POWERmap is a desktop mapping application that was developed by Platts, a company engaged providing data and applications to the power industry and specifically the natural gas, electric, and coal markets. POWERmap contains about 65 mapping layers covering those industries. It is built on an open architecture using MapInfo technology and users can import or export any information they need such as from a proprietary database. Clients are supplied with a quarterly updates on a CD of data and have the ability to download any software or data enhancements made to the product via the web.

Jim Schattin is Director of Spatial Products at Platts, and provided some additional information on POWERmap, which was developed using MapInfo Professional. “What we did was to take a different route to make it more simplistic because our customers where not GIS savvy. So, what we did was standardize or customize our own GIS application using a MapX component provided to us by MapInfo. And we created a standalone application that allows you to have the same functionality as MapInfo Pro, but not as robust an environment. It is definitely more scaled-down; more intuitive where we have “spelled-out” how to do everything.”

POWERmap has a Query builder and Thematic mapping capabilities so you can size a power plant by its megawatt rating or a color it by its fuel type. Information can be exported to image files so you can make PowerPoint presentations and Word document.

“Some of our query capabilities we have enhanced to allow for our clients to do tabular or geographic queries all within one interface so it does not take them multiple steps to get at their results, said Schattin. One common example is where an independent power producer is looking for an area to build infrastructure. So, they need to know where natural gas pipelines cross electric transmission lines, because if they are looking to build a natural gas fuel power plant they need an area that is close to a gas pipeline in order to get the gas to fuel the power plant. And they want to be close to a transmission line in order to take that generation from the power plant and throw it back into the grid. So, we have customized that and made it easily attainable within one interface. We have also created what is called a site location report. What this allows you to do is select an object on the map or a feature, for example a point, and determine what pieces of infrastructure are within 5, 10, or 15 miles of that particular point to give you a quick synopsis of what infrastructure is in the area and what companies have a presence within that area.”

Essentially, Platts has taken their library of power industry paper maps that they have published over the years and turned them into digital data. In addition, Platts uses a variety of sources such as from utility companies or state power commissions. Then they standardize the data by using DLG (digital line graph) lines provided by the USGS. Platts verifies the point-to-point connectivity of grids to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Form 1 to verify that the location bases are correct and accurate.

POWERmap has many applications. Schattin commented that, “the application helps determine how to transport coal from its source to a fuel power plant; what rail, what barge can be used to transport the fuel. Natural gas is very similar. We collect daily flows from electronic bulletin boards, so you know what the average daily flow on a given point in a pipeline.”

Recently, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency signed a $1.93 million annual contract to use POWERmap. In a recent press release, it was stated that, “The Platts services will be used across multiple US federal government agencies for critical energy infrastructure security risk analysis and mitigation, and system reliability. The contract was secured through a fast-track Request for Proposal process.”