Utility Systems Data Modeling
Executive Summary
Problem
Utility systems require data models and geodatabases that streamline the design, maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure, such as storm drain and water systems.
Solution
Farallon creates enterprise-scale utility data models and geodatabases that take advantage of traditional GIS, Network analysis, and distributed field editing.
Utilities provide critical services such as heat or electricity, water and sewage disposal. Services are complex because they cover many different points from power stations, to electricity poles, to substations, to telephone poles to house or building junction boxes.
What are the benefits of an Enterprise GIS for Utility Systems Data Modeling?
To operate efficiently, utility managers need to have ready access to critical summary information, from personnel locations in the field to political boundaries to highway and road information. More broadly, local utilities need to be able to integrate with larger utility databases - (water, sewer, storm, and combined sewer features that are also consistent across the county). The goal is to be able to integrate peripheral systems, share data with municipalities that may have different systems, and take advantage of federal standards, which may allow federal funding.
Network tracing lets you quickly determine which valves need to be closed when main breaks occur.
A GIS can be used in:
- Resource distribution (water, electricity, etc)
- Infrastructure maintenance
- Emergency response and Incident Management
- Automated mapping
- Network tracing
- Flow analysis
- Compliance with Federal and Local standards
- Customer service
Real-time Network adjustments
A Farallon Utility Model GIS allows network connectivity to be generated on the fly, as edits are made, based on the rules and relationships established in the geodatabase design. With traditional GIS data models, no relationship exists among pipes that are added into the system. A separate, time-consuming (especially with large utility datasets) external process for building network connectivity must be run. Every time a change is made to a pipe, network connectivity has to be rebuilt. Because network connectivity is live in our GIS network utility data models, updates are automatic and there is no need to run outside network connectivity routines every time a change is made in the database.
GIS Implementations Components:
- GIS framework & Data model
- Data collection mechanisms
- Inspection and Assessment
- Decision support systems
- Utilities management
- Data archival
- Aspects of engineering, operations, administration & finance