Stedin creates an Asset Data Warehouse comprising spatial data
July 10, 2007 Editor: Hans Slootjes, Stedin, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Network management at Stedin
Stedin is the second largest energy company in the Netherlands. Stedin manages its network assets within their Smallworld Geographic Information System (GIS). The system supports a wide range of operational tasks for the design, the construction and maintenance of Stedin's electricity and gas networks.
An Asset Data Warehouse
Stedin wants to leverage their asset information and creates an Asset Data Warehouse based on Oracle technology. Since a large percentage of operational data concerning the networks is stored in Stedin's GIS it is of critical importance for Stedin to be able to extract, transform and load spatial information from the GIS into the Data Warehouse.
The functionality to analyze and visualize information within the Data Warehouse needed to be extended for the spatial information stored.
Clup/Consultants is the company that implements the Data Warehouse at Stedin and creates the information streams around the Data Warehouse.
Realworld supplied its product SyncManager to support the extract, transfer and load process from the GIS to the Data Warehouse.
Spatial Eye supplied its product Spatial Workshop to allow Stedin to visualize and analyze the spatial data in the Oracle SyncManager database.
Synchronization between Smallworld and Oracle
SyncManager is Realworld’s product that synchronizes the Smallworld Version Managed Data Store with the Oracle Spatial Database. Its performance allows users to execute synchronization processes within production environments. Realworld SyncManager creates a transparent synchronization process, giving full control over the quality of the data in both systems.
Through a user-friendly interface the Stedin administrator can setup the data mapping between the GIS and Oracle. Logging and tuning functionality give the administrator a transparent overview of the whole Smallworld ETL process.
Visualization of spatial data
There is a long history and a broad range of tools to analyze and report data within a Data Warehouse. However viewing, analyzing and reporting spatial information within a Data Warehouse is a challenge that only emerged in recent times. Utility network assets have complex spatial data structures. The same network assets may be represented in geographic maps, schematic maps, sketches, etc. Historic changes in the assets data are stored in the Data Warehouse. Taking all these aspects into account, the visualization and analysis of spatial data in a Data Warehouse becomes a challenging job.
Spatial Workshop
Stedin used Spatial Workshop to visualize and analyze the spatial data in the Oracle database. It allowed Stedin to evaluate the quality of the data after the ETL process, one of the critical aspects for the future use of the Asset Data Warehouse.
The users of the system could have a look at the different representations of the network at a glance and model the spatial business objects according to their needs.
Company information
Stedin is one of the three largest energy companies in the Netherlands. Stedin produces transports and distributes electricity, gas, heat and related services (measuring, maintenance, installations and billing). In total Stedin serves approximately two million business and private customers.
Read more on www.stedin.nl >
Clup/consultants is a company with broad experience in the area of organizing information streams within companies, generally known as the market of ‘Business Intelligence’.
Read more on www.clupconsultants.nl >
Spatial Eye develops service oriented IT products, that allow users to collect, manage, analyze and integrate spatial information from a wide range of sources. Our lead product, Spatial Workshop, allows users to adjust and integrate spatial information into their core business processes.
Read more on www.spatial-eye.com >