Abstract

Getting zebras, skunks, goats into an Electrical Asset Management System
Track: Electric Utilities
Authors: Hermien Bijker

Make a plan. - the universal motto of Africa!
While Africa is renowned for its wildlife, scenery and sounds, it is generally lesser known for innovative GIS utility implementations under challenging conditions.

The City of uMhlathuze, situated in the north-eastern part of South Africa has set as goal the implementation of a fully GIS enabled Asset Management System (AMS) in order to present it's customer base with an enhanced service delivery, efficient utility planning and greater financial management benefits.

Limited budgets required "plan-making" to convert the 20 year old Electrical CAD based system into GIS, spatially linked to the Asset Management System, integrated into the Technical Operations Centre, GIS training for staff while maintaining operations during implementation.

The Enterprise GIS modelling of various electrical assets, such as overhead bundles (zebra, skunk, goat) and integration with the AMS will be presented as well as the challenges faced, successes and- plans made.