So let me begin by saying how important GIS pipeline mapping is for your gas distribution system. I cannot stress this enough! For those of you who don't know what GIS is, it's basically Geographic Information Systems. It may surprise you that many industries such as banking, real estate, city and state government, and major oil companies all employ the use of such GIS technology. For those of you who have a gas distribution facility on the Gulf Coast, have you ever needed to provide emergency responders with a map of your distribution system? How about during a major pipe leak anywhere in the U.S. Surely a quick means to provide police, fire fighters, and EMS with a map of the gas leak location would have saved time and reduced stress. This can all be accomplished with GIS pipeline mapping.
I'll show you how.
Suppose that a banking institution wanted to find the optimal placement of ATM machines around a certain metroplex, say Miami, FL. Sure, the bank employees could generate a spreadsheet with zip codes, population, median income, age, etc, but such a spreadsheet of that caliber may be extremely hard to visualize and it definitely would not be condusive to obtaining useful information. However, with a GIS approach, the bank would initially gather a 'county' layer which shows all of the counties in the Miami, FL metropolitan area. Let's call that Layer 1. On top of Layer 1, there would be a 'population density' layer, showing where the majority of people live in the various counties of Miami. Thirdly, a 'median income' layer would be placed on top of the 'population density' layer, and so on. You get the point, right. Now, after all of the layers have been populated and placed appropriately, wouldn't this be a much easier method to decide upon the optimum locations for ATM machine placement? I think so!!!
THIS IS WHY GIS IS SO NEAT!!!
Now, imagine using GIS for your gas distribution system. The first layer of the GIS map would be a county map layer. This map needs to show all of the counties which your gas distribution system is located. As a second layer, the pipeline distribution system would be drawn and placed over the first layer. This second layer needs to be an accurate representation of the gas distribution pipeline layout. Here at GDS Associates, we have the technology to ensure that all piping is representated on the layout drawing via GPS coordinates. From there, we can add in street names, subdivisions, etc for a third layer.
Now, here comes the really cool part. So let's say that you have a bunch of papers sitting around that detail pipe installation dates, leak histories, repair records, etc, and you need to find a way to get rid of the paper, but keep all of the data. GIS has the power to 'attributes' to any and all sections of you gas distribution system. This data can be scanned into a computer and assigned to any section or segment of gas distribution piping. This will allow you to point to any section or area of your gas distribution system and immediately pull up any information that you need. The amount of information that you can pull up will be dependent on how much information is intially scanned into the GIS system. Obviously, the more data you have, the better.
Finally, I'm sure all of you are aware of the new distribution integrity management (DIMP) rules that are being released by the U.S. Department of Transportation in September 2009. If you're not aware of these MANDATORY rules, we need to talk NOW! With that said, GIS mapping will play in integral role in compliance with these DIMP rules and regulations. One of the major items in the upcoming DIMP rules is that each gas distribution operator will need to 'know your system.' GIS pipeline mapping is a great way to learn more about your system and ultimately 'know your system' inside and out.
Furthemore, in keeping up with technology, all state agencies in the U.S. will require the electronic submittal of documentation sometime in the near future. With GIS mapping, this will be an easy feat.
If you would like more information on GIS mapping software, please visit ESRI.
If you need to speak with me regarding GIS gas distribution mapping or DIMP, I can be reached at 512-541-3162.
-Nick
I'll show you how.
Suppose that a banking institution wanted to find the optimal placement of ATM machines around a certain metroplex, say Miami, FL. Sure, the bank employees could generate a spreadsheet with zip codes, population, median income, age, etc, but such a spreadsheet of that caliber may be extremely hard to visualize and it definitely would not be condusive to obtaining useful information. However, with a GIS approach, the bank would initially gather a 'county' layer which shows all of the counties in the Miami, FL metropolitan area. Let's call that Layer 1. On top of Layer 1, there would be a 'population density' layer, showing where the majority of people live in the various counties of Miami. Thirdly, a 'median income' layer would be placed on top of the 'population density' layer, and so on. You get the point, right. Now, after all of the layers have been populated and placed appropriately, wouldn't this be a much easier method to decide upon the optimum locations for ATM machine placement? I think so!!!
THIS IS WHY GIS IS SO NEAT!!!
Now, imagine using GIS for your gas distribution system. The first layer of the GIS map would be a county map layer. This map needs to show all of the counties which your gas distribution system is located. As a second layer, the pipeline distribution system would be drawn and placed over the first layer. This second layer needs to be an accurate representation of the gas distribution pipeline layout. Here at GDS Associates, we have the technology to ensure that all piping is representated on the layout drawing via GPS coordinates. From there, we can add in street names, subdivisions, etc for a third layer.
Now, here comes the really cool part. So let's say that you have a bunch of papers sitting around that detail pipe installation dates, leak histories, repair records, etc, and you need to find a way to get rid of the paper, but keep all of the data. GIS has the power to 'attributes' to any and all sections of you gas distribution system. This data can be scanned into a computer and assigned to any section or segment of gas distribution piping. This will allow you to point to any section or area of your gas distribution system and immediately pull up any information that you need. The amount of information that you can pull up will be dependent on how much information is intially scanned into the GIS system. Obviously, the more data you have, the better.
Finally, I'm sure all of you are aware of the new distribution integrity management (DIMP) rules that are being released by the U.S. Department of Transportation in September 2009. If you're not aware of these MANDATORY rules, we need to talk NOW! With that said, GIS mapping will play in integral role in compliance with these DIMP rules and regulations. One of the major items in the upcoming DIMP rules is that each gas distribution operator will need to 'know your system.' GIS pipeline mapping is a great way to learn more about your system and ultimately 'know your system' inside and out.
Furthemore, in keeping up with technology, all state agencies in the U.S. will require the electronic submittal of documentation sometime in the near future. With GIS mapping, this will be an easy feat.
If you would like more information on GIS mapping software, please visit ESRI.
If you need to speak with me regarding GIS gas distribution mapping or DIMP, I can be reached at 512-541-3162.
-Nick
1 comment:
nicely done
Post a Comment