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.

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.

Underground Mine Workings

Underground Mine Workings- Converting Historic Mine Drawings into AutoCAD for Reopening of Historic Mine

Agapito Associates, Inc. (AAI) provides consulting services in geo-engineering, mining engineering, and related disciplines. Founded in 1978 to meet the needs of the mineral and energy industries, the firm operates out of offices in Grand Junction and Golden, Colorado.
In the early 1980s, the New Elk Mine was closed and allowed to partially flood. In 2009, AAI. was hired to provide mining engineering services to bring this large underground, multi-seam coal mining operation back into production.  AAI faced one major obstacle- although there were drawings showing the location of the underground mine shafts and workings, these drawings only existed in paper format.  AAI hired DDS, Inc. to convert the original documents into a fully functional vector (CAD) format.	Mine Drawings Converted to AutoCAD Aerial Imagery Base with the AutoCAD Drawing
The data sources provided by AAI included six 36"x54" blueline copies of the original mine working drawings and GPS surveyed control points.  High resolution aerial imagery was used as additional control.
Source documents were scanned and georeferenced into a State Plane Coordinate System using various GPS surveyed control points along with aerial imagery.  Once a composite raster image was created in its proper geographic location, DDS digitized the underground workings drawing into a 100% editable AutoCAD file. AutoCAD layers included surface, surface labels, geology drillholes, geology drillhole labels, geology structure contours allenseam, geology faults and misc structure features, old workings labels, old workings, and ventilation seals.	Large Format Scanning of Original Paper Documents Registering Drawings with Limited Control into a Real World Coordinate System Digitizing Historic Information into AutoCAD
The delivered AutoCAD files of the underground workings aided AAI in the completion of the initial detailed mine planning required for MSHA plans, permitting, feasibility work, and startup of mining.	Helping you make better decisions through information... Digital Data Services, Inc.

Abandoned Mine Digitization

Abandoned Mine Digitization- Converting Historic Mine Drawings into GIS for Safety and Subsidence

Colorado Department of Natural Resources Colorado Geological Survey The Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) has been involved in characterizing and understanding various aspects of abandoned mine lands in Colorado.  Across the state, there are an estimated 23,000 abandoned mine sites on both public and private land.  These abandoned mines have a legacy of hazards ranging from environmental issues like water quality degradation and increased sedimentation, to physical hazards associated with the mines themselves.
Colorado State Engineers needed a method to assist in locating and mitigating areas of mine subsidence throughout Colorado.  Subsidence is the movement of the earth's surface caused by the collapse of underground mine tunnels or shafts.  The location of these mines and their related underground workings existed only in paper format, filed away in a storage room. The purpose of the project was to convert these 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 Morley Mine with Original Map in ESRI ArcMap The Morley Mine Overlaid on Aerial Photography in ESRI ArcMap
The data source provided by CGS included 930 original surveyed hard-copy maps on mylar, paper, and linen.  GPS surveyed points of the mine entrances were also supplied as additional control for the registration of these maps into their proper geospatial location.
Individual maps and plates were scanned and georeferenced using aerial photography, public land survey grid, and GPS points as control. Over 25 different mine features were digitized and attributed according to CGS specifications including adits, boreholes, cross sections, faults,  isopachs, limits of mining, mine outlines, prf stability, shafts, sinkholes, slope, subsidence inventory, subsidence profiles, surface traces, workings, and other miscellaneous features. Final deliverables were a series of shapefiles and ESRI personal geodatabases. All delivered data was provided with extensive metadata.	Analysis of Historic  Information Scanning and Georeferencing of Historic Maps 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 GIS data also allows for a more focused and effective response to disaster should a collapse occur.