Digpro has set a new standard for web based GIS utilizing Oracle Spatial as the single repository for network data as well as thin web clients as the GUI for all user levels.

One of the world’s leading providers of utility solutions, ABB Utilities, a few years ago made a market research and found nothing that compared with Digpro’s solution. ABB therefore decided to base the next generation of it’s market leading NIS application on Digpros platform. The result of this commitment is the jointly owned product Facilplus Spatial/E, probably the most superior and technically advanced NIS solution for electric utilities available on the market today.

The new product is already in production at E.ON, one of Sweden’s largest electric utilities. In this implementation Facilplus Spatial/E is integrated with SPIDER, ABBs SCADA system for energy system operation, as well as with E.ON’s existing SAP R/3 business system.

What makes Facilplus Spatial superior to other NIS solutions?



Web clients and spatial data in Oracle opens up for integration with other IT systems

When Oracle released it’s spatial option some years ago, Digpro was amongst the first companies to appreciate the new possibilities this brought to the GIS market. Digpro had since many years been working with NIS solutions for utilities and was fully aware of the limitations with traditional GIS software and therefore quickly adopted the new technology. Digpro designed a new GIS platform, founded on web technology and Oracle Spatial, and did so leaning on several years knowledge from the market but without the historical burden of an existing GIS which had to be upgraded. The result is a modern and open GIS platform without unnecessary middleware, and virtually without limitations. The basis for the new platform is so flexible that we have, so far, not seen any required NIS solutions not possible to build on Facilplus spatial.

When Digpro, together with ABB, were developing the new application for electricity standards were used as far as possible. The new application is thus based on OpenGIS, the standard for storing spatial data in a database and the CIM model (Common Information System), the draft specification from IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). Our commitment to follow all applicable standards in this field of business guarantees maximum use of customer data in the future by facilitating data exchange and integration between Facilplus Spatial and other IT systems.

The flexible design makes it very easy to prepare customised applications for different user groups, only providing the required functionality. By doing so the system becomes more user-friendly and will be easier to implement. By simple configuration it is for example possible to have advanced clients with load flow and fault calculation for some users and only review functionality for limited object types and even within limited areas for other users, maybe from a mobile platform. All this using the same application.

A Brief Tour of Facilplus Spatial/E
Below follows a few examples of the existing functionality in the application. New functions are added continuously as Java plugins and it is also possible for customers to write their own plugins.

Map Types & Windows
You can use different map types in different windows and for each window define what information you want to see in different scales.



Geographic and schematic components of a substation. All components of the station is stored in the database, electric and administrative attributes as well as spatial components.

Query Tool
With the query tool you can find data and present it the way you want. There is an intelligent right-click function which displays a menu with the most important tools you can use in each situation.



Easy-to-use query tool with built-in query, report and search functions and possibilities for further data processing only one right-click away.

Template Station
With Facilplus Spatial/E you can define templates of stations or pillars and save them in the application. The template can include the layout in the schema as well att attribute information and much facilitates the documentation of newly built stations.

Advanced Placement
The flexible design with applications tailored for different user groups makes it easy to add customised editing functions as plugins. In the example below advanced placement tools are used to minimise the operator work required to place a cable pillar on an existing cable and to create the service cables.



Cable pillar placed on existing cable with a smart function which automatically splits the cable, place joints and connecting cables and connects everything. Another smart placement function adds the service cables and delivery points.

Digpro AB
Digpro is a consultancy firm, concentrating mainly on developing applications in the field of Geographic IT and providing solutions for different utilities, such as electricity, district heating, communications, and gas. The extensive knowledge, expertise and experience that Digpro possesses offer its clients solutions that are on the cutting edge of today’s technology. With more than 20 years in GIT, Digpro AB continues to be one of Sweden’s leading suppliers of products and advanced consultancy services in the field of Geographic IT.