Advances in technology, such as cell phones, traffic network monitoring, electric cars and a myriad of small rechargeable devices, are creating ever-increasing demands for electric energy. Electricity powers the communication networks, drives the pumps that deliver water, lights the signals that control traffic and runs the radar that allows us to monitor and direct air traffic. Utilities are responding by creating new generation, high-capacity transmission, renewable energy and the smart grid. These new facilities, their design, construction and management are presenting significant challenges and opportunities for electric utilities.

To help utilities to successfully provide reliable electricity to their customers, the Geospatial Information Technology Association (GITA) is supplying companies with the critical information needed to create geography-based solutions.

Overcoming Obstacles

In today's economy, utilities must contend with several obstacles, including the condition and age of assets, economic pressure on capital and maintenance budgets, and continued population growth. Recently, the economic pressure has been especially acute, and as a result, the government has provided funding to promote economic recovery through infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure has many interdependencies, and the geospatial community intuitively understands the role that geography and geographic analysis play in understanding the complexity of our infrastructure.

Our infrastructure is continuing to change, along with the management of our infrastructure. Systems have become more integrated, software is getting more powerful and implementations are growing more complex. As time goes on, GITA is gaining more insight into the usage of geospatial systems and educating utilities about the latest technology.

Tools and Education

As the association for geospatial information and technology professionals, GITA provides many opportunities for collaboration and sharing of geospatial knowledge.

Through research initiatives and programming, GITA is educating electric utilities on the best practices in the geospatial industry. One of the key ways in which GITA shares its knowledge about the latest issues in the geospatial industry is through its annual conference.

The Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions (GIS) Conference held April 25-29 in Phoenix, Arizona, is an annual highlight for the association. During this event, the geospatial community comes together to learn, contribute and participate in the ever-growing geospatial industry. As billions are announced for investment in infrastructure, GITA is bringing hundreds of geospatial users and vendors to Phoenix for four days of education, networking and collaboration.

Because geospatial technology and electrical infrastructure is changing on a daily basis, GITA is not offering the same topics year after year. As we often say, the annual event is not your father's GIS conference. Instead, it is a reflection of current trends and technology, and it helps electric utilities to be well informed about geospatial technology so they can embrace the challenges that lie ahead.

Tactical Sessions

The conference planning committee has been hard at work preparing a comprehensive program to address the issues facing infrastructure today. The speakers will discuss challenges and share information on possible geospatial solutions.

The 2010 conference will offer sessions on geographic applications in critical infrastructure protection; problems of aging infrastructure; executive decision support; field force automation; preparation for and response to natural disasters; and the modernization of infrastructure to support sustainable development.

GIS practitioners can learn about the geographic technologies that enable these applications such as the evolution of global positioning technology, evaluating the return on investment of GIS projects, and regulatory implications of GIS technology. In addition, the Industry Trends Analysis Group Meeting will focus on the geospatial dimensions of the smart grid and similar intelligent infrastructure applications.

To provide even more benefits to this year's attendees, GITA is co-locating with the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping, and the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors' 2010 Annual Conference and Technology Exhibition. By attending these side-by-side conferences, electric utility professionals can learn more about surveying and mapping as well as geospatial infrastructure.

The GITA Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference will prepare electric utilities to leverage geographic knowledge to solve utilities challenges today and in the future.

---

Ralph Anhold (ranhold@esri.com) is GITA's 2010 Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference chair. He serves as an account manager at ESRI.