The rapid growth of the alternative energy sector, and of wind energy companies in particular, over the last decade was initially of little interest to DeLorme. XMap had garnered a loyal following in many traditional industries and our time and resources were directed towards servicing those seemingly lucrative markets. Fast forward a few years and, to use the cliché, the winds have shifted.
It is worth noting that the widespread adoption of XMap by wind energy companies was not because DeLorme proactively sought out this opportunity but rather that wind power companies sought out XMap. It was a perfect fit. XMap offered just the right level of GIS functionality, it was affordable, and it could be quickly learned by anyone with basic computer knowledge. As the word spread, XMap became the mapping application of choice for hundreds of wind energy companies in the U.S. and beyond.
Far from being specialists in the industry, DeLorme has learned a lot from working with wind energy companies. Much of this learning comes from direct contact with our customers and from asking the fundamental questions about how they use the product. The following applications, summarized from customer conversations, are typical for XMap in the wind energy industry.
Wind Potential Analysis
The most important consideration when planning a wind energy project is the availability of wind at the appropriate strength and consistency. This wind potential has been analyzed and mapped by wind resource specialists and the resulting data is usually available in shapefile format. The National Renewable Energy Lab offers a version of this data for most U.S. states at no cost. Shapefiles can be imported into XMap and the classification tool can be used to develop thematic maps showing areas of maximum potential.
Property Research and Acquisition
Property ownership information is becoming increasingly important for a wide variety of GIS applications. Local governments are responding to this demand by developing and updating digital parcel databases. When planning a wind energy project, the ownership and status of the targeted and adjacent properties are crucial considerations that could potentially derail a project before it starts. XMap offers two alternatives for creating a property layer. In those areas where digital files like shapefiles are available, you can simply import the layer. Unfortunately, many wind projects are planned in more remote areas where such data is not available; the alternative is to scan any available paper maps and use XMap’s ImageReg tool to create a geographically referenced raster or image layer as a base map.
Terrain Analysis
In the wind industry, terrain is an important factor in the project planning process. Topography can have a marked impact on the local wind patterns, which can cause problems with turbine installation. Also the terrain has a direct impact on some of the logistical decisions related to transportation, construction, and other project challenges. The topographic base map in XMap includes a digital elevation model which allows the representation of terrain through contours, shaded relief, 3-D modeling, and linear profiling all of which contribute to a more complete picture of the project site.
Optimal Turbine Placement
Factors to consider when choosing a turbine site include surface and sub-surface geology, proximity of obstructions, access to transmission infrastructure, accessibility for maintenance, and much more. XMap’s GIS functionality allows the simultaneous consideration of numerous layers of relevant information to aid in this problem solving or decision making process.
Impact Analysis
While harvesting the wind is generally considered to be a clean source of energy, it still exerts an impact on the environment and often on the surrounding community. Fragile ecosystems are sometimes threatened during construction and operation, turbines are installed close to avian migration paths, for some, the visual or audible impact can be problematic. XMap’s buffer tool is used extensively in this type of analysis where a defined area around a project or conversely, around an adjacent habitat can be mapped and potential problems addressed to help mitigate any disputes.
Infrastructure Planning
The visible aspect of the construction of a wind project is obviously very conspicuous; however, the wind turbines are only half of the story. Developing a wind farm also entails developing roads, local transmission lines, maintenance facilities, and more. XMap’s CAD tools provide a straightforward way to map this infrastructure and to share the maps or data layers with contractors or construction crews
Community Outreach and Collaboration
A vital aspect of any wind energy project is engaging the local community. Often this outreach effort involves the presentation of the project details through maps and other printed materials. XMap’s printing functions provide the tools necessary to produce professional quality maps of any size incorporating imagery, GIS layers, topographic maps, and any other available data.
Compliance
After speaking with many wind energy companies, it has become abundantly clear that one of the biggest hurdles to the success of a wind project is regulatory compliance. XMap plays a role in overcoming this obstacle by providing the means to import, overlay, and analyze the appropriate data to ensure compliance. It also offers efficient presentation and data delivery tools to ensure that the supporting documentation and reports are supplemented with the highest quality maps.
Project Management
After construction is complete and a project is brought online, XMap continues to play a role. Turbine performance, maintenance schedules, and repairs can all be managed using XMap’s spatial database functionality. The new embedded document tool is ideally suited for this type of work. Reports, schematics, photographs, and virtually any other type of file can be assigned to a specific point on the map and can be retrieved, edited, and saved as needed.
Industry Research
At a much higher level, XMap is a perfect tool for conducting research on the wind industry itself. For example, it can be used to analyze the distribution of wind farms across the country and to visually represent the production capacity in each state. Information garnered from such studies can help pave the way for future wind energy development.
At DeLorme, we continue to learn from the expertise of our customers in the field of wind energy and in many other industries. This knowledge inspires us to design and develop products that provide value, encourage productivity, and promote efficiency.
