Geomatic Technologies completes ETSA State-wide Rural Asset Survey

Adelaide, Australia 2006 – Geomatic Technologies (GT), has successfully completed a State-wide Rural Asset Survey on behalf of ETSA Utilities (Electricity Trust of South Australia). The project began in 2005 when ETSA Utilities engaged GT to conduct a pilot data capture survey of rural electricity assets. GT successfully completed the pilot and was awarded the task of extending the work to encompass a state-wide audit of South Australia’s rural electricity assets. GT completed this project in November 2006.

GT was required to accurately position (±1m) assets such as poles, conductors, service connections and transformers. Important attribute information was collected at each location and at times 37 attributes were collected per pole. This level of data collection allowed ETSA Utilities to build an accurate and functional GIS for management of their assets.

GT’s team was comprised of surveyors equipped with 4WDrive vehicles, Differential GPS Satellite positioning units, laser range instruments and in-car computer equipment to complete the project. Two field teams were rotated through each of the State’s larger rural towns. Each team would map the surrounding area using GPS and GT’s own AIMS Mapping System that was tailored to suit the project.

GT implemented a strict environmental awareness policy, including minimising vehicle movement in areas of high conservation value and regular wash down of vehicles to reduce the risk of spreading diseases and weeds through sensitive areas such as grape growing districts. GT delivered 35 blocks of data to the client, two weeks before the deadline. The project was successful due to the systems and procedures in place and the professionalism and can-do attitude of the GT staff.

In September 2007, ETSA Utilities Facilities Systems Manager Petre Thorn, described the project thus:

“ETSA's Network Facilities division identified that accurate asset data would be a pre-requisite to the success of the company's planned dispatch system and enterprise GIS upgrade. GT’s large-scale field expertise, technology resources and proven methodology left us feeling very confident that the project would be a success. Having previously undertaken incremental data capture work utilising
in-house resources we identified that the GT proposal and methodology offered excellent value for money and in actual fact the resources required by our management and data QA teams to oversee the project were even less than expected”.

“It is now 9 months since the project was completed and we are seeing positive results directly from the field asset capture in several areas across the business including a reduction in customer minutes without supply due to a more efficient faults dispatch system that directly benefits from access to correct network data. GT delivered a thoroughly professional service and I would not hesitate in recommending them to other networks.” - Petre Thorn, ETSA Utilities Facilities Systems Manager.

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