Project Title:

Training Course on the Application of GIS for Intelligent Electric Distribution Data Management

Aim:

Develop geospatial skills for intelligent, effective and efficient Electric Distribution Data Management

Objectives:

• It allows for technical staff from public or private sectors, or experts, or government officials to learn applicable and universal method and model in Electric Distribution Data Management.

• Be able to map electric distribution systems, edit data, view electric maps in the field and office, view asset reports, and collaborate with map notes.

• It will facilitate technological cooperation and advance public awareness in this field.

• Display, manipulate, create and organize data layers in a GIS environment.

• Use GIS to answer specific spatial questions.

• Carry out mapping of electrical utilities.

After the training, it is expected that organizations with no spatial electricity data can immediately begin mapping their electric systems using Global Positioning System (GPS) or digitizing data with web or desktop software. Organizations with existing spatial electric data can load it and begin implementation of GIS-based Electric Distribution Data Management.

Preamble:

Electric utilities rely on GIS to be an authoritative repository of information about their distribution systems. This information is used for many purposes including creating interactive system maps, asset management, representing the current operational state of the network, supporting electric modelling, outage management, capital planning, field work, reporting, and stakeholder communication. Electric utilities typically map their distribution systems at the individual asset level or as a utility network. Mapping electric distribution systems at an individual asset level gives utilities the ability make interactive maps and dashboards of their systems, support operations, and manage assets. Going beyond individual asset level mapping and representing electric distribution system as a utility network provides utilities with a digital twin that contains all the individual assets plus behaves like the system is constructed and operates in the real works. Representing how the individual assets work together as a utility network enables more powerful analytics. Modern electric utilities who wish to map their assets need a system that can be rapidly deployed, easily supports data collection and ongoing data maintenance, provides simple to use interactive maps and dashboards, and is securely available in the office in and in the field. To help utilities achieve this, Geographic information system (GIS) is applied. Geographic information systems provide an excellent medium for data integration and a basis for a spatial decision-support system. A GIS supports decision-making by providing ways to examine and choose among alternative solutions, and takes decision-makers beyond the point of simply possessing data, information, and knowledge. It provides unparalleled tools for measuring performance and outcomes with rich analysis and visualizations. Collaboration tools simplify communication with stakeholders and decision-makers. In recent years, the population growth in urban areas of Nigerian cities has resulted in an increase in demand for electricity in a dispersed manner, bringing challenges to the planning of distribution systems to supply this demand. In addition, incentives for the installation of distributed generation make it necessary to carry out analyses with a spatial perspective to determine the places of impact in the electricity distribution networks. Geographic information systems are computational tools that allow the processing of data with geographic reference. These systems can collaborate in the visualization of the socioeconomic characteristics and the variables distributed in the zone of study, being able to provide information to the distribution planners.

Key Benefits of GIS For Electric Utilities:

There are many ways your field operations and overall collaboration can benefit from GIS and Cloud GIS apps:

• Cutting Costs by Going Paperless

• Real-time insight – instantly available

• Instant feedback from the field

• React instantly to a project issue

• Maintenance, quality control, plan ahead

• All in one solution – upload data / collect, sharing, publishing, collaboration

Key Features of GIS For Electric Utilities:

Spatial Data Analysis-

Spatial analytics is one of the important key aspects for electric utility operations. To look on the patterns and correlations of different types of geodata like land, weather, terrain, assets etc. will be increasingly important. Power-related analytics with geospatial components which includes load flow analysis network fault tracing, condition-based maintenance, real-time disaster situational awareness, and vegetation management.

Mapping of Network-

The complete electrical network and network route can be surveyed through high precision DGPS instrument, digitized and mapped on a suitable scale over the base map using suitable GIS software, accordingly the day to day changes in the network can be timely corrected updated on a periodic basis. Through software application, queries can be generated to find out the network details like the specifications of network elements, the length of feeders, number of transformers and breakers on any section of the network and any other such information as may be suited.

Customer Information Management System-

GIS provides the complete information of the consumer and the network map leading to the source from where the consumer is getting electricity. This information can be used for Energy Audit, Load Management, Network Planning and analysis, etc.

Training Description

The proposed training course is designed to introduce electric distribution company staff to the fundamentals of GIS and applications in Electric Distribution Data Management. Short presentations on geospatial background topics are followed by targeted hands-on exercises which introduce participants to GIS software interfaces, spatial data types, spatial data formats, map templates, map symbology, and map layouts; and later include the manipulation of data layers, map symbology, rudimentary spatial analysis, data creation, and editing, making queries. Introduction to data capture with GPS and integration with GIS. Participants will use GIS software and existing spatial data to create maps. The course will also include the creation of a final mapping project using data used and/or created during the training.

Beneficiaries and Output

The outputs of the training course will be files to be used during the training course, the expertise and experiences in this regard to be summarized in the final report. Through full discussion and communication on the training course, participants will greatly benefit from the information and expertise exchanges. The training files will provide some applicable and useful processing methods and calculation models for the application of GIS for Electric Distribution Data Management. Participants at all levels will benefit from the training course to enhance capacity to deal with the problems in related field and push forward the extension of related technologies.

Target Group

• Electric Distribution Company staff, GIS specialists, technicians, and others who are interested in utilizing geospatial skills for Electric Distribution Data Management.

Prerequisite Qualification and Training

• Basic computer knowledge is recommended but no prior knowledge of GIS is required.

Delivery

Instructor-led hands-on training

Hardware

Suitable laptop computer, mouse, GPS device.

Software

• ArcGI, QGIS, Google Earth. 

• FTP client software  (examples: FileZilla, WinSCP)

• Internet service

Location

To be discussed

Course Level

National, State or LGAs.