GIS Field Inventory is Underway

A geographical Information System (GIS) is a computer system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing and displaying geographically referenced information.

The system that CEC is implementing will provide digital mapping, a graphical display of our entire electric distribution system and data analysis for asset and outage management.

The implementation process & how it affects you

The first step in the GIS implementation process is to gather the data. To create an accurate GIS database, the Cooperative needs to perform a field inventory of our electric distribution system. This calls for physically visiting and recording information about every pole, meter, underground junction box and pad mounted transformer. We have contracted with Davey Resource Group (DRG) to do this work. DRG will work their way through our system by substation service areas.

How to recognize the DRG professionals

The DRG professionals will be easily recognized by their uniform. Each employee will be wearing a green fluorescent vest and will have a name tag identifying them as an employee of DRG. Their vehicles will also be marked as "Authorized Contractors for Consolidated Electric Cooperative." The DRG employees will be on foot or riding a four-wheeler, sporting bright yellow backpacks with an antenna and carrying handheld GPS computers.

The field inventory process will begin in March 2010 and be completed in about one year.

What benefits does GIS offer?

GIS provides accurate up-to-date digital maps of our servcie area, as well as real time outage management. Once the GIS is fully implemented, outage calls will be logged in the outage management system and the data will be organized to help trace the logged outages, the number of members affected in each line outage, the crew the outage has been assigned to and the status of the outage. The outage management system will be linked to the digital map and can be viewed on office computers.

GIS also provides asset and workflow management systems. The work flow management system will provide efficiencies in tracking, assigning, completing and updating the new construction, maintenance and member service job activities that are constantly creating changes in the electric distribution system.

If you have questions or concerns regarding implementation of this new GIS system, please contact the Cooperative office at 573-581-3630 or 1-800-621-0091.