The UN predicts Africa’s population will double by 2050, and again by 2100. With investments from organizations like World Bank, leaders are looking at how to expand their residents’ access to reliable electric utilities. These leaders understand the necessity of strong electric networks to match their upcoming population and economic growth. Several critical factors make up an adequate network. And using GIS solutions for asset management is one of them. Let’s explore how.
What can GIS-based asset management do for electric utilities?
Asset management is an important aspect of any electric utility network. It allows network operators and customers to have stability in whatever tasks they’re trying to complete. GIS-based asset management provides accurate location-based data regarding network health and connectivity. This asset management allows network operators to see asset location, health and more. When talking about electric network expansion, GIS maps what the current infrastructure looks like, what it could look like and even what it should look like. When the goal is widespread access, GIS-based asset management can ease the expansion while maintaining the network for current users.
With precise network planning, GIS management can help operators predict where maintenance needs to happen. This awareness is useful during network expansion. It contributes to an awareness of future network dynamics and informs procedure for outages or customer communications. For example, classic GIS solutions offer Outside Plant Management, but advanced solutions provide Inside Plant Management (IPM). IPM helps manage transformer stations, can simulate the impact of a failure of a circuit breaker and more easily integrate with Meter Data Management systems.
Have these expansions already started?
Several African countries have already benefited from expanded electric utilities networks. Leaders across the continent are working to build a network that reaches from the western to eastern regions. As these countries continue to gain autonomy and grow their populations, they will have more data to collect, protect and share.
There have already been efforts to implement these systems and technology. For instance, Hexagon recently teamed up with the Electric Company of Ghana (ECG) to use Intergraph G/Technology as its utility geographic enterprise asset management system. network. The deployment of this technology will help ECG to plan, manage and efficiently operate its distribution network to meet the growing needs of 4.5 million customers. The network operators will have access to mobile data and an employee portal. All the systems for ECG will be combined and increase process efficiency.
Learn more
GIS-based asset management technology enables utilities to maintain a definitive source of reliable, location-based information about their networks and connectivity and share this data with users and systems across the enterprise. Learn more about Hexagon’s utilities and communications solutions, including Intergraph G/Technology.
