Meeting the Challenges of the National Pipeline Mapping System Through an Internet User Interface
The needs for the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) are rooted in changing
technologies, increased public awareness, new risk management processes, and
changing organizational structures.
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Expectations: Pipeline awareness on pipelines is increasing. The public
thinks we should have better information, and instant information.
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Credibility: As pipeline awareness has increased, coalitions have formed to
express concerns. OPS, its state partners, and the pipeline industry have to
be able to communicate a rational basis for our decisions. We have to be
proactive, or someone else will tell the story his or herb way.
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Technology: Technology is changing and the public expects OPS to change
with technology. Access to information and the technology to obtain
information is greater than ever before. Mapping should lead to
understanding, not just at the national level, but at the state and local
neighborhood level.
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Changing Organizational Structures: With decentralization, regional and state
organizations need additional support to make effective and efficient
decisions. We think mapping will assist management in making these
decisions and will set up a common framework for making these decisions.
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Alternative Regulatory Approaches: Where OPS in the past has issued
prescriptive regulations, alternative regulatory approaches are now possible.
We can now look at risk assessment, risk management, and system integrity
inspection approaches which provide greater flexibility and greater safety and
environmental protection.
Once completed the National Pipeline Mapping System will contain location and
attribute data on natural gas transmission pipelines, hazardous liquid trunklines and
LNG facilities. No data will be necessary for gathering line or distribution lines. The
NPMS will also contain other data layers such as 1) unusually sensitive areas,
population densities, natural disaster probability and consequences, and other
transportation networks. OPS will create these layers or will obtain them from other
government agencies or sources.
The ability to assess safety has been inhibited by a lack of a common pipeline
system that can be viewed by our regional offices, those in headquarters, and our
state pipeline safety partners. Central access - it’s important to centralize reporting
and information sharing to promote information coordination. Having the same
access to information and the ability to share data in a timely manner will help us
promote collaborative partnerships with all parties.
To improve analysis capabilities disparate data from annual reports, incident
information, OPA spill response plans, and inspections need to be linked. The
“What if” scenarios do happen. The ability to depict areas around event scenes and
quickly communicate information back and forth with our partners is of vital
importance.
There is also a need to support protective action decisions and defend the allocation
of resources where impact is the greatest.
The effectiveness of the NPMS will be judged based on the following factors:
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Design a more accurate mapping system that shows the major pipelines &
LNG facilities.
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Implement a cost-effective method to exchange pipeline data.
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Minimize burden on industry to supply data to multiple government agencies.
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Increase ability to access information & respond to emergency situations.
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Standardize pipeline location data.
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Protect confidential & proprietary business information.
The NPMP will help to:
Provide a more comprehensive national picture of the nation’s pipelines & LNG
facilities
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Focus inspection resources
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Plan for emergencies & natural disasters
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Decide if or where extra safety & environmental precautions are needed
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Exchange data with one another in a common format
