Mapping and GIS

Up-to-date mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) are key to any utility's business. These software applications store and map a vast amount of information about the utility's electric system and outside plants. They also provide the foundation data that utility personnel and applications across the organization typically require from the GIS.

For maximum value, GIS needs to become one of the most integrated applications at the utility. Many business processes or systems are impacted by or depend on GIS. Examples include field design or staking, outage management systems, maps for line personnel, the electric system model for system planning, inventory systems, asset accounting, and others.

The services of Power System Engineering, Inc. (PSE) include:

• Developing the business case for a new GIS, add-on applications and interfaces.
• Estimating impacts on utility staff resources during implementation and post-implementation.
• Pre-screening possible vendors.
• Developing procurement specifications and completing a request for proposal (RFP) including terms and conditions.
• Analyzing vendor responses and facilitating scoring exercises.
• Supporting detailed design during system staging.
• Seeking technical and business clarifications from vendors and overseeing contract development.
• Providing project management assistance as necessary and when it is beneficial for successful project implementation.
• Assisting with implementation tasks including testing of interfaces.
• Providing hands-on system configuration and integration services (e.g., databases and interfaces).
• Supporting system functional and performance testing.
• Providing training to utility staff to assure proper use of the outage system to achieve the intended results.