GIS in Utilities: Research Opportunities

University of Redlands

School of Business

Research SeriesApril 1, 2005

John C. Stager

What are utilities?

• Electric

• Gas

• Water

• Sewer

• Telephone

Why use GIS?

• Reduce costs.

• Improve customer service.

GIS in a Utility

Source: ESRI

GIS as a value added application

Three uses of GIS• Decision making

– Economic development– Demographic studies– Vegetation management– System planning– Rate case studies– Long-term capital planning– Reliability centered maintenance– Loss evaluation

• Enterprise communication• Efficiency Source: Dangermond, J (2003). Building and Enterprise GIS.

The Utilities Project, Volume 3. Redlands, CA: ESRI.

GIS as a value added application

Three uses of GIS• Decision making• Enterprise communication

– Work order status– Weather– Safety– Crew and vehicle tracking– Communication of work division performance– Outage reporting to the media– Bad debt analysis

• EfficiencySource: Dangermond, J (2003). Building and Enterprise GIS. The Utilities Project, Volume 3. Redlands, CA: ESRI.

GIS as a value added application

Three uses of GIS• Decision making

• Enterprise communication

• Efficiency– Labor – internal or contract– Materials and hardware– Carrying costs– Fleet

Source: Dangermond, J (2003). Building and Enterprise GIS. The Utilities Project, Volume 3. Redlands, CA: ESRI.

Other areas

• Engineering and design• Operational planning/switching analysis• Permitting and notification• Work scheduling• Crew scheduling/Crew coordination• Fault location• Productivity measurement by location• Meter reading and service• Automated meter reading deployment

Source: Dangermond, J (2003). Building and Enterprise GIS. The Utilities Project, Volume 3. Redlands, CA: ESRI.

Infrastructure-Macro

Source: http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps

Infrastructure-Macro (continued)

Infrastructure-Complexity

http://www.puc.state.oh.us/website

Planning

Source: http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps

Climate Zones

Infrastructure-Micro

Source: http://www.city.surrey.bc.ca

Infrastructure-Micro (continued)

Source: http://www.city.surrey.bc.ca

Service Classification

GIS Map Classified by Type of Residential Customers in Pomprabsatrupai (Bangkok)

• http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume16/electric2.html

Asset Management

Source: City of Leesburg, FL; ESRI

Work Management

Source: BurbankWater & Power;ESRI

Outage Management

Source: City of Anaheim; ESRI

Source: PPL of PA; ESRI

Outage Management (continued)

Source: Dominion Power (NC); ESRI

Source: PPL of PA; ESRI

Source: City of Riverside; ESRI

Outage Management (continued)

Other Uses

Source: County of San Bernardino; ESRI

Discussion

• How can GIS help the utilities?

• Forecasting-growth/load (usage)?

• Planning-power plants/wire infrastructure?

• Meter reading-automated/traditional/van-based/ubiquitous computing

• Routing of service?

• Location based aids for service and customers?