Julie Crescione

Southern California Edison

Geographic Information and Analysis Systems (GIAS)

2131 Walnut Grove Ave., Room 228

Rosemead, California 91770

Abstract

Southern California Edison's (SCE) Environmental Affairs (EA) Division 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 Division 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 and their SCE client organization are better able to visualize and communicate ways to avoid the impacts that SCE operations have on the environment.

Introduction

SCE's EA Division is faced with the challenging task of minimizing the environmental impact of utility operations and improving the overall environmental quality of Southern California. Environmental regulations and restrictions placed on utility companies are becoming more demanding. As a result of this increasing demand and the trend toward market-based operations in the utility industry, the need to successfully manage environmental resources becomes imperative. SCE's GIAS Group and the EA Division have been working together to build spatial databases and custom applications in order to better manage environmental resources. The EA Division's research activities focus on gathering data relating to endangered species, cultural resources, and watershed management. The GIAS Group's goal is to manage this data and develop decision-support tools to aid in the visualization of impacts that SCE operations have or could have on the environment. To this end, the GIAS Group has developed an application that will assist the EA group in ensuring 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 Division to better utilize and analyze incoming environmental data with existing corporate and base map data sets.

Phase I: UMA ArcInfo: description and functionality

Originally, an ArcInfo menu-driven Universal Mapping Application (UMA) was developed to meet the needs of the EA Division. The application incorporated environmental data, corporate datasets, and base map information. UMA ArcInfo was Arc Macro Language-based (AML), 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 of 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 of 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

Following the release of ArcView 3.0, the GIAS Group made the recommendation to EA that a 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 built 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's corporate data, including, the service territory, regions, district boundaries, meter locations, substations, work locations, transmission lines, etc. has also been included. 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 Application

The Big Creek area represents 87 percent of all SCE's hydroelectric generating capacity. The Big Creek Relicensing 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 enter 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 Relicensing 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 Relicensing Project data consists of detailed coverages for the Big Creek 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 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 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.

California Natural Diversity Database Application (CNDDB)

Southern California is an extremely biologically diverse area. It is because of this diversity and the incredible threats to and pressure upon it 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 Division 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 of 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.

Archeological/Biological Resource Application (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 each 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 on 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 its superior performance and the endorsement of EsriI (McAllister, 1997).

Conclusion

The UMA ArcView application has helped the EA Division in achieving its goal of successfully managing environmental resources. As the EA Division 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.