This document summarizes converting electrical data from Smallworld format to Microstation format using FME. It describes filtering dimensioning objects by text prefix/suffix, matching components by ID, and styling them in Microstation. Custom transformers are used to organize the workspace, improve maintainability, and allow repeating transformers on non-mergeable data. The output files are used internally, distributed to contractors, and shared with GeoEdmonton.

1. Converting Edmonton’s Electrical
Data from Smallworld to
Microstation Format
Janna Fung
GIS Systems Analyst, EPCOR Utilities Inc.

2. Overview
 Introduction
 Overview of the conversion process
 Application of the output data
 The FME workspace
 Workspace organization with custom transformers
 Questions

3. About Me – Janna Fung
 Holds a B.Sc. in Geomatics Engineering from the
University of Calgary
 GIS Systems Analyst at EPCOR
 Started working with FME about 2.5 years ago

4. About EPCOR
 We provide clean water and wastewater services
and safe, reliable electricity
 Distributing about 13.5% of Alberta's energy
consumption in Edmonton
 About 600,000 energy customers around Alberta
 Providing water and wastewater service to over 1 million
people in over 85 Western Canadian communities and
industrial sites
 Largest private regulated water utility in Arizona and
New Mexico — serving 22 communities and 7 counties

5. Export Process from GIS to CAD

6. Results
Electric Office (Source Data) Microstation DGN (Output Data)

7. How the Output Files are Used
 Internally
 Distributed to locate contractors
 Additional versions with subsets of the data are
distributed to GeoEdmonton
 A partnership of companies and organizations for
sharing spatial data

8. FME Workspace
Workspace file

9. Problem
 Dimensions are an unusual
object type
 No attribute data other than
ID
 Read into FME with
dissimilar parts (Text,
Leader Line, Right Arrow,
Left Arrow)

10. Problem
 Different dimensioning
objects need to be styled
(color, level) in the output

11. Solution in FME
 Filter the text string based on prefix or suffix (ex.
“P” from P 1.00)
 Match each filtered string against each of the
other dimensioning subtypes (Arrows, Leader
Line components) using common ID numbers
 Set the desired Microstation styling for each
filtered type

14. Custom Transformers - Benefits
 Organizes a
workspace
 Improves
maintainability

15. Custom Transformers - Benefits
 Allows you to quickly
repeat a set of
transformers, especially
for data that cannot be
merged

16. Custom Transformers - Benefits
 Allows you to add
documentation
within the
workspace

17. Thank You!
 Questions?
 For more information:
 Janna Fung
 EPCOR Utilities Inc.
 Email: jnfung@epcor.com