Distributed GIS Data
Next Generation
There was a growing user community that had business requirements that were not
satisfied by this viewer approach. They wanted a seamless viewing strategy with the
capability of some user view control through the use of layering.
In 2000, the next step was taken to satisfy these users.
Since the electronic viewing of the hpgl plot files was possible, and these were regular,
scaled geographies that plot files were being created for, it was possible to stitch these
together and create a seamless view using this viewing technology. This provided the
opportunity to map the pen calls out of the hpgl plot files to layers in the viewer. Since
there was a process in place that created the plot files and prepared them for viewing,
the same process was used to create the plot files that were the input for the WEPCO
viewer project.
The viewer system also views both WEPCO geographic information systems along with
images attached to features and/or geography or unattached images.
This also was an opportunity to add tabular GIS data and CSS (customer) data to the
viewing scheme by associating the data to the geography by it’s x,y location. This
integrates company data under one application while the maintenance and storage of
the data takes place in its native applications. The interfaces are extractions from the
native databases and do not cause the native applications to have any performance
issues. The viewing database is insular from the native databases.
Communication & Iimplementation
Communication and solicitation of user requirements is critical to the success of this
kind of project with a user community of this size, variety and dispersion.
During the user requirement determination stage of this project, areas were targeted
that would provide an accurate barometer for proceeding with development and
implementation of this project. This included Marketing, Planning, Design, Construction,
Maintenance, Analysis and Asset Management. Meetings took place with these groups
to provide demonstrations of the application along with an opportunity for the users to
give feedback. The requirements and opportunities were determined in concert with
these groups. The “Joint Governance” committees were involved in requirement
determination. This was a group composed of represented and non-represented people
that had a stake in the project.
Phase I
In 2000, WEPCO piloted the viewer with “Milwaukee Underground”. These were
construction people that installed and maintained the manhole and conduit system in
the dense areas of the cities. These people had special requirements because of the
density of their geography and the varied source data that they needed to get their job
done. This allowed for the extension and testing of the viewer application and it’s
functionality. The project included the development of the viewer application and the
rollout of 11 laptops to the Milwaukee Underground lead people.
