ZESCO GIS – Geographic Information System for Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation.

Project Name: ZESGIS – Supply, installation, testing, user training and commissioning of GIS
Client: ZESCO – Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited
Country: Zambia


ZESCO is Zambia’s largest power company producing about 90% of the electricity consumed in the country

The Project Objectives

The objective of the project was to implement a GIS system as the foundation to provide a one network model to all enterprise applications and to further improve operational efficiencies.

These solutions have been integrated with existing third party solutions such as CMS (costumer management system), finance system, SPMS (store and procurement), TMS (transport management system), MWFM (mobile work force management) etc., using a standard based enterprise integration bus to enhance interoperability by unlocking information silos.

Scope of Work

Supply, installation, testing, user training and commissioning of GIS (Geographical Information System).

The scope of work involves:

  • Supply of an Open electric utility GIS software conforming to Open GIS standards.
  • Developing/ customizing a GIS software application for integration of single line diagrams of the distribution network with updated customer related data and network attribute data for distribution planning, data analysis and reporting facilities.
  • Electrical Network Analysis Application Software, Planning, Design & Construction including the associated workflow and Energy Audit application software.
  • Implementation of GIS system using data from Open ++ Opera and customer – transformer links database from an existing DMS and CMS respectively.
  • Coordinate with the relevant suppliers of the existing corporate system to integrate with the GIS application.
  • Training of ZESCO personnel on the software applications, underpinned by a strong change management.
  • Annual maintenance of software for 5 Years.

Solution & Tools

Our solution is based on Esri and Schnieder Electric technologies with the addition of CYMDIST electric analysis package.

The GIS tools are based on ArcGIS and ArcFM software:

(ArcGIS Desktop Standard (ArcEditor), ArcGIS Network Analyst Extension, ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Extension, ArcFM Server Standard, ArcFM Network Adapter, ArcFM Conduit Manager,ArcFM fibre extension, ArcFM Designer ,ArcFM Viewer)

Client Needs

The project broad objective was to Provide support to location based network analysis, planning, design, construction, and operation.

  • And achieve the following goals:
  • To further improve operational efficiencies.
  • To provide a one network model to all enterprise applications. These solutions shall be integrated with existing third party solutions such as CMS, PEMS, IVR and AMI using a standard based (or SOA) enterprise integration bus to enhance interoperability by unlocking information silos.Provide access to a single, comprehensive and up-to-date geospatial fully connected view of ZESCO’s electrical network assets.
  • Provide an enterprise-wide approach to information to eliminate inefficiencies arising from duplicity of efforts in maintaining disparate databases.
  • Integrate with SCADA/DMS/OMS, PEMS, CMS and MWFM via a standards based enterprise integration bus to leverage geospatial asset data.
  • Provide workflow integration between the new design and construction module and the other existing support systems i.e. Oracle financials, Stores and Procurement, Transport Management and Payroll and Human Resources.

Project Process

ZESGIS project focuses on Geospatial capabilities and requires deep knowledge in electricity and GIS technology.

The project includes:

  • Site survey
  • Data modelling
  • Data migration
  • Business process models
  • System design
  • Hardware- equipment including servers, desktops, scanners, printers.
  • Implementing and customized the ARCFM and ARCMAP products for the client needs.
  • Training- on-site and at manufacture’s site.
  • Change management
  • support
  • Routine ongoing maintenance

 

In order to promise ZESCO a successful implementation of the proposed system, and following the best practices recommended by the software vendors, we are delivering the proposed system as few sub-systems, each with it’s own timeline of implementation and deliveries. This approach is enabling ZESCO to take advantage of each sub-system as it is being completed & delivered, without the need to hold the entire delivery until all the described functionality is ready.

Our experience shows this is the best realistic way to implement the proposed GIS system, and the changes it will bring to ZESCO’s way of handling the electric network, in the least disruptive form and the best sequence that will insure successful implementation and adoption.

ZESCO geospatial information system implementation began on June 2016.

 

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