Client: PIDPA (Provinciale en Intercommunale Drinkwatermaatschappij der Provincie Antwerpen)
Industry: Water Utilities & Infrastructure
Solution Used: Leica Zeno GG04 Plus Smart Antenna + ArcGIS Field Maps
Region: Belgium
Assets Managed: 13,500 km of water pipelines, 5,000 km of sewage infrastructure
Users: 30+ field crews, iPad-based deployment
Overview
PIDPA, one of Belgium’s largest water utilities, delivers drinking water to over 1.2 million residents across the Antwerp region. With a network spanning more than 18,000 kilometers, maintaining accurate and up-to-date infrastructure records is crucial. To modernize and digitize asset mapping, PIDPA adopted the Leica Zeno GG04 Plus Smart Antenna—a high-precision GNSS solution that integrates seamlessly with GIS platforms such as Esri ArcGIS Field Maps.
The result? Faster, more accurate utility mapping, direct GIS integration, and a powerful leap forward in operational efficiency.
The Challenge: Digitizing a Complex, Evolving Network
As PIDPA’s underground infrastructure expanded and aged, traditional mapping methods—often reliant on post-construction updates and manual edits—became unsustainable. Key challenges included:
- Low positional accuracy using legacy methods
- Delays in data availability post-construction
- Limited integration between GIS, ERP (SAP), and fieldwork
- Inefficient workflows causing time loss and data inconsistency
“Accurate asset management is extremely important for PIDPA. Knowing the exact location and detailed attributes of each asset allows us to maintain our network efficiently and sustainably.”
— Bart Reynaert, Manager of Geo-ICT & Asset Applications, PIDPA
The Solution: Leica Zeno GG04 Plus + ArcGIS
To address these challenges, PIDPA adopted a phased rollout of the Leica Zeno GG04 Plus system:
Phase 1: Proof of Concept
- Single GG04 plus + Android + ArcGIS Collector
- Tested positional accuracy and data flow into PIDPA’s backend GIS
- Results validated despite pandemic delays
Phase 2: Initial Expansion
- Deployment scaled to 6 GG04 units + iPad Minis
- User training provided to field technicians
- Templates standardized in ArcGIS for uniform data capture
Phase 3: Full Rollout (Ongoing)
- 24 more GG04 Plus receivers added
- iPads equipped with ArcGIS Field Maps for streamlined UX
- Real-time data flows into SAP and GIS via cloud services
This structured deployment allowed PIDPA to validate, iterate, and scale efficiently while ensuring high user adoption.
Key Results
| Impact Area | Before | After Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Asset Location Accuracy | Manual estimation | RTK & PPP: Accurate to sub-meter/centimeter |
| Field Data Latency | Weeks to months | Real-time or daily updates |
| Device Flexibility | Limited | Works across iOS, Android, Windows |
| As-Built Registration | After burial | Captured before assets go underground |
| Data Quality | Inconsistent | Standardized, centrally validated |
| System Integration | Manual input into ERP/GIS | Automated via backend services |
Operational Benefits
- Precise Asset Location: High-resolution XYZ positioning improves maintenance and reduces excavation risk
- Smarter Planning: Network age, supplier, material, and construction date tracked in real time
- Improved Sustainability: Enables hydraulic modeling, leak reduction, and predictive maintenance
- Workflow Transformation: From edit-heavy to validation-first data collection
- System Integration: Seamless data handoff between SAP work orders, GIS layers, and field crews
- Real-Time Sync: Cloud-enabled data registration reduces field-to-office lag
Why Leica Zeno GG04 Plus?
The Leica Zeno GG04 Plus Smart Antenna stood out due to its:
- Multi-platform compatibility (Apple, Android, Windows)
- Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) & Precise Point Positioning (PPP) support
- All-day field durability and rugged build
- Bluetooth-enabled ease of use
- Direct Esri ArcGIS integration via Field Maps
“The implementation of this solution has notably improved data quality and saved considerable time by digitising and centralising data collection.”
— Bart Reynaert, PIDPA
Conclusion
PIDPA’s digital transformation in utility mapping is a model for water utility providers worldwide. By implementing the Leica Zeno GG04 Plus, PIDPA now ensures accurate, real-time GIS data collection and improved decision-making across the organization.
The project not only modernizes PIDPA’s infrastructure management but also lays the foundation for predictive analytics, sustainable planning, and more efficient maintenance workflows.
