Improving Pipeline Management with Mobile and Web Based GIS

Jeff Coffey, TRWDFernando DeVivo, TRWDRobert Finkle, IT NexusBrian Besier, IT Nexus

• Utilities/Asset Mgmt.

• Property Mgmt & Land Acquisition.

• Hydrologic Modeling & Studies.

• Floodway Maintenance Mgmt.

• Future Water Supply Studies.

• Lake and Shoreline Mgmt.

• Provide GIS support to Real Estate, Environmental, Engineering, & Operations Divisions through desktop, mobile and web based mapping applications

Use of GIS at TRWD

GIS and TRWD Pipeline Operations

• Pipeline system consists of 180+ miles of underground largediameter  (72”-108”)  PCCP  and  steel  pipes.  Approximately  34,000  individual  20’-24’  pipe  segments.

• Approximately 800 appurtenances (valves and manholes) and 700 cathodic protection test stations

• 15 full time field pipeline operators, and up to an additional 20-40 personnel assigned to pipeline during repairs/breaks

• Multiple TRWD Departmental Stakeholders:

- Engineering: Design, Integrity, Water Supply, Operations- Real Property: Permitting, Land Acquisition, Notifications- Western\Eastern Operations: Maintenance, Operations

TRWD Pipeline Operations Overview

As-Built Plans (Dated 1972)

TRWD GIS Pipeline Operations

Benefits of a GIS Approach

• A centralized, enterprise geodatabase of pipeline features was very  beneficial,  but  having  “just”  a  database  didn’t  address  all  information management challenges.

• Business-driven desktop, web, and mobile applications were needed to bridge the information gap between field workforce and office personnel.

TRWD Pipeline Operations

Field Office

GIS Data Collection

GIS Data Support

TRWD Pipeline Information Flow

TRWD FieldMapper

• A customizable, modular field mapping application developed for field data viewing, collection, and remote geodatabasesynchronization

• Ability  to  add  “modules”  or  “extensions”  for  business-specific functions

TRWD Pipeline Operations

TRWD Mobile Field

Mapping System

TRWD Mobile Field Mapping System

Primary Elements of the TRWD Pipeline Cathodic Protection Program

Anodes

Test Station

Anode Wires

ROW Boundary

X X X X

TriCorderInstrument

Sampling Wand

Test Station

Copper Wire

10 Ft. Increment

TRWD Pipeline

0.25X: 2324567Y:7874562

(Wire Spool)

1) Cathodic Protection Features

2) Analyses of System Performance

Cathodic Protection Extension - TRWD FieldMapper

• Extension to the TRWD Mobile Field Mapping system that gives field personnel the ability to manage cathodic protection information

- Retrieve historical test station readings- Add/Modify test station readings- Create new test station features- Create new anode bed features

TRWD Pipeline Operations - Solutions

Cathodic Protection Extension

TRWD Cathodic Protection Extension

- Add New Anode Bed- Edit Existing Anode Bed

- Perform Test Station Maintenance and collect a current Test Station Reading- Add a new Test Station

TRWD Cathodic Protection Field Management Extension

TRWD Pipeline Operations - Solutions

Pipe to Soil Data Management Toolsa) Import Toolb) Pipe to Soil Visualization Tool

Sampling Wand

Hexcorder

Copper WireSpool

Wire DispensingUnit

Test Station

Raw Data from AquaCalc

Dale/Joe ExportsAquaCalc .CSVfile to Excel formatting data intocolumns.

Dale/Joe emailsExcel file to Courtney

Dale/Joe reviews data values, deleting bad values, adds Old Stationing Values & graphs to observe trends

Courtney reviews file & determines which pipeline & section the Pipe2Soil Readings relate to.

Courtney removes all ancillary data: 1) Lat,Lon2) UTC Time3) Altitude4) PDOP5) # Satellites6) Base ID7) Comment

Courtney preserves:1) Old Stationing Values2) Reading (not consistent)3)date of Reading

Courtney Runs Macros to:1) Round OLD Stationing Values to 10 foot intervals.2) Create consistent readings (remove  “-”,  add  decimal,  etc.)3) Joins Pipe2Soil readings to Master Excel Spreadsheet via Old Stationing Values, per Pipeline and Section

Courtney  QC’s  datato make sure that the Pipe2Soil readings are at the correct Old Stationing locations in the Excel Spreadsheet.

Courtney adds new Pipe2Soil readings to Master Graph in Excel Spreadsheet for Pipeline and Section

Complete workflow of information from field-to-office to decision-makers was inefficient

Ability to analyze and interpret P2S values from multiple surveys over multiple locations was cumbersome.

Collection of Pipe to Soil Spreadsheets

Pipe to Soil Readings Graph

Pipe to Soil Readings Spreadsheet

Test Station Readings Spreadsheet

Pipe To Soil Data Storage and Management

CollectedPipe 2 Soil

Data13

13

13

13

13

13

Pipe to Soil Data Input

Component

Pipe to Soil Data VisualizationComponent

TRWD Pipeline Geodatabase

CollectedPipe 2 Soil

Data

Finalized Pipe to Soil Data Management Strategy

Cathodic Protection Data Management Tools

Pipe to Soil Data Import Tool

• Store and manage pipe to soil readings information in geodatabase tables instead of excel files

• Link readings to pipe to soil survey point locations (based on station numbers)

TRWD Pipe to Soil Visualization Tool

Created by IT Nexus

Built using MicrosoftSilverlight for Windows Development platform

Brings the data out of the file  cabinet  “  and  presents  it  in  its  “native”  context  –exploits its geographical properties

TRWD P2S Visualization Tool Demonstration

ConclusionGIS is greatly benefitting the management of the Pipeline System by enhancing the data collection, management, and coordination opportunities by District staff.

The ability of District Staff to utilize the TRWD FieldMapper to locate, document and redline pipeline system features is helping to keep the TRWD Pipeline model accurate, timely and cost effective.

The adoption and utilization of mainstream software development technology is driving down the cost of custom software development while continuing to provide very useful tools.

The use of GIS technology at TRWD continues to  empower  the  organization,  and  optimize  it’s  operation of the TRWD Pipelines.

Thank You

Questions/Comments

jeff.coffey@trwd.com