Utility Taps Images to Help Keep Citizens Safe
3 Apr, 2006 By: Michelle NicolsonPG+E of California relies on high-resolution aerial photographs to assess areas surrounding natural gas pipelines
|
More than 5,500 miles of natural gas pipeline snake across California, the nation's most populous state. Entrusted with the safety of the citizens who work and live nearby, PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) uses GIS technology to analyze areas surrounding the pipeline and to identify HCAs (high consequence areas) -- that is, areas with high concentrations of residences or structures that could be difficult to evacuate quickly in an emergency, such as hospitals, daycare centers and large office buildings.
Federal regulations require pipeline companies to determine the areas where an incident could impact an HCA and require added integrity evaluations to reduce the risk of an incident. At PG&E, staff members use ESRI's ArcGIS system to map pipelines and the surrounding areas. The GIS includes parcel data, land use data and aerial imagery purchased from AirPhotoUSA, which the pipeline integrity department uses for both maintenance and safety analyses. Even with this data, PG&E staff members found a need for more detailed information. The answer was GlobeXplorer's ImageConnect high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery, which the utility began integrating with ArcGIS last year. Read
more >>p>

MSC.Software Sells PLM Business to TechniGraphics
Simulation solutions provider sells nonstrategic business components to improve operating margins. Read more >>
Autodesk Completes Acquisition of Constructware
Company plans to enhance Buzzsaw, Revit and Civil 3D products with on-demand collaboration features. Read more >>
Luxology Releases modo for Intel-based Macs
Free download available for registered users. Read more >>

MCAD: Solid Edge Wire-Harness Design
New add-on from UGS facilitates creating, routing and organizing wires, cables and bundles in assemblies. Read more >>
GIS: Pushpin LE
Placebase releases Google Map-like product for commercial applications.
Read more >>
For Mold Designers! Cadalyst has an area of our site focused on technologies and resources specific to the mold design professional. Sponsored by Siemens NX. Visit the Equipped Mold Designer here!
For Architects! Cadalyst has an area of our site focused on technologies and resources specific to the building design professional. Sponsored by HP. Visit the Equipped Architect here!