Data Analysis in Parallel With GIS Systems

Abstract

The processing and integration of data for direct assessment (DA) and in-line inspection (ILI) comparisons is critical to making sound integrity-based decisions. While geographic information systems (GIS) are now commonly used to model pipeline systems, most day-to-day data processing and integration occurs outside of the GIS, for example in Microsoft Excel™. As such, Det Norske Veritas (DNV) developed a data integration tool within Excel™ as part of a large scale stress corrosion cracking direct assessment (SCCDA) program for a major pipeline operator. Linear based data provided by the client (e.g., in-line inspections, girth welds, previous excavations, close interval survey, coating, grade and wall thickness, pressure history, road and water crossings, risk assessments, landowner information, etc.) is processed, analyzed and incorporated into the overlay. This tool provides the ability to integrate any linear based data in a graphical representation of the pipeline along continuous and parallel chainage. The overlay allows for identifying similar locations using criteria that are difficult to program into an algorithm and helps engineers to relate complex factors during the decision making process. The overlay also provides the ability to easily extract data relevant to sites selected for assessment along the pipeline. The data integration tool has already found many applications beyond SCCDA since it provides a robust process to integrate and analyze data in parallel with GIS systems. The overlay provides engineers with a method to make decisions without learning complex GIS programs and has the added ability to feed the results back into GIS systems. Such decision making processes and applications include direct assessment programs, cathodic protection enhancements, risk reduction programs, in-line inspection comparisons, and maintenance activities.