![[Figure 1 -- and alignment sheet can be generated out of the continuous AM/FM/GIS model]](/Spatial/gisweb/spatdb/amfm/pix/am94046i01.jpeg)
AM/FM (1994), 461-472, copyright AM/FM International
M.J. Harden Associates, Inc. 1019 Admiral Boulevard Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 842-0141
Throughout the years much focus has been placed on what is considered to be the most critical area of an AM/FM/GIS--that being data. Professionals in the field discuss the pros and cons of the various techniques used in keeping data conversion costs to a minimum while maximizing quality. Although data is undoubtedly the backbone of an AM/FM/GIS, it certainly is only a portion of the whole system. The eventual success of the system will not be measured by its solid design or quality data alone, but also by its ease of use through integrated applications. It is this presentation through applications that sets the tone for the life of the AM/FM/GIS.
This paper examines many of the AM/FM/GIS applications unique to the pipeline industry and how these systems are being used to meet today's demanding needs. It will also discuss the relationship between the various applications and the foundation AM/FM/GIS.
Before we leap into application integration, it is imperative that we have a foundation from which we can build. A well designed AM/FM/GIS provides a solid foundation of quality information that will extend across all applications. In the case of an operating pipeline company, this would be an established digital land base and facility model captured at accuracy requirements acceptable to all groups. Typically, the model contains many sets of data about the pipeline and its surroundings--all referenced to the pipe centerline through the survey stationing values (Ginther 1993). The model can reflect current conditions, historical events, and operating criteria. If properly designed it can serve as the central point for organizing and distributing any corporate information.
Most AM/FM/GIS software packages provide the user with a basic set of tools to modify and analyze their digital pipeline model. Although numerous and powerful, many of these tools are generic enough to be used by many different people in many different fields. When similar tasks are repeated over and over, these multi-functional tools may prove to be too bulky or time consuming. User applications, however, can be designed to address the specific needs to complete a given task or to generate a specific product, thus making the task easier and less expensive.
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It's been said that there is no such thing as no communication within groups, communication is either effective or ineffective. The same is true for applications. In a typical pipeline operation, applications are generally a manual or semi-automated, stand-alone process designed to meet a single need. Each group typically has its own agenda and is responsible for its own applications. Companies are realizing that the current ways of doing business are no longer sufficient and must be changed. This leads to the need for a tool that effectively makes a tie across all applications. AM/FM/GIS provides this communication link, thus maximizing the effectiveness of each application.
"Integrate: To end the segregation of and bring into common and equal membership in an organization. Incorporation as equals into an organization of individuals of different groups." -- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.
As with people, applications can also be integrated. Putting an end to segregation or islands of automation is an important benefit of integrating applications through an AM/FM/GIS. Here we eliminate duplicate data, repetitive tasks, and bring the richest and most abundant sources of data to one location. By using the AM/FM/GIS as a foundation to integrate the many applications required in today's pipeline business, each department can access the same corporate data well. Any application needing the size, length, manufacturer, or install date of a given segment of pipe can retrieve it from the digital facility model. Thus all users can obtain the most current, accurate, and complete information available. Even more important is the fact that everyone can now use the same set of data--eliminating conflicts between data sources and departmental reports. As with most any issue involving integration, several areas play a factor in its effectiveness. Basically, there are three issues:
Here management needs to take a proactive role in understanding and assisting in the integration process. What must be understood is that for the first time, individual groups will most likely be faced with re-engineering their processes to wholly incorporate the AM/FM/GIS applications into their daily activities. This may lead to conflicts between groups. Every group's current processes and applications should be scrutinized closely-perhaps by an outside "application integration facilitator". The importance of this should be taken very seriously, for this is where problems can be quickly solved during the integration.
Technological issues affect the integration of applications if not defined effectively in the upfront design. Critical issues can range from data formats and types, to user defined front-end menus. Also, since an AM/FM/GIS will continue to grow and change, the long-range scope of the applications being integrated must be considered.
This area also plays a major role in the integration process. Here we need to address the whole user community before we begin. The user community is made up of different people
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with varying skills that will be accessing the AM/FM/GIS. In general, there are four types of end-users:
Pipelines are similar to other industries in that they have some processes and products unique to their business and some common to any business. To fully appreciate the benefits an AM/FM/GIS can provide, the informational work flow must be modified to integrate it into the corporate structure. Departments can no longer operate in vacuums and tasks must become result-oriented. By focusing our attention on the end products required to conduct business, we can start getting away from the old: "but, we have always done it this way" rut.
The process to complete our tasks have also changed. In the past, companies had to conduct "studies" every time they wanted to analyze a situation. Since most of the effort typically went into gathering raw data, these "studies" were often repeated over and over. Today, AM/FM/GIS users can rapidly assimilate all available information through database queries-right at their desks. This allows the user to concentrate on the analysis or to supplement the query with missing data. By saving the query, the analysis can be repeated when needed.
The following sections provide several examples of AM/FM/GIS applications in the pipeline industry. Brief narratives describe their usage and how they might fit into the enterprise solution.
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Two primary responsibilities of a Right-Of-Way Agent are to maintain records on existing properties and to acquire access rights for new lines. Although their tasks result in massive amounts of data, most of it can be associated with a tract of land or land owner. Therefore, their application "window" into the AM/FM/GIS might be accomplished by two processes:
However, extreme care must be taken to maintain proper relationships between the various types of data. If one tract is subdivided into several, any data associated with the original must not be lost. Likewise, one application cannot be allowed to delete or modify a tract if it destroys data (or data relationships) vital to another application.
Some people believe that a paperless office is about as realistic as a paperless bathroom. Considering the ease at which we now generate reports, photocopy documents, or fax letters, eliminating hardcopy entirely may in fact be a pipe dream. More important, however, is the need to reduce the effort of transferring information from one data set to another. A perfect example of this improved data flow is using automated field reports.
In the past, whenever field engineers performed an inspection, they would fill out a blank inspection form. In addition to describing what work was done, they also had to describe the facility being inspected (valve ID, serial number, size, manufacturer, etc.) and its location (site, state, county, region, etc.) Since much of the data requested on the form had little to do with the actual inspection, parts of the form were often only partially or incorrectly completed, or ignored altogether.
By using today's technology, the AM/FM/GIS data can be extended out to the field--where it really is most needed. Based on the process, two levels of user applications can be provided:
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When needed, the application could signal someone that the task is complete or that followup work is required. For instance, a corrosion specialist could be notified that additional pipe-to-soil readings are needed or that field crews should maintain an eroded hillside.
There are times when you need to compile lots of information in a small amount of time:
When in situations such as these, it is too late to say, "if only we had an AM/FM/GIS." Granted, most AM/FM/GIS feasibility studies don't include cost savings for these types of unanticipated events, but they, nevertheless, do occur. And, when they do occur, the cost/ time savings the AM/FM/GIS provides is very real and very tangible.
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Of course, it is not justified to build applications for every conceivable situation. However, an AM/FM/GIS can still prove to be a very useful tool. Assuming that the digital pipeline model was properly constructed, using the most accurate data available, the standard suite of user tools and database queries will probably get the job done. For example, one of the most commonly-used applications is the "poke and look" query. By selecting a graphic, the user is presented with a list of database attributes describing that feature. The user can also select an attribute value or combination of values and see the graphic(s) meeting that criteria. A material inventory or a PCB-content inventory are good examples of this type of query. In these situations, properly defining the question (query) is 80 percent of the task--getting the answer is the other 20 percent.
Every year pipeline companies inventory their infrastructure. Engineering departments add up lengths of pipe as shown on the alignment sheets and pipe records. Accountants generate massive reports out of their fixed asset or property accounting database. And the Taxation Department is placing tax levies on yet another data set. In an attempt to show what's out there, each group is independently counting pipe lengths and assigning them to some geographic area (state, county, tax district, region, etc.). In the end, it is very unlikely that any two sets of numbers will match. Who is to say which set, if any, is correct?
Under an AM/FM/GIS scenario, the up-to-date pipeline facility model is already in place. Polygons defining the limits of each geographic area are also provided. Since the spatial relationship between these features can be determined, a report by area can be generated. Therefore, without having to look at any maps (paper or computer display), tax analysts can extract all pipe records that fall within each tax district. They can then match this data with their tax database to assign a tax levy to each district and a depreciation value by age. The final report can provide a description of all facilities by district, pipe size, length, age, etc., and the amount of tax owed.
One set of data => multiple users => non-conflicting/supportable results.
Up to this point, each of the above applications have interfaced directly with the continuous AM/FM/GIS digital model--comprised of data and graphics. Being continuous, users were not concerned with map sheet borders or design file names. Many companies, however, use alignment sheets exclusively to map their facility systems and to track the data attributes. How then can a continuous AM/FM/GIS model be useful in providing the classical alignment sheet drawing?
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To answer this, one must look at the alignment sheet as an "output product" and not as the database itself. Using specialized alignment-sheet-generation software, these sheets are generated out of the continuous AM/FM/GIS model within minutes (Ellis 1993). The land base and facilities graphics are clipped from the digital model and the various "bands" of data are generated from the attribute and field note database (see Figure 1). The "pipe centerline band" can be created with just a planimetric (vector) land base, a scanned aerial photo background (raster), or a combination of these. Once changes are made to the digital model, a new sheet can be generated, and the old sheet can be discarded.
Participation in One-Call organizations are becoming very common--even mandatory in some states. The usefulness of an AM/FM/GIS for this application is twofold. First, many One-Call organizations require the pipeline company to provide them with a location description of their facilities. This description may be nothing more than a list of all quarter-sections or assigned grid cells the facility passes through. Manually creating this list may be very time consuming, but using an AM/FM/GIS to generate it is quick and straightforward.
The second area in which an AM/FM/GIS is helpful is in screening dig notices. Operators can review a notice and quickly display the area based on address, grid cell ID, Lat/Long coordinates, etc. If the pipeline facilities are at risk, a notice (with dig site details) can be issued (even electronically) to the field crew to mark the line.
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In compliance with various governmental regulations, pipeline companies must prepare numerous sets of reports and have this data readily available at any time. Because many of these reports have industry- or company-wide standard formats, they could easily be generated directly out of the AM/FM/GIS. Examples of typical pre-defined reports include:
By having these data sets readily available at all times, periodic internal checks can be made to monitor the field activities and to meet maintenance schedules. Compliance inspections may also proceed much more smoothly as the data can be reviewed from any location.
One area receiving a lot of attention is that of determining the level of risk associated with each segment of a pipeline. To fully analyze a pipeline, engineers must have access to a great deal of data. Internal inspections, using "smart pigs," provide vital information on the current condition (weld defects, corrosion sites, dents, etc.) of your pipeline. However, these results tell you nothing about the environmental conditions, history, or physical attributes of your pipeline. Data on the pipe's age, manufacturer, pressure and cathodic protection history, soil water content and pH, class location, etc., must be acquired from other sources--such as an AM/FM/GIS (see Figure 2).
By integrating smart pig data into an AM/FM/GIS, engineers can now fully evaluate the risks associated with operating the pipeline and the consequences should a failure occur (Farmer 1993, Kline 1993). Maintenance and replacement programs can then be established to monitor/correct problem conditions--based on severity and risk to life, property, and environment.
As stated before, AM/FM/GIS technology is no longer constrained to the drafting and mapping groups. Although many of the obvious benefits are gained in the record-keeping areas, AM/FM/GIS has become a vital integrations tool for users throughout the industry. Such areas include marketing, long- and short-term planning, and legal hearings.
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![[Figure 2 -- example data/applications integration using AM/FM/GIS facility model]](/Spatial/gisweb/spatdb/amfm/pix/am94046i02.jpeg)
As applications like these become fully integrated into the day-to-day operations, more direct benefits can be derived out of the AM/FM/GIS. Many companies now using AM/FM/GIS technology have discovered that the most valuable benefits are those they had not even considered at the start of their projects.
These benefits result from streamlining the organization and sharing corporate data between applications. However, in designing the AM/FM/GIS data structure and user interfaces, careful attention must be given to maintaining the integrity and usefulness of the data. Since the data will probably be used for multiple applications and by numerous people, one operation must not destroy the data source for another operation.
The key to good application integration is to take a "data-driven" approach--focusing on data from a business perspective rather than automating outdated manual processes. By concentrating on the "what" of the business, and not the "how," users can be provided with the tools they need. Furthermore, the "how" is likely to change as new procedures are implemented. However, the "what" of a business is likely to remain much more stable.
In planning for future development of applications within an organization, a successfully implemented AM/FM/GIS will provide a solid foundation for the various corporate-wide applications. Integration through this type of system will establish a stable focus point to
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build applications and to communicate between applications. By establishing a common denominator for access to all applications, we can end segregation of information at the same time providing the richest data source for future application integration and development.
While the data is invariably the backbone of an AM/FM/GIS, it must be understood that it is the presentation through applications that sets the tone for the life of the system. No matter how good the data is, if users cannot effectively and efficiently access their data, the system will be of little use.
Ellis, S. and Ginther, P. 1993, Case History: GIS Developed for Kern River Gas System: Pipe Line Industry Journal, April and May issues.
Farmer, F. 1993, Systems Integration in Support of Pipeline Integrity: GIS for the Pipeline Industry conference, Houston, TX, October 18-20.
Ginther, P. 1993, Construction of a Pipeline AM/FM/GIS Model: AM/FM International conference, Orlando, FL, March 22-25.
Kline, T. 1993, A Pro-Active, Integrated Approach to Pipeline Integrity Management Utilizing GIS Technology: Pipeline Risk Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Repair conference, Houston, TX, September 13-16.
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