HALIFAX, July 17 /CNW/ - A team from Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI) has
been recognized for its innovative use of satellite mapping technology via
smartphone at the First Annual BlackBerry Mobile GIS Awards.
NSPI's GIS Connectivity Project team accepted the award during a
video-conference Thursday with an international meeting of GIS (geographic
information system) users.
"This is a real honour for our team," said project manager Brian Shannon.
"We are humbled that what we thought of as a very practical work process has
been recognized as an international leading innovation. Our focus was to
improve our model of the electrical distribution system in order to help
enhance service reliability for customers."
The other team members are GIS project lead Anthony Bell, IT architect
Chris Cruickshank, and business system analyst Jamie Simpson.
The NSPI team is using Blackberry Storms and Freeance Standard software
in the field to collect technical data about individual components of the
distribution system, such as transformers and disconnect switches, along with
precise location information. The information is transferred from their
Blackberries to Nova Scotia Power's GIS server, and technicians use it to
update the electrical model.
The information is building a more accurate picture of NSPI's
distribution system, which will help the utility better predict the impact of
storms, dispatch line crews more effectively, and provide better information
to customers and emergency officials during outages.
"Nova Scotia Power prides itself in its innovative workforce," said Rick
Janega, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Nova Scotia
Power. "The members of the GIS Connectivity Project team are a perfect example
of the kind of employees serving our customers, finding a cost-effective and
industry-leading way to help provide better service."
The GIS on BlackBerry Awards recognize achievements in four categories.
The NSPI team won as best application for field services. The awards were
presented in conjunction with the ESRI International User Conference in San
Diego, CA, the world's largest gathering of GIS professionals.
About Nova Scotia Power
Nova Scotia Power Inc. is the largest wholly-owned subsidiary of Emera
Inc. (TSX-EMA), a diversified energy and services company. Nova Scotia Power
provides more than 95% of the generation, transmission and distribution of
electrical power to 482,000 customers in the province. The company is focused
on new technologies to enhance customer service and reliability, reduce
emissions and add renewable energy. Nova Scotia Power has 1,700 employees and
$3.5 billion in assets, including 5,000 km of transmission lines and 25,000 km
of distribution lines./NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/
For further information: Stacey Pineau, Nova Scotia Power, (902)
295-0596
