Gemini project - Integrated solution for operation centers
Gemini project
Gemini is an integrated project for mapping and management of the electricity distribution system. The main
goals are the production and update of mappings (Cartor Module) and the storage, update and use of the
electrical network data to support the planning, design, maintenance and operation activities (Prolux Module).
The main emphasis is on the operation of the distribution system.
The system emphasizes geographical functions and modeling of the distribution networks, in the form of the
AM - Automated Mapping and FM - Facilities Management, running under Windows NT, on a client-server
architecture. It is a low-cost platform that allows a perfect matching between resources and the size of the
database, being easily scalable: the same software is installed at small computers serving small cities and NT
clusters for reliable operation at larger centers.
The system has been completely developed by using object-oriented methodologies, and supports the main
databases in the market, making it easily adaptable to cities of several magnitudes. We're now using Oracle
database for the major cities and Interbase for all others, due to price and support issues.
The Gemini Project has two main modules named CARTOR and PROLUX.
The Cartor Module corresponds to obtaining and updating the cartographic bases in digital media, and is a
customization of the existing CAD software.
The Prolux Module, which corresponds to the management of the distribution network, has been entirely
developed by the company's team to better meet the electrical distribution needs.
Cartor Module
This module helps obtain and maintain the maps used in the electrical distribution activities. Cartor is the tool
used to transfer the main existing cartographic documents to digital media, so that the Prolux Module could
use them as a base for plotting the electrical network. It also allows mapping updates through many data
acquisition techniques, such as topography, aerophotogrametry, satellites geodesics and GPS (Global
Positioning System).
It has been developed by using the Microstation CAD and its intrinsic Basic language. The customization
placed a standard for the digital maps at the distribution departments of the company, establishing 49 specific
levels of information grouped in 9 classes: field support, road system, hydrographic system, buildings, text,
vegetation, altimetry, streets and geo-reference.
The Cartor Module has support for "heads-up" vectoring, and coordinates transformations to convert the
previous paper maps into the UTM coordinate system.
All urban maps of the company are now in digital format. The system has shown an 80% reduction in time
and costs regarding office work. This figure corresponds to about 50% reduction of final costs for the whole
mapping process.
Prolux Module
The Prolux Module is aimed at the management of the electrical network, integrating in the data model all the
necessary entities to describe the entire distribution network, so as to support the operation, design, planning,
construction and maintenance activities of the electric distribution system.
The cartographic information generated and updated by the Cartor module is integrated seamlessly with
Prolux's distribution network data. It's also possible to display two different levels of raster images below the
mapping layer, allowing the use of orthophotos and systematic mappings.
All the information is stored in a UTM reference system that is graphically represented inside a continuous
space of coordinates in the UTM fuse, allowing continuous zoom scales.
Fig. 1 - Prolux: Key Map and 3 Normal views in different scales.
The leftmost shows a query popup menu.
