Online Forum Asks if GIS Can Serve as a Framework for Satisfying DIMP Regulations

Redlands, California—September 21, 2010—Geography is tied to every element of risk analysis for gas distribution. On this premise, gas utilities are able to use geographic information system (GIS) technology in their work to satisfy Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) regulations, according to Rob Brook, pipeline and gas industry manager for Esri. Brook broaches the subject of GIS for DIMP at Spatial Roundtable, where others in the gas utility industry are encouraged to join the discussion.

DIMP regulations, put forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, aim to ensure better overall management of the risks that impact gas distribution infrastructure.

“Spatial Roundtable invites gas utility leaders to give their opinions about moving GIS beyond the engineering department and using it as an analytic tool for DIMP requirements,” Brook said. “While we already rely on GIS for data creation and maintenance, we can extend its use to identify and quantify threats, calculate and model risks, and create reports.”

The Esri-sponsored Spatial Roundtable opens the discussion to all parties with a stake in DIMP regulations and geospatial technology. Spatial Roundtable is designed for industry thought leaders to share their points of view about concerns, trends, challenges, and technologies. Participants in the online Spatial Roundtable discussion include the main contributor, who initiates the discussion, and invited topic-expert guests. Site visitors may also add comments. Topics remain open for discussion for 6 weeks. Archived topics are accessible for 24 months.

Visit www.spatialroundtable.com.

About Esri

Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS, Esri software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of Web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world’s mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at www.esri.com/news.



Contact:

Jessica Wyland,
Esri
Tel.: 909-793-2853, extension 1-3345
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