DeLorme Professional Newsletter

Geographic Information System Technology for Small Wind Energy Operations

During the summer of 2007, the publishers of North American Windpower magazine invited DeLorme to contribute an article on GIS technology for wind energy operations. The following is a reprinting of that article.

Once the domain of highly trained technical specialists, GIS has finally come down to earth and wind energy companies of every size and scope are realizing its benefits.

A simple definition of a geographic information system, or GIS, states that it is a method for studying data in its geographical context that typically includes computer hardware and software, which are used to display or process relevant data into layers. These overlaid layers of information expose patterns and relationships within the data that might otherwise go unnoticed.

GIS technology is ideally suited for the business of wind energy utilization and management because virtually all of the relevant data is geographically based. For every stage of the development of a wind energy project, from initial site determination to output analysis, a well-organized GIS is an indispensable tool. It can provide timely information, steer the decision-making process, and, ultimately, save money.

Where can I find data to import into XMap?

If you have visited the XMap Web site, you should have seen a selection of screenshots that were created for the purpose of illustrating a diverse variety of applications for the software. While these screenshots include examples of some of the datasets that DeLorme offers for use with XMap, the majority focus on data that was either developed using XMap’s data creation tools or that was integrated from third-party data sources. A commonly asked question is, “From where does this third-party data originate?”

There are countless sources of spatial data in both vector and raster format, much of which can be freely downloaded from local, state, regional, or national government Web sites or sometimes from educational institutions. Try typing “GIS Data” followed by a geographic area of interest into a Web search tool and you will often uncover libraries of data that will meet your needs.

Understanding the Differences between the Draw and GIS Tabs in XMap

Long time users of DeLorme software will be familiar with the functionally of the Draw tab. Since the earliest versions of Street Atlas USA, draw tools have allowed users to annotate to the map and to create their own map features. Today the Draw tab is a central component in all DeLorme software titles, both consumer and professional.

For users of XMap GIS Editor or Enterprise, the importance of the Draw tab has been somewhat diminished with the development of the GIS functionality. While both tools allow points, lines, and polygons to be added to the map, the GIS tab includes the ability to add attributes to these objects. This allows you to develop and manage an extensive database of information, which is tagged to the appropriate location.

As an example, let’s compare the use of the Draw and GIS tools to create polygons for delineating forest stands. In either case, polygons can be easily drawn, the color of the objects can be adjusted as needed, and the geometric characteristics can be edited. Both functions allow coordinate geometry input to create map objects with a high level of precision, and both can be overlaid on any base map or imagery layer. On the surface, therefore, it is impossible to distinguish a polygon created in the Draw tab from one created in the GIS tab.