Abstract
Bord Gais Eireann – A gas utility responsible for the transmission and distribution of natural
gas in Ireland successfully implemented a corporate GIS within a two-year project period.
This paper recounts the BGE experience from the initial stages of learning about the relative
complexity of the technology, through acquiring a thorough understanding of the design and
planning process of GIS; by developing an implementation strategy that reflects the business
needs - focusing on the applications that deliver realistic benefits and by understanding the
complexity of data capture. The need for an effective management structure to deal with the
inevitable organizational conflict that arises on such projects had to be recognized, together
with the importance of utilizing a competent project management team. Finally ensuring the
readiness of personnel within the organization to embrace the technology.
The main conclusion in the paper is that given a systematic approach to GIS, the technology
can and does deliver the anticipated benefits to organisations, provided organizations apply
universally known methods of developing and managing projects including utilising the
necessary skills throughout the lifecycle of the project.
Introduction
The decision to implement a corporate GIS in not one that can be taken lightly, the cost of
implementation for even a medium sized organization can run in to millions of Euro/Dollars.
While the benefits of successful implementations are great, there are numerous GIS projects
that have failed to deliver anything like the anticipated benefits. Understandably organizations
are cautious and when they first begin examining the technology many find it difficulty to
distinguish between fact, fiction and reality. Bord Gais Eireann (BGE) is one such
organization. The early GIS projects BGE first looked at were less than impressive; in fact
some did not appear to deliver any tangible benefits. Yet there was much hype about the
wonders of GIS, which prompted BGE to further research GIS and widen their search of
organizations deploying the technology.
The approach taken by BGE to the implementation of GIS is broadly reflected in Figure 1
‘BGE’s GIS Implementation Planning Chart’
At the outset it should be noted that one of the most fundamental differences between a gas
distribution company and many other types of businesses is the gas distribution business is
‘asset/customer’ driven as compared to the normal ‘process/customer’ driven company. So
many of the real benefits from GIS can only be fully realised when all of the assets are in the
system. Therein lies one of the major challenges for any utility implementing GIS – capturing
the network and asset information in to GIS.
There is however a maze of other activities that must also be accomplished in order to reap
the benefits of GIS. Having the system incorporated into the organisation’s working
environment and achieving wide acceptance by users is the ultimate goal. To achieve this the
system must make data more manageable and provide rapid, easy access to information
across the organisation. It must integrate with legacy systems and improve the organisations
products and services. In short the GIS should deliver all the anticipated benefits and in
particular those specified.
Figure 1
