Integrating GIS and GPS for mapping and analysis of electric distribution circuits

The author reviews the fundamentals of geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS) technology and how the two can be integrated to improve the mapping and analysis of electrical distribution circuits. The primary benefits of integrating GPS data collection with a GIS are the establishment of an accurate coordinate reference and the rapid and cost-effective collection of geographic and attribute information about rural electric systems. When one is in the field with a GPS unit, a laptop personal computer should be connected to a serial port on the GPS receiver to act as a storage device for GPS readings and to collect attributes about electrical plant. The GPS positional and attribute data can be successfully overlaid on the detail base map in the GIS. The cumulative costs of integrating GPS with a GIS are not small, but are well-justified by the value produced in creating accurate, complete, and up-to-date geographic and attribute information about a utility´s electrical plant. Future applications of GPS are considered