PR -- Water from Lake Michigan travels through a 12-foot-diameter tunnel and nearly 200 miles of pipeline to communities in Illinois' DuPage County, just west of Chicago. Like many utilities, the DuPage Water Commission recognizes the need for geographic information system (GIS) technology based on ESRI's ArcGIS software to manage the operations and infrastructure of its pumping station and water pipeline system. Utilities around the world rely on ArcGIS software to manage large amounts of data; perform complex spatial analysis; and produce colorful, smart maps. ESRI simplifies the process of applying ArcGIS technology to projects with industry-specific data model templates.

In a quandary over how to manage the small-scale water distribution network, DuPage GIS coordinator Frank Frelka discovered the ArcGIS Pipeline Data Model (APDM). APDM is one of ESRI's many geodatabase designs intended to jump-start ArcGIS user productivity based on proven best practices of other users and developer communities. Each ArcGIS data model uses commonly adopted spatial representations, classifications, and map layer specifications that can be implemented in any GIS.

Frelka discovered APDM was designed for storing information pertaining to features found in liquid and gas gathering and transmission pipeline systems. After reading the APDM white paper and studying the model, Frelka decided APDM was the solution DuPage needed. Because APDM is a flexible design, Frelka was able to extract what he needed and add additional features.

Like all ESRI ArcGIS data models, APDM is publicly available and can be downloaded from the Web site. Before choosing APDM, the DuPage Water Commission considered a consultant proposal that included database design. Frelka estimates the company saved at least $8,000 by using ESRI's ArcGIS data model.

"This is a fascinating use of APDM, and it does an excellent job of indicating how the ESRI data models are intended to facilitate the work of users," says Robert Brook, ESRI's pipeline and gas utility industry manager. "DuPage identified its needs, investigated data model options, and selected the one that would make the utility most successful."

For more information on ESRI's data models, visit www.esri.com/datamodels.