The GIS4SmartGrid 2018 will be held from 20-22 November in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This new conference brings together 120+ Geographical Information System leaders and experts from electrical utilities for three days of case study reviews of system implementation, spatial data management, and smart grid applications.
In-depth research carried out with 30+ GIS leaders working in the power grid sector has uncovered that utilities are in the process of radically overhauling their GIS systems and infrastructure. Investment in upgrading these systems has grown sharply in recent years, along with pressure on IT teams and GIS specialists to deliver next-generation functionality, more detailed data, and cross-platform support for a wider range of business end-users to support smarter performance of the grid.
While the scope for utilising GIS is increasing, it is still too often viewed as just a legacy system for performing basic report- and map-generation functions. Moreover, as the energy transition picks up pace network operators will be more reliant on accurate and complete data, but in many cases their geospatial and topological data is not up to this standard. “GIS has a huge part to play in the evolution of the smart grid,” says Robin Sarfas, Conference Producer at Phoenix Forums, organisers of GIS4SmartGrid 2018. “TSOs and DSOs have had existing systems in place for a long time, but many are just now realising how much of their more advanced asset management, network planning, engineering and other activities are underpinned by reliable data on the physical reality of the network and the environment.”
It is for these reasons that Phoenix Forums are launching the premier GIS4SmartGrid 2018 conference, exhibition, and networking forum. Drawing together 120+ utilities GIS specialists for an intensive three-day programme of implementation case studies, 16+ utilities will share how they are transforming the way they manage and utilise their GIS to automate many of its core functions, support more advanced applications, extend accessibility to a wider range of business units, and maximise grid awareness and performance.
Speakers will share their experience in improving their GIS systems and utilising them to provide full geospatial and topological context in applications carried out by a broad range of business units including asset management, network planning, outage prediction and prevention, field-force deployment, and active network management. The agenda also features discussions on how new technological developments such as migration to the cloud and 3D modelling can support and deepen further insight. Finally, the event concludes with a tutorial on open-source GIS implementation, specifically the QGIS platform.
Alongside the case-study programme and tutorial is a technology innovation panel discussion featuring cutting-edge suppliers, a series of intimate end-user roundtables, a live demo lab of the latest systems and solutions, an exhibition area displaying 10+ state of the art technology vendors, and an evening networking reception open to all attendees.
“The launch of this event is to support utilities in making the best decisions and extracting the most value from their GIS systems,” says Mandana White, Director at Phoenix Forums. “The choices they make for their GIS strategy today will have a huge impact on their ability to meet the demands of the energy transition tomorrow. Just as we have supported utilities in moving to the next-generation of SCADA capabilities, it is our intention to provide a much-needed dedicated forum for GIS leaders and experts in the power grid sector to come together and share their ideas on how to progress.”
Discussions topics include:
- System implementation and integration: exploring next-generation GIS systems and how to integrate them with a range of IT and OT systems including SCADA and ERP
- Data quality: taking steps to ensure GIS data meets the standards required for smart grid applications and provides a complete map of geospatial network information
- Advanced functionality: building GIS platforms and tools which provide a full suite of functionalities to support a wide range of business users from multiple departments
- Cross-platform functionality: developing support for advanced GIS applications through clients in desktop, web-based, and mobile formats
- Visualisations: producing accessible, interactive maps and visualisations which make insights accessible to a variety of internal and external stakeholders
- Open-source GIS: exploiting the growth in performance of QGIS to complement your existing tools, add flexibility, and even replace proprietary systems
Utilities being invited to participate include: Alliander, National Grid, Enel, TenneT, E.On, Innogy SE, Iberdrola, EDP, Red Electrica de Espana, Stedin, Scottish Power Energy Networks, Fluvius, Enedis, Statnett, Vattenfall, RTE, Elia, Augstprieguma tikls, Elenia, Swissgrid and UK Power Networks. Suppliers being invited to participate include: ESRI, GE, Hexagon/Intergraph, CGI, Siemens, Powel and Bentley.