Maximizing Efficiency and Reliability: The Benefits of Using Geographic Information System (GIS) for Utility Infrastructure Management

Tracey Foster Milton, Director of GIS and Asset Management, Waggoner Engineering

Tracey Foster Milton, GISP, is a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Asset Management Director with a background in both local government and civil engineering. With extensive GIS experience that expands almost 30 years, Tracey leads her team in creating and managing solutions that span across various disciplines. These solutions encompass a range of activities, including data creation and editing, location-based data analysis, exhibit design, web application development, and more. Tracey excels in project management, advanced data analytics, ArcGIS, and Cityworks. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Urban Planning with a GIS concentration from Jackson State University.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the demand for reliable and efficient utility infrastructure has never been higher. As the backbone of our modern way of life, utility infrastructure, including wastewater, water, electricity, gas, and telecommunications, plays a critical role in sustaining communities and driving economic growth. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as powerful tools in managing utility infrastructure, providing various benefits that enhance decision-making, streamline operations, and improve service delivery.

GIS technology provides a comprehensive platform for capturing, storing, analyzing, and visualizing geographic data, making it an ideal solution for managing complex utility networks. GIS allows utility associations to gain valuable insights into their infrastructure by integrating spatial information with attribute data, leading to better decision-making and resource allocation.

Improved asset management and maintenance are key advantages of using GIS in utility infrastructure management. GIS facilitates the creation of detailed inventories of utility vertical and horizontal assets, including fiberoptics cables, pipes, power poles, hydrants, and lift stations, along with their associated attributes such as installation dates, material types, and maintenance histories. Communities thrive from the services provided by utility association assets. By centralizing this information within a GIS database, utility managers can easily track the condition and performance of assets, better understand spatial patterns and relationships, schedule preventive maintenance, and prioritize infrastructure upgrades based on criticality and usage patterns.

“From enhancing asset management and operational efficiency to improving emergency response capabilities to facilitating better collaboration and sharing spatial data, GIS empowers utility associations to make data-driven decisions, optimize their infrastructure, and deliver reliable services to customers.”

Additionally, GIS is essential for improving utility operations efficiency. By leveraging spatial analysis capabilities, utility associations can optimize network design, routing, and capacity planning, leading to more efficient resource utilization and reduced operational costs. For example, GIS can be used to identify optimal locations for new infrastructure developments, minimize service disruptions during maintenance activities, and streamline the deployment of field crews for inspections and repairs.

GIS enables utilities to enhance their response to emergencies and outages. By integrating real-time data feeds and sensor information with GIS platforms, utility operators can quickly identify the location and extent of outages, assess their impact on customers, and coordinate rapid response efforts. GIS-based outage management systems provide a spatially aware view of the utility network, allowing operators to visualize affected areas, dispatch repair crews, and communicate timely updates to customers, thereby minimizing downtime and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Another significant advantage of GIS technology is its ability to facilitate better collaboration and communication among internal teams and external stakeholders. By providing a common platform for sharing spatial data and analysis results, GIS fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering, operations, and planning departments, leading to more integrated decision-making and improved cross-functional coordination. Additionally, GIS-based public engagement tools enable utilities to communicate infrastructure plans, project updates, and service disruptions to customers and local communities, fostering transparency and trust.

To conclude, the advantages of utilizing GIS for utility infrastructure management are multifaceted and have far-reaching implications. From enhancing asset management and operational efficiency to improving emergency response capabilities to facilitating better collaboration and sharing spatial data, GIS empowers utility associations to make data-driven decisions, optimize their infrastructure, and deliver reliable services to customers. The integration of GIS technologies is vital to meet the expanding needs of utility infrastructure and guarantee resilience and sustainability for years to come.