time you grow — start here:

• Embed data rules early
• Make exceptions manageable in-house
• Stop treating governance as clean-up—and treat it as infrastructure

The Takeaway: Trust is Built on Rules

Across the utility landscape – from local co-ops to interstate providers – organizations are accelerating their digital transformation. With evolving regulations and rising performance expectations, clean, reliable data is no longer optional.

Rather than risk costly rework, the most successful migrations embed governance from the outset, laying the foundation for long-term trust and operational efficiency.

Rather than risk costly rework, the most successful migrations embed governance from the outset, laying the foundation for long-term trust and operational efficiency.

Ready to fix your data before it breaks your network?

Book a demo of 1Integrate today.

P.S. Learn how Holland BPW's GIS team cut their UN migration timeline in half — with fewer resources and zero rework.