What Is GIS?

GIS, or Geographic Information System, is a platform that manages and displays location-based data. 

In utilities and pipeline operations, GIS maps the position of assets like lines, substations, valves, or field crews and connects those locations to real-time operational data. It allows operators to understand not only what is happening, but where it is happening.

Why GIS Matters in Operations

Every grid, gas pipeline, or water network is spread across large service areas. Knowing the geographic context of an event is critical. A voltage dip in a substation has different implications depending on its distance from load centers. 

A pipeline leak requires knowing the exact valve locations and terrain conditions around it. GIS provides spatial awareness, helping operators prioritize response and plan restoration more effectively.

GIS also supports planning and asset management. Utilities use it to track equipment installation, maintenance history, and right-of-way conditions. In live operations, GIS becomes a decision-making tool for coordinating crews and understanding the impact of weather or environmental factors on the system.

How GIS Works in Control Rooms

GIS integrates asset databases with real-time feeds from SCADA, OMS, and other operational systems. When an event occurs, the map view highlights affected assets, field devices, and surrounding conditions. Layers can include roads, rivers, vegetation, weather radar, or crew positions, all aligned with the utility’s operational data.

In practice, this means an operator can click on a breaker symbol and see both its live SCADA values and its maintenance history. During a storm, GIS overlays can show which circuits are at risk based on the storm path, while OMS data shows current outages. The result is a complete geographic picture of system conditions.

How Primate Improves GIS

GIS is powerful, but when used alone. However,, it often becomes another information silo. Primate Technologies brings GIS into the control room alongside SCADA, EMS, OMS, historian, and other external data sources. PrimateOur software integrates GIS layers into the same operational picture operators already rely on, eliminating the need to switch between systems.

PrimateWe renders GIS views in vector format that scale cleanly from desktops to large video walls. Operators can zoom in on a specific asset without losing clarity or zoom out for a wide-area view of system conditions. By combining GIS with real-time alarms, weather alerts, and crew data, Primate helps operators see the geographic context behind every decision.

With Primate, GIS stops being a background planning tool and becomes a live, actionable map inside the control room. This improves response times, strengthens coordination, and ensures that location-based decisions are made with complete operational awareness.

Ready to see how Primate can bring GIS into your control room in real time?