Presented by:

Rob MendelCity of Huntingburg

&Steve LeathermanWTH Technology

What is GIS for Utilities?What is GIS for Utilities?

A Utility Geographic Information System (GIS) combines digital maps and data A Utility Geographic Information System (GIS) combines digital maps and data to enhance: to enhance:

Data Collection - Provides a way to convert data from several sources such as Data Collection - Provides a way to convert data from several sources such as paper maps, AutoCad files, information stored in people’s heads and new paper maps, AutoCad files, information stored in people’s heads and new data collected in the field into a common digital and map based format.data collected in the field into a common digital and map based format.

Data Analysis - Allows us to view, understand, question, interpret and Data Analysis - Allows us to view, understand, question, interpret and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships data in ways that reveal visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships data in ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, reports, and charts.relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, reports, and charts.

Data Sharing - Allows utility data to be seen and shared with utility Data Sharing - Allows utility data to be seen and shared with utility administrators, billing staff, and workers in the field. It also allows utility administrators, billing staff, and workers in the field. It also allows utility information to be shared with other departments such as public safety, information to be shared with other departments such as public safety, planning and street departments, and share utility information with elected planning and street departments, and share utility information with elected officials and the general public.officials and the general public.

Gas UtilityGas Utility

Leak Management:

The GIS can used to identify nearest valves or structures that need to be closed, to separate the leak area from rest of network to mitigate loss (Key Valves). After an accident or leak, the network has to be restored and damaged pipe segments have to be replaced. GIS applications can help in building the footage network that will replace failed network by identifying types of pipes (cast iron or steel), length of pipes and number of pipe segments.

Water UtilityWater Utility

The GIS system can identify the sizes and types of water mains thatmake up your distribution system. This can be very useful whenlooking at required repairs and for water system expansion projects.Hydrant information is particular important for use in emergency response.

Electric UtilityElectric Utility

The GIS system can help identify how many electric poles arein your electric system and detailed information about eachelectric pole. For example: age of pole, height of pole, if a streetlight is on the pole, number of transformers attached to a specific electric pole if any, and the size of the transformer, etc.

Electric UtilityElectric Utility

Collected Electric Pole Attributes and Attached PhotographCollected Electric Pole Attributes and Attached Photograph

Stormwater UtilityStormwater Utility

The GIS system can help identify how many miles of stormwater The GIS system can help identify how many miles of stormwater pipe are located within your system, number of stormwater pipe are located within your system, number of stormwater inlets, size of pipes within the system, and where possible inlets, size of pipes within the system, and where possible upgrades to the system may need to be made.upgrades to the system may need to be made.

Wastewater UtilityWastewater Utility

The GIS system can help identify how many wastewater The GIS system can help identify how many wastewater manholes are in your system, the type of system (gravity or force manholes are in your system, the type of system (gravity or force main), the size of pipes, number of lift stations in the system, main), the size of pipes, number of lift stations in the system, total of amount of area serviced by a particular lift station, etc.total of amount of area serviced by a particular lift station, etc.

Increasing the Use of Your Utility GISIncreasing the Use of Your Utility GIS

1)1)Look for opportunities to gather interest in your GIS system Look for opportunities to gather interest in your GIS system from people that don’t use it on a daily basis. When they ask from people that don’t use it on a daily basis. When they ask questions about a utility, rather than answering the question questions about a utility, rather than answering the question directly, show them how they can use the GIS system to answer directly, show them how they can use the GIS system to answer their own questions. Help them to become familiar with using their own questions. Help them to become familiar with using your GIS system.your GIS system.

2)2)Ask users what things that they would like to see in the GIS Ask users what things that they would like to see in the GIS system.system.

3)3) Building Data Dictionaries – Rather than just going out and Building Data Dictionaries – Rather than just going out and collecting GPS data, take a step back and really think about what collecting GPS data, take a step back and really think about what utility information is important to collect, and what may not be utility information is important to collect, and what may not be so important. Work on developing data dictionaries before you so important. Work on developing data dictionaries before you collect data.collect data.

Increasing the Use of Your Utility GISIncreasing the Use of Your Utility GIS

4)4)Capturing Tribal Knowledge – It is very important to get utility Capturing Tribal Knowledge – It is very important to get utility information in your utility GIS that represents tribal knowledge. information in your utility GIS that represents tribal knowledge. Maybe only one person in the in the utility department has Maybe only one person in the in the utility department has knowledge that is critical to operations. A death or retirement knowledge that is critical to operations. A death or retirement may result in a substantial loss of time and money to reconstruct may result in a substantial loss of time and money to reconstruct this information and some knowledge may be lost forever.this information and some knowledge may be lost forever.

5)5)Using Laptops in the Field – The use of laptops in the field has Using Laptops in the Field – The use of laptops in the field has really helped for utility locates, shut-offs and re-connects.really helped for utility locates, shut-offs and re-connects.

QUESTIONS ??QUESTIONS ??