Conversion of Pipeline Alignment Sheets into GIS to Aid in Linear Referencing (Stationing)

Conversion of Pipeline Alignment Sheets into GIS to Aid in Linear Referencing (Stationing)

Bass-Trigon Software LLC, now part of American Innovations, designs and develops software for integrity management, risk assessment, pipeline compliance, and corrosion data management. The company also offers engineering services and field computer solutions for the petroleum and natural gas pipeline industry.	Original Pipeline Alignment Sheet Drawing
In order for Bass-Trigon to perform high consequence area identification of pipeline systems, there was a need for uniform and accurate pipeline information. The pipeline information, obtained from Bass-Trigon's customers, resided in either hard-copy formats or in various computer formats such as AutoCAD. Bass-Trigon approached DDS to help them with converting these different datasets into one uniform pipeline coverage so that linear referencing could be performed within the ESRI Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment.	Pipeline Alignment Sheet in AutoCAD Pipeline Alignment Sheet in ESRI ArcView
The data sources provided by Bass-Trigon included a mix of AutoCAD drawings, ESRI .shp files, and large format hard-copy alignment sheets. Additional data sources used on the project were supplied by DDS, Inc. and included high resolution aerial imagery and Public Land Survey (PLS) data.
The hard-copy alignment sheets were scanned using DDS's large format scanner. The images were then georeferenced to ground control spatial data using a minimum of 8 to 16 points control points. The pipeline features were then digitized and attributed in ArcGIS. For the AutoCAD drawings, only the pertinent layers were converted into .a shp file format and attributed accordingly. A spatial adjustment was performed using PLS and aerial imagery as control to ensure additional data accuracy. Adjacent features from the digitized maps, along with the features from the converted AutoCAD files, were edgematched and checked for errors (overshoots, undershoots). Those errors were then fixed using sophisticated analytical tools. The final deliverable to the client was ArcGIS geodatabase coverages.	Converting and Normalizing Datasets from Different Sources Registering Drawings with Limited Control into a Real World Coordinate System Ability to Analyze Critical Information within a GIS Environment
The delivered GIS files aided Bass Trigon in the completion of linear referencing (stationing) for the pipelines. This was useful for collecting and storing information regarding pipeline facilities; both inline and physical inspection histories; regulatory compliance information; risk assessment studies; work history events; and geographic information, such as environmentally sensitive areas, political boundaries (e.g., state and county), right-of-way boundaries, and various types of crossings. DDS Website	Helping you make better decisions through information... Digital Data Services, Inc.

Digitizing Contours, Faults, Dips and Strikes from USGS Special Series Geologic Maps

Digitizing Contours, Faults, Dips and Strikes from USGS Special Series Geologic Maps

Samson Investment Company is a privately-held independent exploration and production company. Samson’s oil and natural gas activities originate from their headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma and include most major oil and gas regions in North America.
The purpose was to provide Samson with vector representations of contours and faults as depicted on two USGS Special Series Petroleum Reserve maps. Samson used this data for analysis of petroleum production and potential well site locations within the Petra software environment.	Digitized Map Information in ArcGIS 3D Surface File Created from ASCII XYZ Table
The data sources included two 36"x40" USGS Special Series maps; Professional Paper 163, Plate 6 and Plate 7. Additional control used by DDS included Public Land Survey (PLS) data and aerial imagery.
DDS obtained the USGS maps by borrowing the maps from the USGS Map Library in Denver, Colorado- which is conveniently located across the street from DDS's main office. DDS created high resolution images by scanning the maps on a large format color scanning device.  The maps were georeferenced into their proper spatial location using a minimum of 8 points as the control. DDS digitized the structure contours into an editable vector format and z-values (elevation values) were assigned to the contour lines. All faults, dips and strikes, and escarpment features were digitized and separate GIS coverage files were created. Two different data sets were created supplied to the customer; an ASCII .xyz file and ESRI .shp files.	Researching and Obtaining Out-of-Print USGS Petroleum Maps and Converting the Information into GIS. Georeferencing Map Information with Limited Control on the Source Documents. Supplying Information in Multiple Formats for a Variety of CAD and Mapping Software.
By converting the paper maps into an intelligent GIS file, Samson was able to easily update their working field maps within the Petra Environment. DDS Website	Helping you make better decisions through information... Digital Data Services, Inc.

Petroleum Well Database Update

Petroleum Well Database Update

IHS offers products and solutions for all aspects of oil and gas asset management workflow from strategic planning through exploration, production and delivery.
IHS approached DDS with a need to populate over 3.5 million petroleum well locations with their appropriate surface elevation values. The IHS Well Database it is the largest, most comprehensive U.S. well database, accounting for virtually every well drilled and produced back to 1859.	The IHS Well Database Well Data in ArcGIS
The data sources provided by IHS included a Microsoft Access database. This database contained the latitude and longitude values of each well, the well API number, and production information.
Using ESRI GIS geocoding technology, DDS converted the database into GIS features based on the latitude and longitude values contained in the table. The 10 meter National Elevation Dataset (DEM Data) was loaded into the ArcGIS workspace and a spatial join was created linking the well data to the elevation dataset. By doing this, DDS was able to automatically assign the wells an elevation attribute based on their spatial location. The data was exported out of GIS and converted back into the Microsoft Access format.	Comparing and Analyzing Multiple Spatial Datasets File to File Translation and Conversion Geocoding of Spatially Referenced ASCII Files
The delivered database now contained a field titled "elevation" with the appropriate surface elevation shown in feet. This well information is used by Geologists, Engineers, and GeoTechnicians in the comprehensive understanding of a well's history, along with complete details on surrounding wells. This analysis is typically performed in a Geographic Information Systems environment. DDS Website	Helping you make better decisions through information... Digital Data Services, Inc.

Petroleum Well File Document Scanning & Retrieval

Petroleum Well File Document Scanning & Retrieval

El Paso Exploration and Production Inc., is one of North America’s largest independent natural gas producers.
El Paso E&P approached Digital Data Services, Inc. (DDS) for assistance in the electronic archiving of over 549 banker boxes containing original documentation related to producing and non-producing wells. These original documents were being housed at El Paso E&P’s Denver, Colorado office- which was relocating to Houston, Texas. One concern was transporting the boxes of the original documents to Houston. If something were to happen to those files in transit, their valuable data could be lost.	The Online Custom Document Retrieval System The Document Search Interface
The documents provided by El Paso E&P for digital conversion included over 362,000 small format documents and 6,880 oversized drilling reports on various types of media.
DDS initiated the project by developing a custom tracking system in Microsoft Access to insure that the whereabouts and status of each banker box. DDS provided daily status reports about which boxes were scanned, which were waiting for production, and which boxes were in production. At the suggestion of DDS, the files were also organized into an online document management system which enabled the user to perform multiple search criteria such as well number, operator name, county, and vicinity.	The Ability to Manage Large Amounts of Information within Multiple Facilities Simplify the Archiving and Document Retrieval Process Allows for Accessibility of Information Between Multiple Locations
Within days of scanning, the documents were accessible online through the document management system and were protected from potential disaster. The document management system also provided them with other benefits- the data could now be retrieved quickly and efficiently. The electronic archiving and retrieving was quite an advantage over having original paper documents residing in one central location.	Helping you make better decisions through information... Digital Data Services, Inc.

DDS Website

XCEL Energy Case Study

XCEL Energy Case Study

Discovery Channel Case Study

DISCOVERY Channel Case Study

Water District Case Study

Water District Case Study

Geologic Map Creation

Geologic Map Creation- Colorado State Geologic Survey Mapping

Colorado Department of Natural Resources Colorado Geological Survey The Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) is a state agency within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Its mission is to help reduce the impact of geologic hazards, promote responsible economic development of mineral and energy resources, provide geologic insight into water resources, and to provide geologic advice and information to a variety of constituencies.
State Geologic Survey Mapping Component (STATEMAP) is one of three components of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP). Geologic maps produced as part of Colorado's STATEMAP program are used by geoscience professionals and by planners and decision-makers at the state, county, and municipal levels of government.  Digital Data Services, Inc (DDS) was hired by the Colorado Geological Survey to produce eight publication quality geologic maps for the Colorado STATEMAP program.	Maysville, Colorado Geologic Map Maysville, Colorado Geologic Map- Cross Sections
Data was provided by CGS-contracted geologists to be compiled into a geologic report that typically consisted of two plates and a report. Geologists collected field data utilizing GPS-units and created geologic unit features from aerial photography. Field data and geologic units were provided to DDS for cleaning and symbolization. Creating the map plates utilized geologic units, faults, anticline and synclines, strikes and dips, and various other geologic features.
Geologic plates were created by utilizing a “cleaned” USGS topographic quadrangle. Geologic units were processed to create a topologically correct layer. Where map were adjacent to other mapped quadrangles, polygons were edge-matched. All datasets were converted to a standardized format. Final output included both Adobe Acrobat PDF versions and complete datasets for use in ESRI ArcGIS or ESRI ArcReader.	Creation of Map Information Utilizing Multiple  Data Sources Custom Cartographic Services Ability to Support & Deliver GIS Data with Desktop Publishing Formats
Information from these maps is regularly incorporated into decision-making on a wide variety of local and county-wide issues that include indentifying geologic hazards, protecting ground water resources, locating new municipal wells, siting waste-disposal facilities, identifying potential aggregate resources, and addressing a broad spectrum of land-use concerns.	Helping you make better decisions through information... Digital Data Services, Inc.

Historic Mine Digitization

Historic Mine Digitization- Converting Hand Drawn Historic Mine Drawings into GIS to Aid in Permitting & Safety

Colorado Department of Natural Resources Division of Reclamation Mining & Safety The Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety is responsible for mineral and energy development, policy, regulation and planning. The division is comprised of the Office of Mined Land Reclamation and the Office of Active and Inactive Mines.
The objective of this project was to provide digital GIS files of certain abandoned mines in the state of Colorado. This entailed converting hard-copy documents into a mapping system (GIS), so that the approximate location of the mines would be readily available and analyzed with current aerial photography, land planning, and land use maps.	The Southfield Mine- Showing Permit Areas in ESRI ArcMap The New Horizons Mine Showing Reclaimed & Permit Areas
The data source provided by CDNR included 420 original surveyed hard-copy maps on mylar, paper, and linen. Field collected GPS data, public land survey data and aerial photography, supplied by DDS, was used as control for the  placement of the mine drawings into their proper spatial location.
Individual maps and plates were scanned on large-format color scanners. The scanned images were georeferenced to best available controls. RMS error, control sources, and operator notes were recorded for each image. Mine features such as worked out areas, mine workings, faults, adits, slopes, permit boundaries, property boundaries, and other miscellaneous features were digitized and attributed according to client specifications.   Final deliverables were a series of shapefiles, (.shp) ESRI personal geodatabases, and extensive metadata files describing the source documents and the processes used for data conversion.  A "Statement of Process" document was also created to serve as a specification manual for future digitization projects.	Analysis of Historic  Information Aid in Effective Prevention and Response to Mining Related Disasters GIS Conversion and Attribution
This data would be used by miners, geologists, contractors and other entities to safely plan and route around these abandoned mine shafts. The geospatial data also allows for a more focused and effective response to disaster should a collapse occur.	Helping you make better decisions through information... Digital Data Services, Inc.