Meeting the Challenges of the National Pipeline Mapping System Through an Internet User Interface

Meeting the Challenges of the National Pipeline Mapping System Through an Internet User Interface

Peter Gottfried M.S., M.B.A
President
Natural Systems Analysts, Inc.
1331 Palmetto Avenue, Suite 210
Winter Park, Florida 32789

Abstract
The Florida Gas Transmission Company is preparing to meet the challenges of the proposed National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) by creating a user-friendly, Intra and Internet-based geographic information system (GIS) system from existing digital map sources. These digital sources were developed as part of an ongoing pipeline classification study aimed at determining population trends surrounding and density surrounding the existing 5000 mile natural gas pipeline that stretches from southern Texas to southern Florida. The NPMS is being created by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety to depict the location of natural gas transmission pipelines and hazardous liquid trunklines in the United States.

This presentation will focus on the 1) National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) system requirements, 2) basics of GIS, 3) conversion of existing digital data into GIS format, 4) preparing data for serving onto the Internet, and 5) the creation of a userfriendly client interface.

Although the initial goal of the GIS is to meet the needs of the NPMS, other benefits will accrue in the areas of improved management and operations of existing pipeline segments, emergency planning and response, identification of new natural gas markets, and environmental permitting efficiency through Intra and Internet services.

Introduction
Maps are essential to a growing number of organizations and individuals. From government agencies, real estate and development concerns to homebuyers and environmental organizations, maps based on geographical and demographic information are important tools in decision making at every level. Obtaining appropriate mapping information, however, can be difficult and expensive. The Internet is changing the way geo-spatial data is delivered to end-users. The web is giving more people access digital map data and satellite imagery simply and efficiently from one location without special software or hardware.

Natural Systems Analysts, Inc. is developing a GIS system for Florida Gas Transmission Company that will allow Intra and Internet usage by field , compliance, operations and IT professionals. Digital sources are being developed as part of 1) ongoing pipeline classification studies aimed at determining housing densities and 2) developing of a database for the National Pipeline Mapping System.. The NPMS is being created by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety to depict the location of natural gas transmission pipelines and hazardous liquid trunklines in the United States.

The end product will be a pipeline mapping system using a combination of ArcView and ArcIMS GIS software from ESRI.

This presentation will focus on the 1) the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) requirements, 2) basics of GIS, 3) conversion of existing digital data into GIS format, 4) preparing data for serving onto the Internet, 5) and the creation of a user-friendly client interface.

Although the initial goal of the GIS is to meet the needs of the NPMS, other benefits will accrue in the areas of improved management and operations of existing pipeline segments, emergency planning and response, identification of new natural gas markets, and environmental permitting efficiency.

The National Pipine Mappin System (NPMS)
The U.S. DOT Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) administers the national regulatory program to assure the safe and environmentally sound transportation of natural gas, liquefied natural gas and hazardous liquids by pipeline. The Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996 requires that OPS adopt rules requiring interstate gas pipeline operators to provide maps of their facilities to the governing body of each municipality in which the pipeline is located. OPS is also required to adopt rules requiring pipeline operators to identify facilities located in unusually sensitive areas and high density population areas, to maintain maps and records detailing that information, and to provide maps to federal and state officials upon request.

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.

Expectations: Pipeline awareness on pipelines is increasing. The public thinks we should have better information, and instant information.
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.
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.
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.
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:

Design a more accurate mapping system that shows the major pipelines & LNG facilities.
Implement a cost-effective method to exchange pipeline data.
Minimize burden on industry to supply data to multiple government agencies.
Increase ability to access information & respond to emergency situations.
Standardize pipeline location data.
Protect confidential & proprietary business information.

The NPMP will help to:
Provide a more comprehensive national picture of the nation’s pipelines & LNG facilities

Focus inspection resources
Plan for emergencies & natural disasters
Decide if or where extra safety & environmental precautions are needed
Exchange data with one another in a common format

NPMS Data Requirements
The Accountable Pipeline Safety & Partnership Act mandates that OPS adopt rules requiring pipeline operators to create & maintain accurate maps on:

Natural gas transmission pipelines.
Distribution pipelines.
Major liquid pipelines.

Under the mandatory rules developed by OPS, a description of each pipeline, including gathering lines, must be developed that includes an inventory of the age and material of the pipeline, leak history, diameter, products transported, and any other information OPS considers useful. Under voluntary participation, natural gas distribution pipelines are not included, as well as the age, material, and leak history. In addition, there is a target goal of 500 feet positional accuracy. The OPS has developed standards for pipeline and LNG Operator Submissions. Submission standards apply to attribute, geospatial and metadata. Final standards were published in March 1999.

GIS Mapping and the Internet
Natural Systems Analysts, Inc., a Florida-based environmental and mapping firm, and AeroView, a Texas-based aerial mapping firm, were contracted by the Florida Gas Transmission Company to map approximately 3000-miles of gas pipeline system from Louisiana to south Florida. The first step was to automate existing hardcopy maps into AeroView digital format, then convert these files into a GIS system such as ArcView GIS from the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

With AeroView, digital high-resolution overhead and ground photography is overlaid on the digital maps, showing the location and route of the pipeline. The proprietary software allows accessing and documenting locations and data bases that contain information about and on the pipeline and surrounding area (Figure 1). This information and photography is used for Class Analysis, One Call, documentation, emergency planning, training, and risk management. This information and photography can be used for Class Analysis, One Call, documentation, emergency planning, training, and risk management.

Figure 1. AeroView Interface

The ArcView GIS Process.

Once the AeroView system is functioning as a tool for classification studies, the digital data can be converting into ArcView shape files for the GIS system. GIS stands for geographic information system, which is a powerful mapping system that links map features to tables of attributes. One can access the attributes for any map feature or locate any feature from its attributes. With GIS you can present information as maps, analyze locations, find potential sites based on a set of criteria, integrate map s with information from other sources and update maps easily. ArcView GIS is one of the standard digital map formats recommended by the OPS with the National Pipeline Mapping System standards (Figure 2.)

Figure 2. ArcView Interface

The AeroView pipeline trail files are exported into a digital exchange file (.DXF) and converted into ArcView shape files. Database files for point features, such as houses, businesses, street intersections, etc., are exported into Microsoft Access format and imported into ArcView as dBASE (.DBF) files. These shape files are then added to the ArcView digital map as themes.

Once the AeroView digital files have been imported into the ArcView GIS format, positional accuracy is enhanced by using the USGS digital ortho quarter quadrangles (Figure 3). These scanned aerial photographs have a resolution of approximately one meter and a positional accuracy in Florida of one to two meters, well within the 500-foot accuracy requirements of the NPMS. Various pipeline features, such as valve locations and pump stations are added as point themes. In addition, pipeline laterals and mainlines are connected to make one seamless pipeline system.

Fig. 3. USGS DOQQs and satellite imagery help with positional accuracy.

Once the basic ArcView GIS system is developed, additional attribute data can be added as part of the NPMS. The data can also be easily copied to CD-ROM for distribution to the NPMS state or national repositories.

Intra and Internet Deployment
The growth of the Internet as a delivery mechanism for data an information has accelerated the development of web-based GIS systems. Companies such as ESRI, MapInfo, Inc., Formida, Intergraph, and AutoDesk have rolled out Internet map server technology over the last few years. We chose the ArcIMS product from ESRI to demonstrate the ability to serve pipeline information through the web. ArcIMS is a next generation product, replacing ArcView IMS and MapObjects IMS. The product is fully scalable at the client end, meaning that end users can use either a web browser to view served maps, or use Arc Explorer, ArcView or ArcINFO, depending on the user’s analytical needs.

ArcIMS is deployed on a web server that serves the various map layers out to Intra or Internet users. These layers can then be viewed, updated, or analyzed at the client side. A sample Java interface for the Florida Gas Transmission Company Gulf Coast Operations is shown in Figure 4. Clients have full query, search, geocoding and buffering tools available for each layer displayed.

Figure 4. Internet Browser displaying gas pipelines.

Web users can zoom to desired locations and query various data layers, such as this pipeline on Florida’s East Coast (Figure 5). Because the interface is written in Java, the client interface and analytical functions can e completely customized. More importantly, once the interface has been developed, end users can make better decisions without high training, personnel and technical costs.

Figure 5. Close-up of Pipelines along Florida East Coast

The Successful GIS
There are four decision drivers that should be considered in purchasing and installing a GIS system of electronic mapping and high-resolution digital photography.

Strategic: Does this service and product enhance our ability to conduct our business?
Economic: Is this decision based on expense reduction in the short and/or long term time frame? Or will this decision improve our ability to increase earnings?
Information: Will this product provide timely and value added information that will strengthen the ability to function effectively?
Regulatory: Is there a regulation or regulatory body that requires us to monitor and provide certain information, and as a result, effect how we conduct business?

In addition, a successful GIS implementation requires clear goals and objectives, an emphasis on the end user, a vision for applications besides satisfying regulatory requirements, an adequate budget and, most importantly, a champion within the organization.