NEARC 2005: Abstracts

NEARC 2005 Program Abstracts

By Track :

TRACK: Utilities

Use of Tracing Tools for Homeland Security Utility Applications

Tom Harrington, Mark Willett, Morgen Bullock, Applied Geographics/Wannacomet Water

AppGeo developed a Utility Trace Tool for the Wannacomet Water Company (Nantucket) to be used within ArcMap. This tool allows the user to click on the location of a water main break, and the valves that need to be shut off to isolate the break will be highlighted. A list of affected customers will also be generated. The Trace Tool has been used effectively by Wannacomet since January of 2005 for valve isolation and data QA/QC. In June, Wannacomet was picked by the State police to run table top terrorist attack scenario. The scenario involved a biological contaminant being pumped into the water pipe network and contaminating the water system. The Trace Tool was used to efficiently isolate the contaminant.

GIS Program Development - If At First You Don't Succeed, Try Again

Joseph Spollen, GeoData Modelers, Inc

Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. is an operating subsidiary of the largest U.S.-based, publicly-traded water utility in the country. Providing drinking water to more than 340,000 customer accounts in southeastern Pennsylvania, Aqua Pennsylvania's supply system is made up of more than 4,000 miles of pipe and serves a 508-square-mile service territory.In the late 1990's, Aqua Pennsylvania embarked on an ambitious GIS program which promised to deliver substantial business benefits throughout the company by integrating existing information systems and developing customized software applications to tie them all together. Although Aqua Pennsylvania performed a cost/benefit analysis, followed a "textbook" approach to developing system requirements, and completed a pilot program, the GIS program stalled, lost support, and was abandoned before it could be fully implemented. This paper describes what went wrong and what steps were taken to rejuvenate the GIS program so that is now providing useful business benefits throughout the company.This presentation will be helpful to organizations who are trying to integrate GIS technology into their existing operations, and will describe lessons learned and practical ideas to build a successful GIS program.KEYWORDS: Water utility, requirements analysis, GIS program, geodatabases, systems integration

Developing a GIS-Based Utility Management Program

Sean Myers, James Carolan, & Elisa Lockhart, CDM

This workshop is intended for those organizations that have already built utility GIS databases or are thinking about doing so. The workshop will discuss all aspects of a utility GIS program including program planning, GIS database development techniques, field-based applications, and integration with related computer systems (e.g. customer billing and maintenance management systems).