Jackson electrical system to be mapped for line efficiency

Jackson director of electric utilities Don Schuette will soon have the ultimate planning and emergency tool at his fingertips: Graphic Informational System, or GIS, technology.

Widely used by government agencies almost everywhere, the GIS system allows officials to develop detailed layered maps based on specific coordinates.

While the city already uses GIS for other utilities like water and sewer, the electric department has not had access.

On Monday night, the Jackson Board of Aldermen authorized a contract for $79,000 for the first phase of the GIS electric work by Allen & Hoshall out of Memphis, Tenn.

This phase "will provide a full-scale map of the city's electrical system and will give insight on several things," Schuette said.

The director of electric utilities said the technology will help in several ways, including emergency management.

"Say we have another tornado," Schuette said. "With these maps, we'll be able just to look at a map and determine how we can reroute power. And let's say we have crews come in from the outside. They'll be able to look at the maps and determine what we have and where."

Later on, in additional phases, Schuette said the maps will help with coordination studies to determine the best way to maximize use of the electric lines.

"We'll know what flows at what points and we'll know how much we can grow in certain directions," he said.

Schuette said most cities with electric utilities already have access to GIS. Most governments do as well. Cape Girardeau County's mapping and appraisal division is currently working to get GIS in full operation.

"You really need it to get the most benefit and functionality out of the system," he said.

Work on the GIS system will likely start next month.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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