A FRAMEWORK FOR MAINTAINING A MULTI-USER GEODATABASE: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMPLE 
Muniru Ayotunde Owoola PhD 
GIS Manager, Maltais Geomatics Inc. 17011 - 105 Avenue, NW Edmonton, AB TSP 4L4 Canada 
tunde(@maltaisgeomatics.com 
KEY WORDS: Database. GIS, Versioning, Infrastructure, Updating 
ABSTRACT: 
Utility companies often collect a vast amount of geospatial data to support ongoing operations. Storing the datasets within a 
corporate database management system and using GIS technology to manage geospatial data is fast becoming the norm in this 
industry sector. However, as the size of corporate databases continues to grow, the need to develop data update and maintenance 
protocols that streamline corporate database management is becoming more evident. Software and hardware vendors are coming up 
with innovative solutions that attempt to resolve the issues involved, with varying degree of success. In this regard, increasing use is 
being made of hardware storage options, and software strategies such as versioning, replication, data integrity rules and metadata 
management. 
This paper presents a framework for updating and maintaining multi-user geospatial databases with emphasis on electric utility data 
management. The paper argues that a combination of streamlining applicable internal workflow processes and selecting the 
appropriate technology solutions is often the panacea for developing a geospatial database update and maintenance strategy. The 
paper shows that keeping corporate database "evergreen" requires ( 
i) investments in appropriate hardware and software solutions; 
(ii) developing geospatial database maintenance protocols using native software functionality where possible, and (iii) streamlining 
internal work-flow processes to seamlessly integrate with software process requirements. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Data collection, update. retrieval and usage are critical 
operational components in most electric utilities. However, it is 
only in fairly recent times that full attention is being given to 
GIS as a technology that can provide an integrative platform for 
workflow processes related to: 
e data gathering, integration and processing 
e data storage and update requirements 
®  enterprise-wide/distributed data mining 
e production of topographic products and their 
customized presentation, analysis and interpretation 
for decision making purposes 
Data collected by a typical electric transmission company will 
normally include among others, information on Substations, 
Circuit, Overhead Structures, Transmission Towers, Airbreaks. 
Substations etc. Each of these data types has associated 
characteristics that need to be continuously accessed, updated, 
and maintained in a production environment to support ongoing 
operations. Moreover, a huge amount of resources is often 
expended on collecting and maintaining landbase data such as 
cadastral data, parcel ownership and so on; in addition to 
orthophoto imagery and similar raster data. 
For utilities that have adopted GIS as a platform for spatial and 
attribute data management, there has been a gradual move away 
from compartmentalized and distributed model of data storage 
to a more centralized, enterprise-wide data storage. Although 
the advantages of centralized data repository far out-weight its 
disadvantages, it is becoming increasingly evident that careful 
considerations must be given to data management and update 
issues when adopting the centralized data storage option in this 
new multi-user, multi-edit environment. 
CA 
2 
Do 
This paper examines the key components that streamline data 
management tasks confronting utilities adopting enterprise GIS 
database architecture. Many of the same issues discussed in 
this paper can be extended to, and are indeed applicable to the 
vast majority of organizations utilizing GIS as a basis for 
storing, managing and analyzing spatial data. 
The paper adopts a “cross-platform” approach to discuss the 
core requirements for developing a completely streamlined 
spatial database update and maintenance strategy. The 
approach effectively integrates hardware and software solutions 
with business driven processes. The ultimate objective is to 
show organizations how to address and resolve many of the 
potential frustrations likely to be experienced with using 
enterprise-wide consolidated data repository. This will in turn 
allow such organizations to maximize returns on investments in 
GIS technology for data management and application 
development purposes. 
2. DATA MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS 
Developing an effective data maintenance approach should start 
by first identifying factors that are most germane to those 
charged with day-to-day maintenance of corporate data 
infrastructures. These factors include, amongst others: 
|. Eliminating error propagation within enterprise 
databases 
2. Representing/structuring data maintenance strategies 
to replicate existing work-flow processes and 
flawlessly integrate with IT protocols 
3. Providing multiple-cditing, versioning, transactional, 
capabilities, and a highly secured environment for 
data sharing and update 
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