Powering the Future: How Modern GIS Systems Are Transforming Australia's Energy and Utility Sector

Today, Energy Queensland powers a vast area of north-eastern Australia, four times larger than California, with a mix of thermal, hydro, wind, and solar energy, including power from 37 large solar farms. Over a third of its solar power comes from customer-owned panels, a number expected to hit 50 percent soon. Facing the challenge of blending this diverse supply into the network and managing demand swings, and Energy Queensland relies on Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map its infrastructure in 3D, ensuring efficient, reliable service across this extensive region.

The role of GIS in supporting the clean energy transition cannot be overstated. From locating potential sites for wind and solar farms to optimising the distribution network for efficiency and resilience, GIS is a critical tool in the energy sector's arsenal. It enables energy companies to make informed decisions, respond to regulatory pressures, and ultimately, contribute to a sustainable and resilient energy future for Australia and beyond.

The modernization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is particularly important for Australian utility companies who need to be able to navigate Australia’s extensive geography - including arid, temperate and tropical zones, each with their unique opportunities and constraints around energy generation, transmission, distribution and storage. GIS helps pinpoint the best spots for new distribution or transmission lines, as well as renewable energy projects, like solar and wind farms, making sure there are optimally located to meet Australia’s energy evolving demand, be resilient to climate conditions and address social license considerations. 

Utility companies are at a turning point

Australian utility companies are dealing with the dual challenge of shifting customer expectations and the imperative for green and sustainable solutions. The push towards net-zero emissions by 2050 and a significant increase in renewable energy sources by 2030 shines a spotlight on the need for utility infrastructure modernization. This is further emphasized by the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) and international disclosure mandates, highlighting the necessity for sophisticated data management systems. For water utilities, adopting climate-resilient strategies becomes crucial as they explore new water sources, conservation techniques, and efficient delivery systems, all while managing costs and minimizing waste through proactive leak detection.

Legacy Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions present several hurdles for Australian utilities amid the following challenges:

• Data Integration and Management: The modern energy landscape is complex and interconnected, necessitating the integration of diverse data types and sources. Older GIS systems often struggle to manage such a broad and varied data ecosystem, limiting utilities' decision-making capabilities.
• Scalability Issues: Legacy GIS platforms may not be equipped to scale efficiently or adapt to the rapidly growing and evolving grid, complicating the management and analysis of an increasing volume of spatial data.
• Lack of Real-Time Analytics: The fluctuating nature of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, demands access to real-time data for effective supply and demand management. Older GIS solutions typically lack real-time data processing and analytics capabilities, impeding prompt responses to shifts in energy production or consumption.
• Inadequate Advanced Analytics and Machine Learning Support: Contemporary GIS technologies employ advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence which can help energy utilities to better forecast demand, optimise energy distribution, and improve grid reliability. Outdated systems generally do not support these sophisticated functions, restricting opportunities for innovation and operational efficiency enhancements.
• Interoperability Challenges: Integrating new renewable energy sources and technologies necessitates seamless data exchange and communication among various systems and stakeholders. Legacy GIS platforms often encounter interoperability issues, complicating data sharing and collaboration across different systems, departments, and organizations.
• Regulatory and Compliance Pressures: Australian utilities face strict regulatory demands aimed at ensuring grid reliability, safeguarding data, cybersecurity (via Australia’s SOCI Act) and fostering sustainability. Outdated GIS solutions may lack the features required to comply with these evolving standards and protect critical energy assets, exposing utilities to legal, financial and reputational risks.

Wipro successfully transformed the GIS capabilities of a large utility client in Australia, grappling with challenges such as disparate sources of truth for spatial and non-spatial information, inefficient work order scheduling, and reliance on manual, paper-based processes. Through a strategic partnership with ESRI, Wipro developed an industry solution to enhance the client's asset lifecycle, integrating GIS with the client's SAP Centric Work Asset Management (WAM) system and Click Scheduler. This approach led to streamlined and integrated business processes, higher efficiency, and low system dependencies due to tightly integrated systems and processes. Real-time data updates across systems facilitated responsive and accurate decision-making, optimising field personnel efficiency and reducing operational expenses. Ultimately, the client achieved a single enterprise asset solution consistently applied across the company, marking a significant milestone in their operational modernisation journey.

Similarly, Wipro addressed challenges faced by a large utility client, including limited compatibility in integrating critical applications, inaccuracies in asset data maintenance, and ineffective data distribution to field devices. Wipro's scope of work included building a spatial platform using Esri's ArcGIS Enterprise on AWS, developing enterprise web viewer and mobile GIS applications, and implementing prototypes for demonstrating the fitment of Esri's Utility Network Model within the client's Asset Data Model. The expected and realized business outcomes from this engagement included enhanced data integration and management, scalability, real-time analytics, advanced analytics and machine learning, improved interoperability, regulatory compliance, and enhanced security.

Key considerations for modernisation

While upgrading to modern Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms offers many advantages, it also comes with its own set of challenges that utilities and other organisations need to carefully consider. The cost of modernization needs to be considered as part of a cohesive business case, covering not just the new software and hardware, but also data migration, system integration, training, and maintenance. Moving data from old to new systems can also be a complex task, requiring attention to ensure accuracy and compatibility. New implementations and upgrades need to consider change impacts to people and processes, with effective training and change management initiatives put in place to help staff adapt to new technologies and workflows. While modern GIS systems are more secure than legacy systems, security and privacy concerns still exist due to increased connectivity, which can lead to vulnerabilities to cyber threats. Additionally, compliance with the ever-changing regulatory landscape remains a challenge, as modern systems must meet strict standards for data protection, environmental conservation, and more.

Wipro’s GIS modernisation services and capability

For over a decade, Wipro has been delivering Geographic Information System (GIS) services to clients worldwide. Our expertise covers consulting and developing enterprise GIS applications to transforming and maintaining them. We've spearheaded extensive GIS projects in the Energy and Utility sector globally, modernizing GIS applications from old platforms to current industry standards, moving customer data, and shifting to cloud-based solutions. Our work includes linking GIS with various corporate systems like WAM, SAP, Maximo, and Oracle EAM, and ensuring smooth business transitions and training. We've also strategically invested in building our capabilities around the ESRI Utility Network, boasting certified experts ready to implement this advanced system. We have made significant investments in GIS solutions such as Smallworld, MapInfo, and VertiGIS products, bolstering our expertise and capabilities in this field.