Popular Acceptance of GIS through Implementation of an enterprise-wide view and query application at Reliant Energy
A Simplified GIS Viewing, Querying, Redlining and Plotting Tool
In addition to a core group of GIS data editors (approximately 100), Reliant currently has more than 1000 'viewers' of GIS data, and this number is continually growing. Current users represent many areas of the company--gas and electric engineering, communications, dispatching, planning, land and right-of-way, marketing, surveying, construction, operations and maintenance.
A large number of these viewers require additional functionality such as redlining and plotting. To accommodate these requirements, Reliant selected "GTI View", an inexpensive solution for providing many users with GIS capability, and worked closely with the vendor to develop the tool to meet their needs.
The tool provides basic GIS functionality (pan, zoom, and queries such as identify and locate) using files prepared in advance coverages or shape files. These are displayed with full cartographic quality. "Relates" are performed between spatial data layers and database tables; and sophisticated queries are performed including buffering, SQL expression queries, and interactive queries with a mouse. Additional features include an overview window showing the map extent, address matching, and reporting in a number of formats. The tool can be a stand-alone product or networked, and it is used in both capacities throughout Reliant. Data can be downloaded from an FTP server on the fly, on an asneeded basis. Vector image layers (HPGL2) are displayed, so that as you zoom in, the quality of the image does not diminish as with raster bitmap images. Used in conjunction with a gateway product, HTTP requests are sent to ArcInfo servers.
Full Cartographic Rendering
One of the dilemmas in providing desktop mapping functionality is the choice between software cost and the cartographic quality of the display. Most lightweight packages compromise cartographic quality in order to provide low cost. This problem is solved by rendering maps prepared in advance by heavyweight GIS software. The maps can be stored as raster images or as vector plot files. In either case, the map base is organized in a spatially continuous catalog structure that permits rapid and seamless display with full cartographic quality.
Users can pan and zoom just as they would ordinarily, but the display is generated very quickly and with the same detail you would expect from the more sophisticated but complex products.
Shape File Query and Rendering
In addition to displaying and rendering image and plot files, the tool can query and render shape files, providing the ability to render plot files with full cartographic detail and still query and highlight shape files.
Users can identify features by pointing at them, and the attribute values of the feature are displayed in a table. They also locate features by entering the attribute value of the item. The map automatically pans or zooms to display the feature. Features in the active layer can be selected and are highlighted in the map view.
Users construct queries using several methods, including queries to select map features by using Locate, Buffer, and Query buttons which we conveniently located on a tool bar.
