The document outlines FortisBC's hydraulic modeling efforts using GIS data for system capacity planning, detailing the necessity of software like Synergee and Gregg for pipeline management. It describes the process of data extraction and merging, which incorporates customer information with pipeline data to streamline operations and enhance planning efficiency. Future plans include automating these processes to facilitate self-service options for system planners.

1. Hydraulic Modeling with GIS Data
Ted Norcott Harry Bhandal
GIS Specialist System Capacity Planning
FortisBC Energy FortisBC Energy
April 27, 2012

2. FortisBC Company Overview
 A subsidiary of Fortis Inc. “FTS” (TSX)
 Regulated Gas and Electric company
 2300 employees
 48,000 km of natural gas pipeline
 950,000 natural gas customers
 Largest territory of any North American gas utility

3. FortisBC (Gas) Service Areas
FortisBC (Mainland)
FortisBC (Vancouver Island)
FortisBC (Whistler)

4. System Capacity Planning
 Model Hydraulics of Pipeline System
 We are the fortune tellers at Fortis BC

5. System Capacity Planning
 Long Range Capital Planning
 Operations Support
 Planned
 Emergency

6. Modeling Software
Distribution System Transmission System
 Software: SynerGEE Gas  Software: Gregg
(Stoner) Engineering WinFlow
 Model Building Tool:  Model Building Tool:
Custom built application in Constructed by hand
Smallworld GIS

7. Problem
 Licensing and skill set requirements for 2
different software
 Upgrade of SynerGEE required with the need for
additional hardware
 $$$$

8. Solution
 Business Case determined Gregg was the most
economical choice
 How do we build 48,000 km of pipeline
(Distribution & Transmission) in Gregg?
 Building by hand is not a consideration
 FME to the rescue!!

9. Hope, British Columbia (Study Area)

10. Smallworld ‘GIS’ View

11. Gregg Engineering ‘WinFlow’ View

12. FME Processing Stages
 1. Export Smallworld data to SHAPE file format
 2. Merge address data with meter points
 3. Move customer (meter) points onto gas main
 4. QA/QC pipe diameter
 5. QA/QC core customer file
 6. Distinguish industrial vs residential/commercial
customers (Core Customers)
 7. Assign work order attribute

13. 1.Extract Smallworld to SHAPE format

14. 2.Feature Merge Addresses with Meters
Address database
extracted from
Smallworld into
MDB format

15. 2.Feature Merge Addresses with Meters

16. Customer Connections (Desired Result)

17. 3. Customer Connection Creator

18. 3. Customer Connection Creator
 Meters (AddressPremise IDs)
 Distribution Pipes
 Service Pipes

19. 3. Customer Connection Creator

20. 3. Customer Connection Creator

21. 3. Customer Connection Creator

22. 3. Customer Connection Creator

23. 4. QAQC Pipe Diameters

24. 5. QAQC Core Customers

25. 6. Industrial vs. Residential/
Commercial Customers

26. 7. Assign Work Order Information

27. Deliverables

28. Conclusion
 Standard file format (ESRI Shape)
 One hydraulic modeling software
 Excellent support from Safe Software
 We saved $$$$$$

29. Future Plans
 Automation of process
 Self serve options for System Planners

30. Thank You!
 Questions?
 For more information:
 Ted Norcott ted.norcott@fortisbc.com
 Harry Bhandal harry.bhandal@fortisbc.com
 www.fortisbc.com