Data Conversion Without Establishing an AM/FM/GIS System

Data Conversion Without Establishing an AM/FM/GIS System

David S. Lucian
P.E.
Project Manager
Consumers Energy
516 West Willow Street
Lansing, MI 48906

Donald B. Thomson
AGRA Baymont, Inc.
c/o SPI Technologies, Inc.
SPI Building, Pastor Drive
Santo Nine, Paranaque
Metro Manila, 1700 Philippines

Introduction
This paper discusses an alternative approach to implementation of an AM/FM/GIS system where facility data is converted in advance of establishing an AM/FM/GIS system. Understanding the life, value and usage of facility data is essential to the development of an AM/FM/GIS system. In order to thoroughly understand the application of utility data users must model its relationship to the business and all of its appropriate business processes.

Traditionally, most organizations have concentrated on converting data directly into a system with complete AM/FM/GIS functionality in which the data will be used and maintained. Conversion of data often takes many years to complete. As a result some utilities have been faced with system migration even before conversion is complete due to rapid changes in AM/FM/GIS system technology.

One alternative to direct conversion into a fill power AM/FM/GIS system is to convert data into an intermediate data structure that is both less costly and based upon open systems. This paper uses Consumers Energy’s Gas Information Management Project as a case study for using an alternative approach to facility conversion.

Model Data Requirments
Modeling data requirements is one of the most important aspects of a conversion. On all data conversion projects, users should focus primarily on the life, value and usage of the data. A clear understanding of each element of data and how it is associated with different types of applications and business processes are also very important. The three major elements are:

Model Facility Data Requirements
Focus on facility data;
Focus on life, value and usage of data;
“Down Play” current systems and technology.

A complete logical data model is needed regardless of what application is being developed. Whether a utility is modeling piping systems or wiring systems, the need for data modeling is still the same. In order to facilitate construction, maintenance and operation of utility facilities systems integrators must focus on facility data lasting 50 to 80 years in the field.

Standards Requirements
All conversion projects require both graphic and database standards before work can take place. It is well known the more detailed these standards are the better it is for both the utility and the conversion vendor.

Geographic standards include items such as; geographic symbology, complete and detailed descriptions of each object with a complete library of objects. These standards should also include instructions on how to place these objects on the maps.

The first phase of building these geographic standards should be independent of any system and focus on building uniformity between new and converted maps. Most organizations have been creating manual (paper/mylar) maps for many years and often in different locations throughout the company. Conformity and uniformity will result from implementation of these standards.

A second phase of standards development comprises detailed instructions on how to interpret attribute data and what are valid entries into database tables. Again these Data Interpretation Rules should be independent of any AM/FM/GIS system and focus on rules of facility operation and maintenance. Typical code lists can be developed for many of these interpretation rules. The four key elements are:

Standards Requirements
Complete and detailed Geographic Standards;
Facility object symbology and libraries;
Facility Data Interpretation Rules;
Facility rules code lists.

A well-defined and documented set of standards will become the “Conversion Bible”. These standards will also assist in future migration to newer systems and technology.

The final phase to this standards development process should include specific information associated with the actual graphic and database structure (system) into which the facility records will be converted. For example, in the Consumers Energy project the geographic standards included information necessary for MicroStation CAD files linked to an Oracle Relational Database Management System (RDBMS).

Design and Develop Conversion Process
Typically, the conversion vendor develops the conversion process, builds any necessary rule-base, often uses proprietary software to convert data, and ultimately delivers data in the format specified by the AM/FM/GIS system. Where the facility data is system independent, more care must be taken to ensure this data is completely usable. During the design process several factors need special attention to ensure this flexibility, namely:

Factors that need special attention in the design process are:
Geographic accuracy requirements;
Graphic to attribute relationships;
Physical database design (in absence of AMIFM structured rule-base tools);
Element connectivity requirements.

Utility system complexity will play a significant role on how much effort is needed during this design process. If the process is thoroughly documented, the complexity issues will be mitigated.

Validate Design Conformance to Standards and Useablity
Once the design process is complete a set of test data should be developed to validate it’s conformance to standards and data model design. Basic conformance to graphic standards can be easily validated; however, a more difficult but equally important item to check graphically is the application of geographic placement standards. A well-designed conversion process will institute many controls in this area.

Another very important test of the design is to look at database structure to confirm its adherence to the logical data model. Some important items to look at when appraising the physical database design are:

Factors to consider when appraising physical database design:
Linkage to graphic elements;
Constraints within database structure;
Data Interpretation Rules;
Element connectivity conformance.

The ease and ability to export data, both CAD graphics and database attributes, while maintaining intelligence to the facility data is another important factor to validate system design. This procedure should apply to any AM/FM/GIS system but is especially important with this non-system specific methodology.

Most relational databases are SQL compliant and extracting data is relatively easy. It should be noted, however, that most commercial RDBMS’s apply many additional features and functionality that may not be completely SQL compliant. Therefore, it may be wise to stay away from this type of functionality.

Exporting graphics from CAD files has been an issue for many years and is typically not a problem today, except in some special situations where unique features (usually new or complex elements) are used. Again, if the system design takes advantage of basic elements, conversion between CAD systems is not a problem.

The final factor to test and validate the system design is the connectivity of facility elements. This can be very difficult depending upon the complexity of a facility system being modeled. Future system analysis tools will be very dependent on how well connectivity is maintained.

Data Maintenance
The most important application associated with any AM/FM/GIS system are the software tools used to maintain the data. This is equally important with a non-system specific set of data. Without the ability to Create, Review, Update and Delete (CRUD), the data will become obsolete instantly. A considerable benefit in using a commercially available AM/FM/GIS system is that these systems have carefully integrated CRUD tools into their software. In contrast, these tools need to be developed in this alternative approach albeit at some cost in time and effort. Consumers Energy’s data is converted and maintained using the same soflware application. This maintenance fimctionality is accomplished by using a program written with Borland Delphi that acts as the interface between the Oracle RDMBS and the MicroStation DGN files. The fwctionality of this tool has proven very effective within the Baymont conversion process.

Much of the geographic data placement rules, constraints and symbology are stored in tables within the database. This program successfully provides the minimal maintenance and placement functionality which was intended. However, it does not perform many functions such as; document management, feature locking and data analysis tools which are found within commercial AM/FM/GIS systems.

Facility Data Applications
Typical user needs and application fhnctions of AM/FM/GIS data can be broken into three groups. The first group consists of people who look at facility maps both in the office and the field; these people are not likely to be concerned with any detailed attribute data. A second group of users are people who need specialty information on a routine basis; examples are special plots (load study maps and leak survey maps) and predetermined or routine database reports (tax reports). This type of standard data extract reports can be easily be developed to meet user needs. The third type of user group consists of people who need the ability to perform ad hoc system analysis reports. This is the most sophisticated type of user and is usually difficult to predict their needs. In review, we have three types of facilit y data users:

View only of maps (office and field access);
Users of specialty information on routine basis;
Users who need sophisticated system analysis functionality.

The Consumers Energy approach to Facility Data Applications is to provide users with rapid and easy electronic access to facility information and thus eliminate thousands of maps. Some selected special output maps and unique database queries have also been developed for the second tier of users. Consumers Energy has been able to demonstrate that many of the benefits for the facility information are in this area. Planning for additional benefits with greater functionality associated with facility information and sophisticated system analysis are all part of Consumers Energy fiture direction.

Data sharing is another important aspect of AM/FM/GIS system applications. Again, most of the commercial AM/FM/GIS systems handle the difficult task of data sharing quite well. The importance of a complete data model discussed earlier is emphasized by user data sharing needs. Consumers Energy has found that, with a little extra effort, data can be successfi-dly linked to associated data in other systems, including legacy systems.

Conclusion
Consumers Energy is nearing completion of its data conversion project using the alternative approach described in this paper. This project has proven that this approach is technically sound. Much of the early benefits of a traditional AM/FM/GIS project have already been realized at Consumers Energy. This approach has allowed for a more flexible conversion project bringing the early benefits to users much sooner. This flexibility has also allowed users to clearly identify facility information needs for construction, maintenance and system operations.

AM/FM/GIS system technology components are rapidly changing and are expected to continue to evolve along with the computer industry as a whole. Using this methodology during data conversion has proven to be an excellent insurance policy against obsolete technology. Complex applications, data management controls and application development tools found within commercial AM/FM/GIS systems are all very important fimctions and will be prudent investments as data conversion continues towards completion.