What is a GIS?

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer tool for mapping and analyzing just about any object you can think of on earth--from power poles to urban landscape, earthquake faults to tennis courts, oil rigs to four-star restaurants. GIS technology combines powerful information handling capabilities with the unique visual perspective of a good old-fashioned map. This makes GIS unique among computer based information systems. Its analyses can be used in a wide range of public agencies and private businesses, helping in planning, cost reduction and better-informed decision-making.

What does GIS do for Franklin PUD?

Performs Geographic Information Gathering and Analysis
The ability of a GIS to search a large amount of geographic and non-geographic data has saved the PUD time and money. The GIS has helped reduce costs by:

Improve Organizational Data Sharing

Since the PUD has started using GIS we have found that one of its main benefits is improved management of the organization and electrical system. Because the GIS has the ability to link information together by its location, it simplifies information sharing and communication between the different departments. By creating a shared database, one department can benefit from the work of another - data can be collected once and used many times.

Make Better Decisions

The old adage "better information leads to better decisions" is as true for GIS as it is for other information systems. The GIS, however, is not an automated decision making system but a tool to query, analyze, and map data in support of the decision making process. The information can be presented clearly in the form of a map and accompanying report, allowing the PUD's decision makers to focus on the real issues rather than trying to understand the data. Because GIS products can be produced quickly, multiple ideas can be evaluated efficiently and effectively.

Making Maps

Maps have a special place in the PUD's GIS. The process of making maps with GIS is much more flexible than are traditional manual methods. The GIS-based mapping data is seamless and large areas can be viewed at one time. Map products can then be created centered on any location, at any scale, and showing selected information symbolized effectively to highlight specific facilities.

Awardees at GeoSpatial World 2005

The following awards were given out by Intergraph CEO Halsey Wise at GeoSpatial World 2005, the annual international training and management conference, in San Francisco, California.

Recipient: Franklin County Public Utility District, United States

Small can be powerful! Franklin County PUD serves 22,500 customers in a territory of 500 square miles. The fully digitized system rivals that of many larger companies with its work order design application that accesses compatible units and job pricing from within the geospatial environment. All network topology data, including 35,000 primary features, is mapped to one foot accuracy.