Data Processing
One of the major objectives of the GIS is to correlate the data obtained from the PCM, CPS and LPS surveys and provide a decision support tool. To achieve this the survey data is geo-referenced and integrated into the GIS. Various background data sets are added and evaluated to provide additional input. This process is completed by GEOSS on behalf of OICCG.
GIS has many potential applications, the most apparent being the positional details and attributes of a pipeline network. The strength of the GIS lies in its ability to synthesise information from the network, thus enabling it to be used as a decision support tool. The significant benefit of using the GIS is that the spatial data is geographically referenced and the relationships between the different entities (or themes) can be explored and analyzed. For example, where are the high risk points along the pipeline in terms of the PCM, CPS and LPS survey results and how do these relate to other data sets, such as roads, property boundaries, rivers, wetlands, boreholes etc. The GIS also facilitates the comparison of surveys done on different dates.
The GIS also facilitates the comprehension of the survey results
and enables the viewing of multiple results simultaneously for the
development of maintenance plans and emergency response plans. The
accuracy of the GIS is determined by the accuracy of the input data
- if these are measured with sub-meter accuracy, they can be displayed
and analysed with sub-meter accuracy.