Data - Yours, Mine, ours
Data Model
With the increase in the number of users of geographic information, there is a need for a robust
data model that will satisfy all user application requirements. Much more effort will have to go
into our land data model than in the past. A data model which will not support all user
application needs will bring about the downfall of any system.
Legacy Data
Since its inception the company has been collecting data on its operations. Some of it is readily
accessible but some of it is hard to find and use. The goal is to maintain the accessible data
and to enable the difficult data to be used more effectively. To throw out all the data and start
again is not an option. Existing interfaces must be maintained and new ones established to
allow wider access to as much business relevant information as possible.
Migration
The GFIS data presently in use is well integrated and doing the job for which it was initially
intended. This is an example of the data that must be preserved. This data (land and electric
facilities) must be effortlessly migrated to EGIS with no loss of value or application functionality.
All of the existing interfaces must be re-established. It is anticipated that this migration will take
no longer than two years (with most of the time being required for hardware rollout and
training).
Enterprise Landbase
As soon as the standards and data model are confirmed, work can begin on the Enterprise
Landbase (ELB). This landbase will have the spatial accuracy required and will incorporate the
Photogrammetry system data and the information assembled for the LapMap system
(landbase, property information, and transmission structures, etc.). The final Enterprise
Landbase will be a 3-D landbase that satisfies the data needs of transmission, generation, and
related lands plus continues to support the requirements of the electrical distribution system.
This common landbase is the core of the enterprise project. It must be done properly to
achieve the anticipated benefits. The benefits derived are based on the increased ability to
exchange data.
Conversion
The conversion process will take five years. Although there is a distribution landbase
throughout the whole BC Hydro distribution service area, there is only about a 10% overlap with
the 17000 km of transmission lines. The property ownership information will need to be geocoded
to the ELB. The final ELB will include all areas covered by distribution, transmission, and
generation plant which is about 15% of the 854,000 sq. km. of the province.
As the ELB is completed for a given area, the distribution facilities will be spatially adjusted to
that base and the ELB will then replace the existing distribution Iandbase.
Data Sharing
OutPut Information
There is a need to supply information to those outside the company. Customers, developers,
engineering firms, contractors, other utilities, cities, towns, municipalities and government
agencies - all request spatial information on our plant or rights-of-way. There are requests from
regulatory bodies for similar information - for approvals or permits for BC Hydro to do work.
Public relations needs to supply geographic information to the public to explain business
impacts or power restoration during storms.
Producing and supplying geographic information for these needs is a costly process when done
on an ad hoc basis. Any hardcopy that is produced is out of date the minute the ink is dry.
There are a lot of costs associated with the production, transfer, tracking, and storage of such
information. Electronic transfer of information can drastically reduce to time and cost of this
task, if proper standards are in place. This requires lots of hard workup front with external
parties but will be paid back many times over in the long term.
Source Information
Just as we supply geographic information to a great number of groups we also receive
information from them and others. Requests for service come in that require extension of plant
to serve customers. If the proper standards are in place we can utilize digital information from
them without having to duplicate their efforts for our needs. Data sharing with other utilities
during the design process is best done electronically. Requests for permits-to-construct are
quicker and more effective if done electronically. The technology is here to allow this to be
done if there are sufficient data standards in place.
Conclusion
Organizations recognize the need for being able to utilize spatial data to make them a more
competitive. There are obstacles to overcome to achieve this. Gathering, checking and storing
data is expensive and there is a desire to keep this information locally to protect it. The
business rules say that if you have spent money to acquire something then it has value and it
should only be parted with in exchange for large sums of money. This often causes others to
go their own way, and spend large sums of money to collect data to their own (different)
standards. With this approach the ability to work together becomes much more difficult, so
these protectionist short-comings must be overcome.
We must always keep our focus on the goal of being able to share as much information as we
can. This will help to keep the total cost down in the larger scheme of things and benefit society
at large.
We can all profit when we get closer to the point where we can say "the data is not yours, not
mine, but ours"!
