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Underground cable maintenance and management in power sector

Sumit Sen¹ and Dr. Smita Sengupta²
Tata Infotech Ltd., SDF V
Seepz , Andheri, Mumbai , India 400096
Tel: 91-22-8291320/0319/0321, Fax: 91-22-8290585
¹sumit.sent@tatainfotech.com, ²smita.sengupta@tatainfotech.com

Issues In Focus
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing data. Spatially enabled information provides a unique geographic dimension to the understanding and interpretation of information. GIS based solutions are playing a key role in today’s power scenario mostly in distribution system maintenance management and in efficient customer services [1].

The dynamic nature of the electricity distribution system causes a complicated procedure to analyze, as it includes both graphic and non-graphic data [2]. In an underground network this becomes more challenging due to the criticality of the information [3]. To achieve a higher level of accuracy and increased productivity in maintenance operations, an efficient system to manage the spatial and aspatial information is required. Such a system is required to operate with all existing data and also adapt to currently used workflow of operations. The system assists in choosing suitable alternatives within the limits of the design parameters, working out a precise diagram of existing network and mapping them onto actual (geographical) maps of the area. Optimal allocation of resources for maintenance can thus be ensured.

Problems with Cable Maintenance and Management Information Systems have been encountered at many places [4] and Solutions have been sought through Customized packages linked to the GIS based information [5, 6, 7]. Such Solutions are product based and hence development efforts are more inclined to product customization.

A brief outline of an effort to do away with these conventional solutions by retaining their merits is given below.

Solution Overview
In the present Project the activities have been carried out in the following Phases in the Development of a Cable Maintenance and Management System.

First Phase
Customized MIS, Log in, Screen, Fault Pre-Location, Updating, Workflow

Second Phase:
Maintenance Management and Network analysis Modules

Third Phase:
Advanced Analysis and Real-time support

 

First Phase
The solution provided at the First Phase consists of different functions and takes into care few aspects of the conditions that are involved in the development and integration of the modules. These are:

• The creation of Vector Map data of Electric Feeders from Paper drawings. The main layers in the spatial data are Cables and Cable Joints. The Relevant Attribute data of each layer is associated.
• Feeder information is mainly used for the Activities like Cable Fault Repair, New Construction and Query on Feeder and Feeder Components
• The 3 levels of Security Access like: Administrator, User & Guest have been developed for the application.
• Marking of a distance or a percentage distance along a feeder, finding distance between two points on a feeder and generating Joint To Joint tables with the help of Cable Fault Repair Job (CFRJ) and New Construction Job (NCJ).
• It is essential to have Single Line Diagram and Sectional Details of the Feeder and Cables.
  
  The Entire Application and Data for the Proposed system is in the MapInfo GIS Environment and runs in a Windows based Desktop Scenario.

Using the above information the Block diagram of the First Phase solution is as described in Figure 2

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