MANAGING BIG DATA TO IMPROVE THE PLANNING OF OVERHEAD ELECTRIC LINES AND UNDERGROUND CABLES: REFERENCING AND PROJECT INFORMATION DATABASE

摘要

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) spatial analysis tools play an important part for network planning for overhead electric lines for both transmission system operators and distribution system operators. They are highly effective in recording information relating to all affected parties impacted by the project routing, and also have great potential in helping predict and justify route corridors and final alignments. A standard tool that incorporates all aspects of route optioneering, consultation and land assembly can aid in the route approval by the regulatory authorities and to win the support of interested parties (including persons with an interest in land). Network planners for transmission system operators and distribution system operators must fully understand, implement, and remain unbiased in the tools used in order to ensure results remain consistent, reliable, and defensible [1]. A GIS for analysis of Spatial Big Data is considered to be the best solution because it can perform optimal predictions for defining the basis for route selection, capturing consultation feedback and consequential land acquisition, by incorporating multiple influence factors into its analysis. Therefore GIS and project management systems are used to provide robust optioneering tools, audit trails of all communications with interested parties, environmental, socio-economic and engineering constraints that ultimately produce a preferred alignment and a Book of Reference as part of the development consent application. The critical factors to address in the planning of overhead electric lines (and underground cables) are the views of interested parties and the socio-economic, environmental, and engineering issues in determining the most suitable transmission and distribution routes. A GIS is able to assemble large quantities of spatial big data of the necessary factors into a meaningful analysis and can output the results graphically. The results, both visually and statistically, help to convey the findings to the intended audiences i.e. regulators and interested parties. A consistent analytical model becomes more acceptable to regulators as the methodology is used and adopted by other utility-based organizations. Of additional importance, the optimal route analysis can be reproduced, analyzed, and/or audited by interested parties or an outside analyst to ensure the findings are unbiased and defensible [2]. The optimal goals in building new electric transmission and distribution lines are to effectively minimize the negative impacts on people and the environment while ensuring safety, reliability, and cost savings for the utility and ultimately the consumer [3]. This paper will describe the capabilities of GIS and project management database systems in managing Big Data in order to achieve the above goal.