So far, you have learnt how GIS can help utilities to acquire snapshots of the locations of substations, lines and cables in relation to their geographical bearings. It can also help plot the locations of consumers with respect to their feeding networks (starting with the source and ending with the end-user). Since the data are digitised, the use of GIS makes several interactive applications possible. For example, network inventory data can be stored on a computer-aided GIS (Geographical Information System) and it is an effective way of mapping installations; it is also very useful for consumer indexing, asset management and engineering analysis.
GIS applications provide the requisite managerial inputs for decision making at various levels in a distribution utility. GIS based distribution management system with varied access of field personnel to centrally located database would provide efficient system management. This, in turn, will shorten the billing cycle time and improve finances of the utility. GIS can help to manage complex network information and coupled with other business process applications it will facilitate the following:
• Energy audit of DTs overlaid on geographical map to identify the types of customers in that area, i.e., industrial area/slum area.
• The identification of types of customers in loss pockets, which will help the utility in taking measures for preventing distribution losses. Feeder Managers can be made fully responsible and answerable for feeder-wise energy accounting and revenue realization.
GIS with a socket for network analysis software and availability of load related data from AMR based meter data acquisition system will help the utility in load planning, load forecasting and management . In case of outage, an integrated GIS system with the help of its unique prediction engine can identify the most probable part in electrical network (e.g., device, feeders, etc.) along with the location of problem immediately. It will also report the network that may have been affected downstream to it.Geospatial database developed through GIS based Customer Indexing and asset codification integrated with business processes of the utility provides the utility a tool to re-engineer business processes for transparent and quick decision making. It would facilitate front end single window solution for consumer care to address metering and billing issues, new connection release, fuse off call, etc. under the aegis of the customer care centre.Surveyed and validated feeder overlaid on satellite imagery with landmarks would enable preparation of correct estimated works and consequently faster implementation without contractual litigations.Using GIS also allows a radical improvement in daily work management practices – such as planning new installations, scheduling operation and maintenance work as well as outages, and responding to consumers’ trouble calls. It can help engineers in finding the optimum route to take for inspections or maintenance jobs. This is because it provides accurate and reliable spatial and non-spatial information to the utility operational staff.
A distinct feature of GIS is that it enhances consumer service by integrating network and customer management. When a customer call originates,managers can readily view the feeding network. The attending crew can be promptly deployed to the affected site or diverted from other locations with minimal effort. Workforce allocation is optimised when crews must be moved around to attend to emergencies and the distances are large, as is common inrural settings. Logistical management improves further as crews are rotated, and as additional gangs come into new areas to help out during emergencies.
Applications Platform
GIS applications should be capable to act as a base system over which the other business process application can be integrated which is the objective of GIS implementation. The definition, design, development and deployment of the GIS for the utility should be based on commercial off-the-shelf products and customization and integration as required by utility. You know that utilities may use the GIS platform for:
• Network representation/visualization,
• Networking Reconfiguration/optimization,
• Preparing designs/schemes,
• Outage Management Systems,
• Fault Management,
• What-If analysis,
• Improvement in revenue management, and
• Business development.
Thus, GIS can now become an integral part of a utility’s mainstream daily operations. Let us see how GIS can be used to furnish any desired information.
Querying the GIS
Interfaces that use the querying facility are available with the RDBMS. In the network-mapping environment, these provide accurate and reliable information to the utility operational staff on the spatial and non-spatial attribute data of the network created in the GIS. Customised interfaces can be delivered and the staff can also be easily trained to design and create their own interfaces. The information can be in the nature of an inventory report of any type of network entity (poles, conductors, underground cable segments etc.) or location information, etc.For example, consider an engineer who has to send a cable jointer in the field to access a certain underground cable joint. The engineer can take the digitized map file of the area, mark a small portion of that area in the neighbourhood of the joint, and print that small part on a piece of paper. This printed map of that small area will show, to the jointer, the location of the joint with proper distance and bearing references to the nearby identifiable objects. With these references so readily available with the jointer, his/her work will be easy and quick. There will be no need for him/her to resort to guesswork or to constantly contact the office for finding the joint location.
GIS applications provide the requisite managerial inputs for decision making at various levels in a distribution utility. GIS based distribution management system with varied access of field personnel to centrally located database would provide efficient system management. This, in turn, will shorten the billing cycle time and improve finances of the utility. GIS can help to manage complex network information and coupled with other business process applications it will facilitate the following:
• Energy audit of DTs overlaid on geographical map to identify the types of customers in that area, i.e., industrial area/slum area.
• The identification of types of customers in loss pockets, which will help the utility in taking measures for preventing distribution losses. Feeder Managers can be made fully responsible and answerable for feeder-wise energy accounting and revenue realization.
GIS with a socket for network analysis software and availability of load related data from AMR based meter data acquisition system will help the utility in load planning, load forecasting and management . In case of outage, an integrated GIS system with the help of its unique prediction engine can identify the most probable part in electrical network (e.g., device, feeders, etc.) along with the location of problem immediately. It will also report the network that may have been affected downstream to it.Geospatial database developed through GIS based Customer Indexing and asset codification integrated with business processes of the utility provides the utility a tool to re-engineer business processes for transparent and quick decision making. It would facilitate front end single window solution for consumer care to address metering and billing issues, new connection release, fuse off call, etc. under the aegis of the customer care centre.Surveyed and validated feeder overlaid on satellite imagery with landmarks would enable preparation of correct estimated works and consequently faster implementation without contractual litigations.Using GIS also allows a radical improvement in daily work management practices – such as planning new installations, scheduling operation and maintenance work as well as outages, and responding to consumers’ trouble calls. It can help engineers in finding the optimum route to take for inspections or maintenance jobs. This is because it provides accurate and reliable spatial and non-spatial information to the utility operational staff.
A distinct feature of GIS is that it enhances consumer service by integrating network and customer management. When a customer call originates,managers can readily view the feeding network. The attending crew can be promptly deployed to the affected site or diverted from other locations with minimal effort. Workforce allocation is optimised when crews must be moved around to attend to emergencies and the distances are large, as is common inrural settings. Logistical management improves further as crews are rotated, and as additional gangs come into new areas to help out during emergencies.
Applications Platform
GIS applications should be capable to act as a base system over which the other business process application can be integrated which is the objective of GIS implementation. The definition, design, development and deployment of the GIS for the utility should be based on commercial off-the-shelf products and customization and integration as required by utility. You know that utilities may use the GIS platform for:
• Network representation/visualization,
• Networking Reconfiguration/optimization,
• Preparing designs/schemes,
• Outage Management Systems,
• Fault Management,
• What-If analysis,
• Improvement in revenue management, and
• Business development.
Thus, GIS can now become an integral part of a utility’s mainstream daily operations. Let us see how GIS can be used to furnish any desired information.
Querying the GIS
Interfaces that use the querying facility are available with the RDBMS. In the network-mapping environment, these provide accurate and reliable information to the utility operational staff on the spatial and non-spatial attribute data of the network created in the GIS. Customised interfaces can be delivered and the staff can also be easily trained to design and create their own interfaces. The information can be in the nature of an inventory report of any type of network entity (poles, conductors, underground cable segments etc.) or location information, etc.For example, consider an engineer who has to send a cable jointer in the field to access a certain underground cable joint. The engineer can take the digitized map file of the area, mark a small portion of that area in the neighbourhood of the joint, and print that small part on a piece of paper. This printed map of that small area will show, to the jointer, the location of the joint with proper distance and bearing references to the nearby identifiable objects. With these references so readily available with the jointer, his/her work will be easy and quick. There will be no need for him/her to resort to guesswork or to constantly contact the office for finding the joint location.
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| A Screen Shot Showing Query about Distribution Transformers Located in an Area with its Attribute Information |
Information Processing
Information processing is the key to improving productivity and cutting costs of excess work. Converting information to a computerized format in GIS is more useful and timely for an electric utility. For example, GIS will allow to search and retrieve information stored on a server simply by pointing and clicking through user-friendly menus or typing requests in a Windows environment. GIS has a way of making work processes simpler through more productive use of time and information (Fig.).
Information processing is the key to improving productivity and cutting costs of excess work. Converting information to a computerized format in GIS is more useful and timely for an electric utility. For example, GIS will allow to search and retrieve information stored on a server simply by pointing and clicking through user-friendly menus or typing requests in a Windows environment. GIS has a way of making work processes simpler through more productive use of time and information (Fig.).
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| GIS Applications in Urban and Rural Areas |
Role of GIS in Distribution Reforms
You will agree that distribution is the weakest link in the chain of power supply and has been identified as the key focus area in power sector reforms. T&D losses are in the range of 40-45% and GIS can help reduce losses and improve energy efficiency through its contribution in the following areas of distribution reforms:
• 100% consumer metering and AMR: Installation of meters at all the transformation stages and in the premises of consumers, with the
provision for accurate meter reading.
• Feeder and DT metering: Installation of static (electronic) meters on all 11 kV outgoing feeders and DTs.
• Effective MIS: Both feeder and DT static meters record active energy, power factor and load information which can be downloaded to a computer network to build effective MIS for quick decision-making and improved distribution system.
• Total energy accounting: Energy received in each 11 kV substation and 11 kV out-going feeders, energy billed and T&D losses at each feeder and DT would be properly accounted for.
• Installation of capacitor banks and network reconfiguration:
Installation of capacitors at all levels, reconfiguration of feeder lines and DTs to reduce the length of LT lines thereby reducing AT&C losses.
• High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS): Installation of small energy efficient DTs supplying power to 10 to 15 households only, re-conductoring of overloaded sections, digital mapping of the entire distribution system and load flow studies to strengthen the distribution system.
GIS can help in achieving the above reforms objectives through various applications:
• Creation of consumer database and consumer indexing: Indexing of all the consumers in all categories is necessary so that the consumers can be segregated feeder-wise and DT-wise. Consumers are mapped using GIS technology and identified based on their unique electrical address, called the Consumer Index Number (CIN).
• Mapping of Sub-transmission and Electrical Distribution Network: It is equally important to have all the 33 kV substations, 11 kV feeders, DTs and LT feeders digitally mapped and geo-referenced.
• Load Flow Studies: Having done so, load and consumer profile can be studied and inferences drawn for rectifying imbalances in the network, load analysis in various network segments and load rearrangement.
• Load Forecasting: GIS becomes an effective tool in optimal design and choice of substation location, demand-side management, future load assessment and load planning.
• Management Information System (MIS): Based on inputs from GIS,which is regularly updated and monitored, a robust MIS can be built for
analyzing and reducing AT&C losses, improved revenue billing and collection and load demand/supply analysis.
You will agree that distribution is the weakest link in the chain of power supply and has been identified as the key focus area in power sector reforms. T&D losses are in the range of 40-45% and GIS can help reduce losses and improve energy efficiency through its contribution in the following areas of distribution reforms:
• 100% consumer metering and AMR: Installation of meters at all the transformation stages and in the premises of consumers, with the
provision for accurate meter reading.
• Feeder and DT metering: Installation of static (electronic) meters on all 11 kV outgoing feeders and DTs.
• Effective MIS: Both feeder and DT static meters record active energy, power factor and load information which can be downloaded to a computer network to build effective MIS for quick decision-making and improved distribution system.
• Total energy accounting: Energy received in each 11 kV substation and 11 kV out-going feeders, energy billed and T&D losses at each feeder and DT would be properly accounted for.
• Installation of capacitor banks and network reconfiguration:
Installation of capacitors at all levels, reconfiguration of feeder lines and DTs to reduce the length of LT lines thereby reducing AT&C losses.
• High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS): Installation of small energy efficient DTs supplying power to 10 to 15 households only, re-conductoring of overloaded sections, digital mapping of the entire distribution system and load flow studies to strengthen the distribution system.
GIS can help in achieving the above reforms objectives through various applications:
• Creation of consumer database and consumer indexing: Indexing of all the consumers in all categories is necessary so that the consumers can be segregated feeder-wise and DT-wise. Consumers are mapped using GIS technology and identified based on their unique electrical address, called the Consumer Index Number (CIN).
• Mapping of Sub-transmission and Electrical Distribution Network: It is equally important to have all the 33 kV substations, 11 kV feeders, DTs and LT feeders digitally mapped and geo-referenced.
• Load Flow Studies: Having done so, load and consumer profile can be studied and inferences drawn for rectifying imbalances in the network, load analysis in various network segments and load rearrangement.
• Load Forecasting: GIS becomes an effective tool in optimal design and choice of substation location, demand-side management, future load assessment and load planning.
• Management Information System (MIS): Based on inputs from GIS,which is regularly updated and monitored, a robust MIS can be built for
analyzing and reducing AT&C losses, improved revenue billing and collection and load demand/supply analysis.
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