GIS for Utilities
Discussion
Agenda
• The Role of FOSS in GIS for Utilities
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PostGIS/PostgreSQL
QGIS-Desktop
QGIS-Server
QGIS-Cloud
QGIS-Web-Client
QGIS-GRASS+R
• The Role of GIS/RS unit in the heart Utilities
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Billing
Assets Register
Maintenance Scheduler
Network Modeling/Simulation
• Sharing
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Data
Knowledge
Source Code
Information
Abstract:
In the Pacific region, Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) are increasingly being
recognized as essential tool-sets for planning and development that can allow Utilities to better manage their
assets in order to make well-informed planning and strategic action decisions.
For more than 15 years of experience in the Utilities sector using GIS/RS tools for assets management and
planning, I feel the full capacity of GIS/RS is not fully utilised and sometimes not fully understood by executive
level on how powerful these tool-sets are for the successful operation and sustainability of the utility.
Most utilities have several specialised information systems to empower the services they provide for their
customers, suppliers and stakeholders. These include Finance Systems, Cashier, Billing Systems, Assets
Register, Schedule Maintenance, Supply and Demand Forecasting and Network Modelling/Simulation, etc. In
the mists of all these systems are the GIS/RS tools to support all these segregated systems.
However, day to day operations and procedures seems to neglect the GIS/RS component and in most cases the
“cart is pulled before the horse” and the GIS unit is chasing after other systems for updates instead of dictating
the data/information updates and procedures.
This paper will put GIS/RS at the heart of utilities operation and will dictate data flow and operating procedures
thus integrating all other systems as one cohesion centralised GIS/RS system.