Application of GIS And GPS in Distribution Power Sector

Anil Kumar, Arun M Shandilya & S. K. Katiyar

Manit Bhopal
E-mail : anilbaraik777@yahoo.co.in, arunshandilya@yahoo.com, skatiyar7@rediffmail.com

attribute are represented with the help of lines, points or

polygons in a geo referenced map.

Abstract - With the advancement in Software and IT

sector, our electricity utility is going to be much more
benefited in power system planning and management. The
main objective of a utility is to supply the power demand
with good quality of service but unfortunately we are
unable to do so due to uneven and variable load condition.
This had led to advance in new methods which can make
effective changes in solving the intricacy of electrical
distribution system. This paper shows the application of
new and emerging technologies like GIS (geographic
information system) and GPS (global positioning system)
which are capable of carrying out complex online and
offline power system analysis like Load flow analysis, Load
forecasting,
Route
optimization,
supply
control
distribution planning etc. using shortest path algorithm all
this we can do in a software called ARCGIS 9.3.

GPS - A global positioning system is an artificial

satellite based navigation used to get the exact location
of any physical object in term of latitude & longitude
with the help of a GPS device
II. WHY GIS IN POWER SECTOR

Keywords - ARCGIS 9.3, Geographical Information System,

(GIS) Global Position System (GPS).

I.

1.

VISUALIZATION TOOL- A conceptual model of

a GIS provides a useful way to visualize both
physical & electrical layer in a single screen
registered together to a common base map or
geographic area. Each layer typically contains one
type of data only.

2.

FLEXIBILITY IN ANALYSIS - With GIS, one can

easily manipulate and carry out different task
related to power system planning & management of
electricity with efficient results. Such as planning or
updating a new distribution network.

3.

When new facilities are installed, GIS database can

be updated easily to accommodate new features.

4.

Thus map revision and digital mapping become

easy in GIS Environment.

5.

It is useful in planning a routine maintenance.

6.

Customers enquiries can be handled easily.

7.

Sharing of data among different users like Urban

Planners, Construction Managers, Civil Engineers
is also Possible

8.

Ready-to-use tools.

INTRODUCTION

The present situation shows that the Distribution

sector in India is the weakest area compared to
Generation & Transmission. It directly affects the
consumer because most of the losses and faults occur in
this particular area. Due to insufficient attention in
transmission & distribution losses the situation is worse
in some rural areas. The average T&D losses are
currently at 28%[3] by the year 2012.Lack of proper
administration & power theft are some common reasons
for the high losses. Thus the present distribution system
requires to be upgraded to minimize the loss. Also by
applying GIS we can reduce the distribution planning
cost by reducing the material cost through Optimum
feeder path.

III. APPLICATION IN POWER SECTOR

GIS - It is a digital representation of consumers,

network elements & important landmarks on a geo
referenced map, with their attributes stored in a
database, OR we can say that it is a system used to
capture, store ,analyze and managing data and attributes
associated with it which are referenced to the earth. In
GIS software all information regarding physical

Database management.

GIS based Electrical network mapping.

Optimum feeder path.[2]

GIS based Consumer database indexing.

ISSN (Print): 2278-8948, Volume-2, Issue-5, 2013

23

International Journal of Advanced Electrical and Electronics Engineering, (IJAEEE)

Metering, Billing & Collection Efficiency.

Selection of optimal conductors.

Energy audit and accounting practices.

Load Flow analysis.

Supervisory control & Data acquisition (SCADA).

System & Distribution Automation.

Maintenance management System.

Management Information System.

Load forecasting and load planning

Inventory control.
IV. METHODOLOGY
FIG: excel data in CSV format

FIELD SURVEY

DATA ORGANIZATION

DATA IMPORT & LAYER CREATION

ANALLYSIS

ATTRIBUTE TABLE

IX. TYPE OF LAYER DATA

V. SOFTWARE USED

ARC GIS 9.3

GPS DEVICE

GOOGLE EARTH

X. VECTOR LAYER

VI. INTRODUCTION TO ARC GIS & GPS

ARC GIS- It is a software designed & developed by
ESRI & it consists of 3 GIS software products:
1.

ARC VIEW

2.

ARC EDITOR

3.

ARC INFO
VII. FIELD SURVEY
XI. GEOREFRENCING

It consists of capturing geographical coordinates

(latitude & longitude) of electrical elements like Poles,
Transformer, HT & LT cables. With the help of a
portable GPS device in decimal degrees format.

It is a process of defining the coordinate of a map

image so that it get correctly placed concurrently with
other different shape file placed in ARC MAP window.
PROCEDURE - It require a map application like
GOOGLE EARTH

VIII. DATA ORGANIZATION

This process consist of two steps1.
2.

Step 1: Open arc catalogue & edit the spatial

property of map WGS 1984

Arranging & placing all the coordinates in

Microsoft Excel Document.

Step 2: Import map image in arc map.

Saving them with file extension-CSV (comma

delimited).

Step 3: Point & select at least 3 locations & input

the actual (X &Y) field taken Google earth.

ISSN (Print): 2278-8948, Volume-2, Issue-5, 2013

24

International Journal of Advanced Electrical and Electronics Engineering, (IJAEEE)

Fig: Geo referenced Map

Fig: Road Shape File

XII. DATA IMPORT & LAYER CREATION

This is the stage we just import all the different
layer, shape file & base map using ADD DATA button
in ARC GIS desktop.
S
NO

SHAPE
FILE TYPE

POINT

LINE

POLYGON

FILE EXTENSION
&
DISCRIPTION
1) .shp- Point Data in ARC GIS
2) .gpx-GPS Exchange
Format
3) .kml- Keyhole Markup
Language
4) .lyr- Layer Data in ARC GIS
Fig: Location of Transformer in Point Shape File

TABLE: Shape File Description

XIII. SCREEN SHOTS

Fig: Base Map

Fig: Location of Poles in Point Shape File

ISSN (Print): 2278-8948, Volume-2, Issue-5, 2013

25

International Journal of Advanced Electrical and Electronics Engineering, (IJAEEE)

XV. CONCLUSION
1.

Better customer services

2.

Reduction of technical losses

3.

Energy audit and accounting

4.

Trouble call management

5.

Real time operation of distribution network

6.

Better revenue protection

7.

Long term distribution planning etc.

XVI. REFRENCES

[1]

Philip Smith, Virgilio Centeno, Jaime De La Ree,

Mapping The Electrical Influence Of
Distributed Generation On Radial Distribution
Networks Using Geographic Information
Systems, Securing Critical Infrastructures,
Grenoble on October 2004.

[2]

Priyanka Dixit, J.D.Sharma, M.K.Singhal, Gis

And Gps Based Preliminary Distribution System
Planning, NCEEERE 2008.

[3]

Planning Commission Of India.

[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gps.

Fig: Location of Buildings in Polygon Shape File

Fig: Final Screen Showing All Shape File

XIV. CREATING ATTRIBUTE TABLE

1.

Network database indexing.

2.

Creation of customer database linked to HT & LT

lines.

3.

All consumers are given a unique CIN (Consumer

Index Number).

4.

All network elements are identified and their

technical Attributes are recorded in a ARC GIS 9.3.

ISSN (Print): 2278-8948, Volume-2, Issue-5, 2013

26