AM/FM 101: The GIS Mind-Meld
Mark R. Mace
AM/FM System Analyst, Ohio Edison Company
253 White Pond Drive, Akron, Ohio 44320
Abstract
AM/FM/GIS Systems are comprised of several key components:
- Data Base;
- Spatial Engine;
- Connectivity Model; and
- Geographical User Interface.
This paper is designed to be an introduction to AM/FM/GIS and discusses each of these
key components along with functionality, illustrative examdes and practical definitions.
In addition, an explanation of how applications function will be provided.
For example, a typical trace application might use the Connectivity Model and the Data
Base with the results being displayed through the Geographical User Interface. Other
examples will also be explained, including spatial queries.
An overview of the system architecture layers will also be presented, including:
communications network, base software, application software, and computing hardware.
Information presented is meant to be common to utility industries and vendor
independent.
Specific objectives for attendees:
- Understand Major Components of AM/FM/GIS Systems and Applications
- Understand How These Components Function Together in Applications
- Understand the General Computing Environment for Complex Systems
What is an AM/FM/GIS?
Let’s start with GIS - Geographic Information System - and some helpful definitions:
- A group or arrangement of parts that relate to or interact with each other
in such a way as to form a whole; Any orderly group of logically related facts; An
orderly method, plan or procedure.
Information: Anything that reduces uncertainty; Knowledge acquired or
derived; Timely or specific knowledge.
Geograpy: The science that describes the surface of the earth and its associated
physical, biological, economic, political and demographic characteristics; The physical
aspects, features, ... of a place or area. From (Geo - Earth + Graphein -to describe).
Automatic: Capable of moving or operating, at least partly, without human
control or intervention; Computerized.
Maminw A representation, especial] y on a flat surface, of any region or part of
the earth.
Facilities: A set of machines, tools, apparatus comprising an enterprise or
business; The buildings and equipment needed for any institution (Plant).
Management: The skillful use of means to accomplish a purpose.
So, in practical terms, a GIS is an orderly set of rules and methods to manage information
with a geographic component.
For AM/FM, first the FM portion. Facilities Management is the skillful use of company
assets to accomplish business goals. If we are in business to provide electric service to
customers, some assets/plant or equipment will be needed. Information about them such
as inspection/maintenance dates, current capacities (line, vaults, ducts), and economics
will be needed for us to use them wisely and pro-actively.
Automated Mapping can then be added for computerized maintenance of map products
for both workstation displays and paper or even micro-fiche.
Components
Now that we understand what a GIS is, let’s look at the components of a system. Today’s
systems have a data base, a spatial engine, a connectivity model and employ a GUI - a
Geographical User Interface.
Data Base
The data base is the most important part of the system because that is where the
information vital to the business is kept, maintained and managed. The value of data
bases has been demonstrated and is well known. That value is only increased by adding
the geographical attributes
In some ways, adding geographic characteristics has clouded the issues of true importance
and caused many implementations to go astray. When deciding what a GIS should do -or
not do - it will be very valuable for users and programmers to step back and
temporarily ignore the maps and displays, symbols and symbologies -- in short to forget
the graphics “glitz”. Once this is done it will be possible to focus on the key business
problems at hand - the “whys” of a system. You may then “remember” the graphics and
maps, when it is time to implementation details - the “hews”.
Be forewarned, however, that this priority system will be very difficult to maintain.
Project representatives from user areas are often those most involved in maps and
records, and programmers often become “drugged” by the technology. It is most
important for the managers, especially project managers, to keep asking “why”. This will
maximize the value of the system to the company.
The data base is where other systems are also tied to geography. What separates this data
base from others is the coordinate information - what brings this system together with
others is the system of keys or common attributes - just like any other data base has to be
integrated with corporate information.
This is the true power of GIS -- the ability to provide and incorporate geographic
relationships. By relating two sets of data to geography, a new analysis may be
performed by deriving relationships between the original two. As an example, customers
may be assigned point locations. Next, company operating districts or divisions might be
assigned locations as polygons. An analysis might then be performed on customer counts
by division.
There are two ways to add geographic components through data conversion:
(1)Digitize using some geographical reference
(2) Geocode using attributes to derive location based on a correlation to existing
geographic features.
