Pipeline Management Using GIS - November 7 2006 - Nihon Suido Consultants Co.,Ltd.

Oct 28, 2026

Training material focused on pipeline management using GIS for water utilities, starting with key Japanese challenges: replacing aging facilities, efficient and proper asset documentation, transferring expertise to younger engineers, and improving service quality and reliability. It explains GIS definition, spatial data concepts, core components, data types (image vs vector), layer-based management, and major functions including display and retrieval. It further outlines GIS-based planning, design, maintenance, and performance checking, and demonstrates GIS data structures for NRW reduction.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Background of Installation of GIS

What is GIS?

Using GIS in Water Utility

GIS Data for NRW Reduction

Conclusions

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Pipeline Management Using GIS
November 7 2006
Nihon Suido Consultants Co.,Ltd. |
Index
1. Background of Installation of GIS
2. What is GIS?
3. Using GIS in Water Utility
4. GIS Data for NRW Reduction
5. Conclusions

2 | | --- | --- | |
1. Background of Installation of GIS

-Major Issues on Water Utilities in Japan-

3 |

①Necessity to replace/renew the facilities V Aging facilities
¾In the 1960s-70s, many water facilities were built to meet the increasing water demand
¾Now, those facilities are 40 years or over 40
・・・GIS will be an effective tool for preparation of system renewal plan
4 | |
②Necessity to manage the facilities efficiently and document properly
V Increase of Facilities and drawings
¾many water facilities = many documents(as-built drawings)
・・・GIS will provide efficiency on asset management

5 |
③Necessity to transfer experienced engineer’s knowledge to younger generations

6
V Retirement of experienced engineers/field staff
¾ After World War II, Baby boom(1947-1949)
¾They worked hard to build new facilities for increasing water demand.
¾They have a lot of knowledge and experience of management of water facilities
¾Now, the baby boom generation are nearly 60
・・・GIS will assist inheritance of the technical knowledge | | --- | --- | |
④Necessity to improve the facilities
V Changes of consumer’s needs for water supply service.
¾ To supply palatable (good quality) water
¾ To serve with adequate pressure/to serve to 3rd floor-5th floor directly(without receiving tank and pumping up) .
¾ To reduce troubles
• red water
• no/little suspension even in case of emergencies such as earthquake

・・・GIS will help you to improve customer services

7

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Major Issues on Water Utilities in Japan
① Necessity to replace/renew the facilities
② Necessity to manage the facilities efficiently /properly
③ Necessity to transfer their knowledge to younger generations
④ Necessity to improve the facilities

8
V Facility data is necessary to conduct above items
V Facility data is various and is huge
・・・GIS must be effective to process these data | |
2． What is GIS?
-Outline of GIS-

9 |

Definition
V Geographic Information System is a computerized database management system for spatial data that enable storage, retrieval, analysis and support of decision making .
V Spatial data means a figure that have coordinate (position) data and attribute.
10 | | --- | --- | |
Components

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Data Feature of GIS/Image data
V Dot data / pixcel data.
V Resolution; dot per inch (dpi) .
ex: digital photos, scanned documents, etc
V File format; BMP, JPEG, Tiff
V Not usable for retrieval and analysis

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Data Feature of GIS
Ex. of Image data: As-built drawings
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Data Feature of GIS/Vector data
V Position/location
X and Y coordinates/latitude and longitude V Geometry/Shape
point, line, polygon (rectangle, circle, etc)
V Attribute contents of objects

V Geographic display = Easy to grasp
V Usable for retrieval and analysis

| | --- | --- | |

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Data Feature of GIS
Ex. of Vector data: Pipeline
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Management of Vector Data
V GIS data is managed in layers separately.
¾Base map: road layer, house layer, river layer, ・・・
¾Water data: water main, service pipe, valve, ・・・
􀂓 Data display is controlled by layers.
􀂓 You can display only necessary data.

16 | |
Ex. of layer control
base map

base map + pipe lines
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Function Features of GIS

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V Display
¾Arbitrary range: scale up / down, movement
¾Display of necessary data, non-display of unnecessary data
􀂓 Retrieval
􀂓Attribute condition
􀂓Spatial condition
􀂓Complex condition (Spatial + Attribute) | | -

FAQs

Why is GIS considered necessary for water utilities in Japan?

GIS is presented as an effective tool to support renewal planning for aging facilities, improve efficient asset management and documentation, transfer experienced engineers’ knowledge, and enhance customer services through better supply and fewer service troubles.

What does GIS mean and what is spatial data?

GIS (Geographic Information System) is described as a computerized database management system for spatial data that enables storage, retrieval, analysis, and decision-making support. Spatial data is defined as figures with coordinate (position) data and attribute information.

How does GIS support pipeline work in water utilities?

The material connects GIS facility data to each business step—planning, detailed design, construction, maintenance, and performance checking—using examples such as pipe replacement support, CAD export, valve and suspension area indication, and leak-point distribution analysis for evaluation.

Oct 28, 2026

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