Cornice Engineering

Specifying and Deploying Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Modern mapping systems offer utilities much more than just the ability to automate the production of paper maps. A properly deployed GIS enables the utility to visually display, manipulate, and analyze its electric facilities, customer locations, jurisdictional boundaries, maintenance history, project status, and demographic data. Such capabilities are powerful tools to facilitate cost reductions and efficiency improvements. When properly implemented and integrated with other data-intensive applications in a utility, a GIS can yield both economic and customer service benefits, but poor choices can result in an expensive and virtually unusable system.

Cornice Engineering personnel have had long-term involvement with GIS systems. In 1998 Cornice developed the methodology that remains the standard approach to optimized GIS deployment. It resulted in the publication of the book Deployment of Mapping Systems in Distribution Cooperatives by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Cornice Engineering provides the following services to assist its clients to wisely choose and deploy mapping systems:

Establishing realistic goals for the GIS project.
Preparing comprehensive GIS feasibility and economic studies.
Assisting the utility to inventory existing data sources that might contribute to a company-wide GIS.
Determining the likely costs of deployment of a GIS.
Estimating the benefits that might accrue from its deployment.
Determining the required and desired features of the mapping package.
Evaluating potential vendor offerings with respect to the client’s technical requirements and budgetary restrictions.
Developing management, accounting and customer service applications for the GIS.
Determining new capabilities available to the utility as a result of deploying a GIS.
Assisting Rural Utilities Service borrowers to apply for possible RUS funding available for GIS implementations. For more information on this issue see: http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric/gis/financing.htm.
Further technical recommendations regarding:

Appropriate map formats and grid systems
Cost-effective choice of landbase data
Choice among potential means of creating facilities data in electronic format, including digitizing, scanning and the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) field inventory
Establishment of map maintenance and updating procedures
Mapping system integration with external data applications

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