Alaska Arc User Group: About AAUG

Alaska Arc User Group (AAUG) is a nonprofit organization that provides a forum for training, techniques, exchange of knowledge and data among the users of ESRI software and related geospatial services. The group typically convenes the third Wednesday of each month for a lunch meeting and presentation.

Board Members (Updated 01/16/2019)

President: Chris Felker, 907.762.4553
Past-President: Courtney Brozovsky, 907.261.6777
Treasurer: Chris Harrington, 907.562.2000
Secretary: Lonesa Puckett
Newsletter: Scott Norton
Meeting Logistics: Michelle Pearson
Webmaster/Job Postings: Angie Southwould
Director at Large: Marta Kumle
Director at Large: Jesse Geis
Director at Large: Ryan Young

Special Interest Group Contacts

ArcGIS Server SIG: Vacant
GPS and Field Data Collection SIG: Joel Cusick, 907.644.3549

Local User Group Contacts

Kenai Peninsula GIS User Group: Bobbi Lay, 907.714.2435
Kodiak GIS User Group: Janel Day, 907.486.9363
Northern Alaska Spatial Data User Group: Patrick Cotter, 907.452.1414
Southeast Alaska GIS User Group: Kim Homan, 907.586.7957

Next Meeting

April 21

Presenter:
Justin Crowther

Topic:
Monitoring Natural Gas Pipelines Using ESRI’s ArcGIS Mobile and Web Applications

Abstract:
Alaska Pipeline Company (APC), a division of SEMCO Energy Inc., is the sister company of ENSTAR Natural Gas Company (ENSTAR), a local gas utility servicing southcentral, Alaska. APC, operated by ENSTAR employees, constructs, maintains and operates the High Pressure Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline system for natural gas delivery to Alaska residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Both APC and ENSTAR are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) under 49 CFR 192.

Among the many PHMSA requirements, APC is required to regularly analyze our transmission pipeline system and identify segments that pose elevated risk to human life, property, and the environment. Once identified, pipeline operators are required to devote additional focus, efforts and analysis within these segments to ensure the integrity of the pipeline and the safety of the public and property. The pipeline segment categories that APC must identify in accordance with 49 CFR 192 is called High Consequence Areas (HCA).

HCAs are locales or areas along segments of the transmission pipeline system located within the pipeline’s Potential Impact Radius (PIR), and contain 20 or more structures intended for human occupancy; buildings housing populations of limited mobility; buildings that would be hard to evacuate (e.g., nursing homes, schools); or buildings and outside areas occupied by more than 20 persons on a specified minimum number of days each year. HCAs require yearly verification that identified sites, per PHMSA regulation, still meet the HCA requirements. Identifying, confirming, and managing HCAs is a core function of APC since the rule was published in the Federal Register in 2003, but previous to 2019 this process was entirely completed with paper surveys.

In order to comply with the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations and increase efficiencies, ENSTAR’s GIS team developed tools for HCA’s to effectively and efficiently identify and verify HCAs. ENSTAR used ArcGIS Collector and Survey123 that provided field crews with historical documentation in the field and collection tools to survey/document HCA sites. In addition, ENSTAR GIS developed web application for managers and office staff to track progress and verify that identified HCA sites meet PHMSA requirements.

Attend Remotely:
Google Meeting Link

Call-in Number
+1 339-545-2547
PIN: 843 242 460#

Please see the AAUG Calendar for upcoming meeting dates!

Pages

About AAUG

Board Members (Updated 01/16/2019)

Special Interest Group Contacts

Local User Group Contacts