Development of a GIS Within a Water Company

Development of a GIS Within a Water CompanyIntroductionGeographic nurture systems (GIS) confirm every mean solar day, and with increasing popularity, that they are some essential tools for storing, managing, processing and correspondping a large amount of georeferenced data, which related to a database shape a given geographicalal space. The increasingly widespread social function of personal computers, along with a greater choice by parcel manufacturers allow an item, previously modified to powerful computers, send word be treated by a large number of use of goods and servicesrs.Geographic education systems make possible, among early(a) things, the ability to extract distinguishable layers of thematic education relating to a particular spatial area, as well as all kinds of analysis and diagnosis in areas as diverse as territorial supplying, or the environment or contestment resources This report aims to examine the development of a geographic in stageion system insid e an organisation. More specifically it is a water bon ton, as might be the case of Thames Water. This report will go into the operation of a large water company. The nature of the breeding included into geographic information system is varied. For example, data from network infrastructure projects are used as well as a geographical aspect, much(prenominal) as hydrologic basin boundaries, water bodies and other In this company there is also administrative information such as databases related to public use of water resources in a basin. Another type of information made available is the satellite image.For the development of the geographic information system it has been necessary to carefully define its own infrastructure of all the components involved in the process.These components arecomputer hardware, storage, software, information structure in a server (done in a expressive style that stinker be cost effective), tools for accessing and updating. Thus, it allows system us ers to access all information related to use them in tasks of water centering. The idea of the implementation of a geographic information system in the company aims to provide technological and methodological solutions to the tasks of water management. The geographic information system is established to respond to questions that are not predefined in advance.BackgroundAn initial analysis of the company gives an idea of its size, and in base to this, the kind of infrastructure is chosen. Also, an study of the resources available is needed in rig to meet the requirements of GIS that the company has. Services are put in place regarding maintenance of the geo-referenced information infrastructure maintenance Within a water company, want Thames Water, several activities related to water management are summarised next in order to give examples of need for a GIS. First, there is a need to manage water resources, the public usage of water, water supply infrastructure and reservoirs GIS can help in the creation and implementation of water policies. Carry out the brass of public water usage and manage the use of water. Manage the implementation of works and water infrastructure, coordinate the exploitation and management of works and projects. Manage the recruitment, management and control of the earnings in the company A mobile system that reinforce the departments ability to manage field resources and service orders (Jacobs, D. et al., 2007)GIS sourcesAs mentioned earlier, the company deals with information from different sources, each with its particular characteristicsinformation from infrastructure projects and other projects and other immediately related to the natural environment, information from information systems information from satellite resourcefulness and derived crossways. Information from infrastructure projects and other projects and other directly related to the natural environment The projects that the company deals with generate a lot o f geographic information major(ip) infrastructure projects (for example, water supply), environmental monitoring and planning (like flood zones and evacuation routes map (Mioc, 2008) and reference maps on issues relating directly to the environment (for example maps of rivers or watersheds).in one case the company receives the information, the administrator of GIS adds value to information. One example is the case of water supply infrastructure establishing topology, and enabling queries of what happens at certain point. Information from other systemsThe GIS of the company uses data from other information systems. The GIS software of the company is linked to external databases. Through database connectivity the company have access to information on Oracle format and Access format that contain administrative information with the records of the actions of the public with water resources (for example consume, discharges, building permits, etc..).It is also linked to other information s ystems with information directly related to the physical environment (network information system of surface water control)The company databases are based on a relational data amaze where data is stored in two dimensions tables. In this counseling theses tables are related and contain records for one entity. The company databases are also based in a georelational model where the tables are linked and contain data like topology, attributes etc.Using SQL language the company can query the data from the database and in this commission can generate maps and tables with the information required by the users. The integration between databases and GIS software allows the end user to represent the elements of the database on a map, in that way many layers o different maps can be opened and overlaid and geographical relations between the elements mapped can be checked.The company uses Automated map/Facilities solicitude AM/FM. With this application the non geographic and the geographic i nformation can be integrated in one. The information of the company database is geocoded with the postcode address of their home. The process to geocode can be tedious, so another company does it. Once the information is geocoded analysis can be under taken combined with other maps overlaid like a city map for instance. Like this the company can undertake different tasks. Information from satellite images and derived products Another type of information that makes use of GIS is the remote sensing information. Through contracts with other companies water company regularly receives processed images from satellites such as Landsat or SPOT. The images are geometrically and radiometrically corrected, the metadata is completed and is integrated into the GIS.The images are produced as a product of great visual interest. Compositions are created with true colour and false colour, easily accessible guide maps are made for quick access to view the images. This information is also used to trac k water requirements of crops, monitoring of snow cover and monitoring of water quality along the coast. On products derived from monitoring the area are creating databases, initially simple, storing the information, and are creating management tools to generate reports, graphs and maps to access quickly.On products derived from monitoring the area databases are created, that store the information, and management tools are created to generate reports, graphs and maps to access quickly. Maps can be created using this information of humidity index, cadastral parcels with water content, evapotranspiration, etc.. One of the problems that the company is facing is the lack of knowledge of the resources of remote sensing data.The GIS and external signal detection software used have been chosen according to the needs of the company the key points when deciding which software to use in the company are which benefits the software offer, the profile of users who will use it is also key, num ber of licenses needed and the price is also important.The technology is used by the company is ESRI because offers a high cognitive operation level in GIS for example, has the necessary tools for analysis and interfaces hydraulic and hydrologic modelling (very important for a water company) and also offers the possibility of programming highly customized interfaces that are oft very friendly welcome by users, but the disadvantage is its high cost that can limit the number of licenses.HardwareFor hardware, the company has chosen to use a high-powered server as the company is a large size company and the amount of map information generated is very large. It is very important to choose a high performance hardware because as a large company, the amount of data to be processed is very high. When choosing the hardware is taken into account the time factor as the large amount of data that is received daily makes essential a technology that can provide mid-term capacity. Besides, the har dware has to respond to the addition of new series of maps and the continuing contribution of remote sensing imagery.It is essential to manage the huge volumes of geographical data in a efficient and effective way if the GIS is to be cost justified. Apart from hardware and software the structure of the data is also very important.The access to the information has to be loose to the users and also the maintenance and update. Information must be stored in a way that is structured in a objective way, scalable and easy to add new information.The structure of the data have been created according to the major thematic areas within the company. Here are the big four groups where the data has been divide into Mapping managementmaps and databases that include elements of the dominion directly involved in the management, control, planning and land always in relation to the water business. These maps are generated within the company. (watershed, sewage systems, etc.). Thematic Mappingmappin g not linked to the water business, but that is related to environmental issues that the company is related to like natural reserves, Mapping of referencemap collections supplied by the Ordnance Survey (all sort of maps, from topographic to aerial photo rectified Other mappingmaps and databases of a part of the territory administered by the company, this mapping may also come from other entities as a result of specific studiesThose who do easier tasks they dont need a full training on GIS and Remote Sensing because probably they are not going to use it, but what it is important is that these users have a personalised training on the task that are going to perform normally.For this reason within the company some personalised training is undertaken. Also step by step manuals describing the processes and above all the GIS office of the company is conducting ongoing advice on issues of GIS and Remote Sensing to the entire company.ConclusionsCurrently the GIS is an essential tool in the in the day to day in the company. Work of different sorts relating the water is undertaken with GIS. The GIS model of the company has allowed, despite some problems, enhance in each of the workspaces GIS as a tool for management, planning and analysis.Jacobs, D., Souza F., Ramey R. GIS to the Rescue Water Wastes Digest February 2007 Volume 47 Number 2Darka Mioc, Franois Anton and Gengsheng Liang On-line Street Network Analysis for FloodEvacuation Planning Remote Sensing and Gis Technologies for Monitoring and Prediction of Disasters. Berlin Springer, 2008. Pages219-242