Abstract

GIS cadastral mapping for CREZ utility transmission line corridor
Track: Education
Authors: Chris Robertson, Richard Smith, Gary Jeffress, Stacey Lyle

Abstract For Review
'GIS cadastral mapping for CREZ (Competitive Renewable
Energy Zone) utility transmission line corridor'
by
Chris Robertson, Stacey Lyle, Gary Jeffress, and Richard Smith

The Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation (LCRA TSC) is one of several transmission service providers that have been formally ordered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to construct a new CREZ transmission line throughout Texas. A Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) is an area where wind generation facilities are installed throughout West Texas and the Panhandle region from which transmission facilities are built to various other areas of the state to deliver mostly renewable power to end-use consumers in a beneficial and cost-effective manner.
The aim of this research is to create a digital parcel cadastral system of areas that are affected by transmission facilities within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform. A GIS cadastral system would assist the LCRA TSC manage project phasing, select a final transmission corridor, and help notify affected land owners within Schleicher County, Texas. Schleicher County does not maintain any vector based parcel data, digital copies of grantor/grantee deed records, or county appraisal tax maps in digital format that the LCRA TSC requires. It is within scope of this research that the vector based cadastral data created follow descriptions filed as official public records that verify parcel dimensions as well as various parcel attribute data that states current property ownership and relative information within the public domain. The result of this cadastral information system allows the LCRA TSC to identify a feasible CREZ transmission utility corridor and land owners willing to participate.