Gas Utility Completes Geospatial Conversion and Acronym (AM/FM/GIS/Cad/CIS/GPS) Integration
Phased Implementation - Phase 1, Landbase Prepawtion and Win-Win Cost Sharing Partnerships
Phase I of the conversion process was the preparation of a detailed landbase covering our gas service territory based on aerial photogrammetry referenced to the New York State Plane Coordinate System, North American Datum of 1983(NAD83). The value of a detailed accurately developed set of base maps had been proven previously in our expansion projects.
A coordinated effort with the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) in 1992 as part of the High Accuracy Recovery Network (HARN) Global Positioning System (GPS) helped develop the backbone of a survey control network throughout NYSEG’S service territory.
Soon after this network was completed we entered into cooperative, cost sharing, data sharing projects that would provide Tompkins County, Broome County, Niagara Mohawk, NYSEG and the Southern Tier Association of Professional Land Surveyors with many fond memories and several geodetic grade survey control networks. NYSEG then completed the entire GPS densification network required for the photogrammetric ground control. The entire network consists of more than 1200 control points.
Aerial photography for our service territory was started in April of 1993 and photogrammetric mapping contracts were released and awarded based on price and professional merit. The GPS survey control points were all pre-targeted prior to aerial photography to assist in photo control identification.
Digital photogrammetric landbase summary:
Captured features include: buildings, roads, right-of-way, poles, water, railroads,
bridges, manholes, hydrants, catch basins, large trees, fence lines. Scale: 1“=50”
Knowing we were attempting an expensive base map preparation program, we initiated the first of several county’s joint mapping projects. One of these was with Tompkins County, in partnership with seven initial partners, including a major university. The entire partnership’s atmosphere was based on an economy of scale cost saving project, shared costs and services which created a win-win project that continues to this day. The principles of a landbase that everyone could use to reference each departments data to was not only a well founded principle but one that has proven it’s worth many times. This joint mapping project was in keeping with NYSEG’S long standing tradition of community project participation. All participants showed a willingness to participate both financially and through shared services. The installation of a GPS reference network of survey control monuments used as the photogrammetric ground control required for the county mapping project was one of the first shared services agreements
that was completed.
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