Julie Crescione
Abstract
Southern California Edison's (SCE) Environmental Affairs (EA)
Department is faced with the challenging task of minimizing the
environmental impact of SCE's operations and improving the overall
environmental quality of Southern California. In order to accomplish
this task, the EA Department is working with the Geographic Information
and Analysis Systems (GIAS) Group to help fulfill SCE's environmental
goals. An ArcView-based application, UMA (Universal Mapping Application)
has been developed to meet these objectives. UMA incorporates
a number of shapefiles and coverages, a customized selection tool,
an areal extent menu, and a one-button mapping tool. UMA also
contains three extensions, the Big Creek Data Browser, the California
Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) Application, and the Archeological/Biological
Resource Application (ABRA). The Big Creek Data Browser's purpose
is to assist in the relicensing of the Big Creek watershed. The
CNDDB Application has been developed in order to search and display
the CNDDB database. ABRA is an application used by field personnel
to locate biologically and culturally restricted areas within
SCE's service territory. Through the use of UMA, EA is better
able to visualize the impact that SCE operations have on the environment.
Introduction
SCE's EA department is faced with the challenging task of minimizing
the environmental impact of SCE's operations and improving the
overall environmental quality of Southern California. Regulations
and restrictions placed on utility companies are becoming more
demanding. As a result of this increasing demand, the need to
successfully manage environmental resources becomes imperative.
SCE's GIAS Group and the EA Department have been working together
to build spatial databases and custom applications in order to
better manage environmental resources. The EA Departments research
activities focus on gathering data relating to endangered species,
cultural resources, and watershed management. The GIAS Groups
goal is to manage this data and develop decision support tools
to aid in the visualization of impacts that SCE operations have
on the environment. To this end, the GIAS Group has developed
an application that will assist the EA group to ensure SCE's environmental
success.
GIS Solutions
The primary purpose of the GIS application is to present existing
environmental resources, SCE infrastructure, and land base data
in one comprehensive, easy-to-use application. This application
incorporates display, query and mapping capabilities which enable
the EA Department to better utilize and analyze environmental
data with existing corporate and base map data sets.
UMA ArcInfo: description and functionality
Originally, an ArcInfo menu-driven Universal Mapping Application
(UMA) was developed to meet the needs of the EA Department. The
application incorporated environmental data, corporate datasets,
and base map information. UMA ArcInfo was Arc Macro Language
(AML) based, and ran within Arcplot. The entire application was
driven by a single AML, consisting of countless routines called
from dozens of independent menus. UMA ArcInfo allowed the user
to display and order the display of layered data. The application
also allowed for the emphasis of data through a variety of simple
drawing tools. These drawing tools embody both textual and graphic
abilities. The text tool enables the user to place custom text,
in a variety of fonts and colors, freely within the map extent.
Placing graphics, including circles, lines, polygons and markers
is also possible through the use of a customized graphics tool.
In addition, UMA ArcInfo has the capability of producing maps
consisting of selected data layers, using a standardized display
format, and fully automated legend and key.
UMA ArcInfo was a step in the right direction. However, the application
failed to meet some EA's expectations. The primary users of the
UMA ArcInfo had little or no UNIX or GIS experience and the applications
were not as easy to use as they would have liked. In addition,
more functionality was desired including user-defined graphic
ability to optimize the symbology of selected coverages. Furthermore,
the large size of some of the coverages made the display the data
to the screen extremely time intensive. Finally, new data was
continually becoming available and adding new datasets to UMA
ArcInfo proved to be an arduous task. Recognition of these shortcomings
led to the development of an ArcView based UMA Application.
UMA ArcView: Description
The GIAS Group made the recommendation to EA that an UMA ArcView
application be developed rather than enhancing UMA ArcInfo. UMA
ArcView would encompass all of the functionality of UMA, within
a familiar and intuitive Windows environment. The development
of the UMA ArcView application has proven to be a more flexible
and cost effective strategy than making improvements to the old
UMA ArcInfo application. The addition of new data sets and alterations
to the display environment is much less time consuming and economical
within ArcView. In addition, much of ArcInfo UMA's functionality
was already build into ArcView and eliminated much of the programming
necessary within UMA ArcInfo. Finally, because ArcView has a
Windows interface which users are more familiar with, the number
of people using the application has increased and GIS is better
utilized as a business and environmental analysis support tool.
Data Sets
UMA ArcView contains over 30 different themes. Both ArcView shapefiles
and library layers are incorporated in UMA ArcView depending on
the size of the dataset. This data includes SCE specific geographic
data, environmental data, other general datasets, including images
and grids, Digital Thomas Brothers Map (TBM) data, and Southern
California Association of Governments (SCAG) land use data. SCE's
standard geographic coverages and environmental data have been
converted to ArcView shapefiles for quicker drawing response time.
SCE corporate data includes, the SCE service territory, region,
and district boundaries, meter locations, substations, work locations,
transmission lines, etc. Environmental specific datasets are comprised
of the GAP biodiversity database, archeological sites, historic
sites, vegetation, watershed boundaries, etc. Other general data
including 1990 census block and zip+4 coverages have been converted
to shapefiles and are also contained within the application. In
addition to the shapefiles described above, UMA ArcView also incorporates
other spatial data such as grids and images. This spatial data
includes scanned 7.5 minute USGS color quads, which use a color
map file for display purposes, as well as Digital Elevation Models
and shaded lattices. Furthermore, TBM and SCAG landuse datasets,
which have been tiled and stored, using ArcInfo's Librarian module,
are incorporated into the application. These TBM datasets include
transportation, cultural features, cities, counties, zipcodes,
hydrological features, etc. Finally, freeway and highway markers
have been created for UMA ArcView. These markers are scaled and
added or removed automatically according to the scale of the map
and extent of the view.
Additional Functionality
Even though much of the necessary functionality already exists
within ArcView, the application has been customized to better
suit the users needs. Using Avenue, ArcView's programming language,
three tool types were developed. These tools include a customized
selection tool, an areal extent menu, and a one-button mapping
tool.
The customized selection tool allows the user to select features
meeting specific criteria without having to build a standard ArcView
query. For instance, if the user is interested in viewing transmission
lines, which have a specific kilovolt value, they can simply select
the customized selection tool button and then click on transmission
lines. A menu will then appear displaying a list of unique kilovolt
values from which to choose. Once a value has been selected, ArcView
checks to see whether or not transmission lines are currently
being drawn within the view. If they are, they are removed and
the selected kilovolt lines are drawn in their place. A new legend
is then generated indicating the kilovolt value and line symbol
used to draw the selected transmission lines. The customized selection
tool eliminates the need to create selections using the ArcView
query builder. The tool is very useful for those features that
are frequently queried and for those users that are less comfortable
with the query builder.
The areal extent menu button allows the user to set the extent
of their display to a specific map extent. By clicking on the
"zoom" menu button, a list of available selections appears.
The user may select SCE territory, SCE district name or number,
SCE region name or number, USGS quad name or number, SCE quad
number, or TBM page number. If a name option has been selected,
a list of the available names from which the user may choose is
displayed. If a number option has been selected, the application
requires that a number be entered. Once the user has made a selection
or entered a number, UMA ArcView zooms to the extent of the user-defined
selection and the visible themes are redrawn at the new scale.
UMA ArcView's one-button mapping tool utilizes a customized template.
It is specifically designed to meet EA and GIAS requirements.
The mapping template includes SCE and GIAS logos, a TBM disclaimer,
and a map index showing the location and extent of the layout.
The user simply clicks on the mapping button, which has been placed
in the view, and the current view is copied into a predefined
layout. Legends are automatically generated and the layout is
ready for printing.
Extensions
In addition to customizing tools and buttons within UMA ArcView,
extensions were incorporated into the application. Through the
use of Avenue, these extensions were added so that they may be
used in combination with other core data. Due to the proprietary
nature of some data, password restrictions are required in order
to access certain extensions. These extensions include the Big
Creek Data Browser, California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB)
application, and the Archaeological/Biological Resource Application
(ABRA).
Big Creek Data Browser
The Big Creek Project represents 87 percent of all SCE's hydroelectric generating capacity. The Project consists of nine powerhouses and seven operating licenses issued under the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Within the next ten years, all seven licenses will have entered the relicensing process. During relicensing, enhancement and/or mitigation measures are negotiated with regulatory agencies and special interest groups. Each measure can potentially negatively impact the economic viability of the Project. Strategic planning of the relicensing of the Big Creek Project, with the utilization of GIS, is important in minimizing these impacts (Loun, 1997).
The Big Creek Data Browser extension has been created for this
very purpose.
The Big Creek Project data consists of detailed coverages for
the Big Creek Project area. For this reason, the Data Browser
was created as an extension rather than including the data in
the standard UMA ArcView application. Big Creek Project specific
data includes boat launches, campgrounds, cloud seeding locations,
conduits, dams, deer, diversions, gauging stations, hydrology,
penstocks, powerstations, rain stations and snow courses. The
Big Creek Project data can be incorporated with other data in
the general UMA ArcView application. In addition, customized tools
and layouts may be applied to the data. In the future, this data
will be used in conjunction with a hydrologic modeling application
currently being developed.
CNDDB
Southern California is an extremely biologically diverse area.
It is because of this diversity that a number of federal and state
regulations are in place which govern these biological resources.
In order to account for and manage these resources, the EA Department
utilizes a digital version of the CNDDB database, which provides
detailed information about California's endangered and threatened
plants and animals. This CNDDB data includes substantial information
concerning endangered and threatened species. In order to best
utilize the CNDDB data, an extension has been developed which
runs from within UMA ArcView. This extension allows the user to
search and display the CNDDB database from a variety of different
perspectives and utilizes 7.5 minute USGS color quads and street
networks for reference. The CNDDB application enables the user
to perform queries on the CNDDB database utilizing element, county,
and USGS quad data.
Element data contained within the CNDDB includes an element code,
common name, and scientific name for each or the endangered plant
or animal species. In the CNDDB application, the user may select
any of these options and obtain a unique list of elements available.
Once an element, or all elements have been selected, a new list
appears containing all USGS quads in which the selected element(s)
can be found. The user may then select all or one specific quad
containing the selected element.
The user is also given the option of selecting an element based
on a county of their choice. If the county search is selected,
a list of counties is displayed from which the user may choose
one. The database is then searched and a list of USGS quad names
contained within the selected county are listed. Once a quad name
or all quad names have been selected, a list of species is displayed
from which the user may choose one or all elements.
In addition to searching by species or county, the user is given
the opportunity to search the database by USGS quad name. By selecting
the USGS quad name option, a list of USGS color quads is displayed
from which the user may select one quad. The CNDDB extension then
searches the database and displays a list of unique elements,
which are found within the selected quad. This species list contains
the element code, common name, and scientific name associated
with each species. The user may then select one or all elements
from the list.
Once the element(s), quad(s), and/or county has been selected,
the user is prompted to select a drawing feature. The user has
the option of displaying animal species siting points, plant siting
points, animal buffers, plant buffers, animal and plant points
or animal and plant buffers. A standard representation of the
data has been created for the CNDDB application. Plants are represented
by a half mile buffer around the point of siting and animals by
a one-mile buffer. The center point of each buffer is labeled
with the element code from which the species may be referenced
in the legend.
A map button has been created for standardized printing of the
CNDDB output and analysis. When the user clicks on the map button
icon, the layout is automatically created using the view. The
specialized map template includes the appropriate SCE logos and
disclaimers, as well as CNDDB specific restrictions and information.
The legend, which is automatically generated, contains the element
code and common name of each species found on the map, which can
be referenced to the species element code labeled in the view.
The extent of the view may be no greater than the size of one
7.5 minute color quad in order to utilize the map button function.
An error message will be displayed if the map extent is too large.
ABRA
In addition to endangered plants and animals, cultural features
are also regulated by State and Federal governments. These culturally
restricted areas include both archaeological and historic site
locations. For this reason, ABRA has been developed to manage,
analyze and display biologically and culturally restricted areas.
The application incorporates a little over 100 miles of transmission
line extending from Fresno to Tulare county. ABRA is an easy-to-use
point-and-click application designed for field personnel with
little or no ArcView GIS experience. The main purpose of this
application is to provide field technicians with current data
applicable to the transmission line in question. ABRA is made
up of a general thematic representation of restricted areas, detailed
information about endangered biological resources, cultural resource
data, and explicit instructions for working in a specific area.
ABRA's view contains a USGS color quad background, restriction
generalization shading, consisting of a half mile buffer around
the SCE transmission line, and street data for reference. The
transmission line buffer is divided into various sections depending
on the level of restriction which has been determined by EA's
biologists. The buffer is shaded according to the level of restriction
which applies to each segment of the transmission line. In addition,
a hatch pattern showing culturally restricted areas appears upon
the transmission line buffer. The user may simply click on a point
along the transmission line and display more detailed information
about the selected point. Once a point is selected, a message
box appears indicating whether biological, cultural, or both types
of restriction apply along the selected section of transmission
line. The user may then choose to display more detailed data for
biological or cultural restrictions.
The detailed biological information contains a general comment
about the biological restrictions level and has an option to display
more information on the endangered species. If the user decides
to display more information, a list of species, which are affected
by that portion of transmission line, appear. The user may then
click on a particular species and information from the CNDDB Rarefind
manual will be displayed. The Rarefind manual contains detailed
information for each species found in the CNDDB database.
Detailed cultural information may also be displayed for the selected
segment of transmission line. This information consists of a brief
explanation of restrictions pertaining to the specific cultural
site. In addition, an image may be drawn showing a detailed map
of the selected site. In some cases, the site maps will be restricted
by a password due to the proprietary nature of the data.
ABRA is currently in the pilot phase of the project. However,
it is expected that this application will eventually be developed
to encompass the entire SCE service territory and be used by all
field personnel.
X SERVER SOLUTION
UMA ArcView users are spread throughout SCE's 50,000 square miles
of service territory. The majority of these users operate on PCs.
Due to the size of the UMA ArcView data, the capacity of the standard
SCE PC, and limited memory resources, it was not functional to
run ArcView as a standalone desktop GIS. Instead, users run ArcView
using an X Server solution for their network requirements. The
X Server solution allows for remotely accessing programs running
on UNIX hosts and exporting the display to remote users on PC.
The PC receives the entire graphical user interface of the executing
program. After benchmarking several X-Windows software packages,
Exceed was selected for it's superior performance and the endorsement
of EsriI (McAllister, 1997).
Conclusion
The UMA ArcView application has helped the EA Department in achieving
it's goal of successfully managing environmental resources. As
the EA Department gathers more data relating to endangered species,
cultural resources, and watershed management, the GIAS Group will
be able to incorporate this data into UMA ArcView. The ability
of the application to grow with the expanding data more efficiently
will enable EA to continue visualizing operating impacts on the
environment.
References
Loun, Terri (1997) Personal Correspondence. April 1997.
McAllister, Daniel (1997) GIS and The Network. Paper for the 1997
Esri Users Conference.
Author Information
Julie Crescione
Analyst II
Southern California Edison
GIAS Lab, GO3, room 228
2131 Walnut Grove Ave.
Rosemead, CA 91770
Telephone: (818) 302-5263
crescija@sce.com