Preparing for Advanced Applications: How to Clean and Standardize Your GIS Data for Optimal Outage Management and Distribution Automation

Advanced applications such as Outage Management System (OMS), Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR), and Distribution Power Flow rely on high-quality GIS data to operate effectively. However, achieving a high level of data accuracy requires utilities to adopt best practices in data standardization and validation.

GIS data serves as the digital blueprint of a utility’s network, providing insights into the exact locations and relationships between assets such as transformers, poles, and distribution lines. Ensuring GIS data accuracy is a critical first step in preparing for automation and integration with Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS)  (See “Steps to Cleaning and Standardizing GIS Data for Advanced Applications” later in this article.)

The Benefits of High-Quality GIS Data

By taking the following steps to clean and standardize GIS data, utilities can unlock numerous operational benefits:

• Improved Outage Management: Accurate GIS data helps control room operators quickly locate faults and dispatch crews efficiently, reducing outage restoration times
• Enhanced Distribution Automation: Clean GIS data enables the seamless deployment of automated switching and fault isolation technologies
• Better Asset Management: Utilities can prioritize asset replacements and upgrades based on real-world conditions rather than estimates
• Increased Operational Efficiency: Automated validation and real-time data synchronization reduce the administrative burden of managing GIS records

Steps to Cleaning and Standardizing GIS Data for Advanced Applications

Based on insights and recommendations from the City of Fountain and Oakville Hydro, utilities can take the following steps to prepare their GIS data for advanced applications:

1. Conduct a Comprehensive GIS Audit
   
   A thorough review of existing GIS data is the first step in identifying inconsistencies, missing information, and inaccuracies. This includes verifying connectivity, ensuring that all assets are properly labeled, and checking for duplicate or outdated records.
    
2. Establish Data Standardization Protocols
   
   To maintain consistency, utilities should adopt standardized formats for asset naming conventions, attribute fields, and connectivity models. Standardization ensures that GIS data can be easily integrated with other utility systems like ADMS, SCADA, and Outage Management System (OMS).
    
3. Leverage Automation for Data Validation
   
   GIS data validation tools, such as the SurvalentONE GIS Wizard, can help automate the process of checking for errors and inconsistencies. These tools identify issues like incorrect phase assignments, missing connectivity links, and invalid device connections before they impact operations.
    
4. Integrate GIS Data with Field Operations
   
   Utilities should ensure that GIS data is updated in real time based on field inspections and asset changes. Oakville Hydro, for example, uses digital tools to capture inspection data and sync it with their GIS system. “We transitioned from paper-based records to digital mapping software, which has significantly improved our ability to track asset conditions and schedule proactive maintenance,” McMullin shared.
    
5. Train Staff on GIS Best Practice
   
   Ensuring that GIS analysts, engineers, and field crews are well-versed in data validation and mapping techniques is crucial. Training programs should emphasize the importance of maintaining data accuracy and using spatial analytics to inform decision-making.
    

Lessons from the City of Fountain: A Case Study in GIS Data Validation

The City of Fountain recognized early on that maintaining high-quality GIS data was essential for ensuring effective utility operations. By leveraging the SurvalentONE GIS Wizard, the utility was able to efficiently identify and address GIS discrepancies.

David Woolley, GIS Analyst at the City of Fountain, emphasized the importance of regular data validation. “Once a month, we rerun the process to make sure our datasets are clean. At this point, it only takes fifteen minutes,” he explained. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of incorrect data impacting operational decision-making.

A major benefit of the City of Fountain’s GIS cleanup initiative was its impact on outage management. “Data cleanup is important because we’re trying to keep the lights on,” the GIS Analyst noted. “We’ve got crews out there at two in the morning, and if we’re providing them with inaccurate information, the work takes longer, plus it’s more expensive and difficult.”

Oakville Hydro’s Spatial Data Intelligence Initiative

Oakville Hydro has taken a strategic approach to improving GIS data accuracy through a spatial data intelligence initiative. This initiative has helped the utility integrate GIS data into decision-making processes, benefiting both field operations and control room personnel.

Cody McMullin, Supervisor of Assets and Spatial Data at Oakville Hydro, highlighted how accurate spatial data improves response times and reliability. “By focusing on spatial data, it helps provide more accurate data for our control room and ultimately improves response time and reliability for our customers.”

One key advantage of Oakville Hydro’s approach has been its ability to visualize trends and optimize asset management. “Spatial data initiatives help us gather field data to better improve our asset information and then showcase it in our mapping software,” McMullin stated. “This allows us to produce more detailed maps that we can give to our engineering planners, our operations crew, and our control room operators.”

The experience of utilities like the City of Fountain and Oakville Hydro demonstrates how strategic GIS data improvements can lead to enhanced operational efficiency, reduced downtime, and better-informed decision-making. By proactively addressing GIS data quality, utilities can streamline their transition to advanced grid management technologies.

Survalent’s GIS Data Evaluation Service

GIS data quality is key to unlocking the full potential of advanced applications such as SurvalentONE FLISR, Power Flow, and OMS. Survalent offers a GIS data evaluation service, providing utilities with an assessment of their GIS data quality and its readiness for integration into the SurvalentONE ADMS. This service includes a review of supported data formats (GNM and UNM) and GIS workshops where findings are shared with the customer, helping them make informed improvements.

By taking proactive steps to clean and standardize GIS data today, utilities can position themselves for success in the rapidly evolving energy landscape. Whether preparing for outage management improvements, deploying advanced distribution automation, or integrating renewable energy, high-quality GIS data is a key requirement.

Take the Next Step Toward a More Intelligent Grid

Accurate GIS data is the key to unlocking the full potential of modern utility applications. By implementing best practices in GIS data validation and standardization, utilities can streamline their operations and improve service reliability.

Ready to enhance your GIS data quality? Contact Survalent today to learn how our solutions can help you optimize your grid management strategy and prepare for the future of advanced utility applications.