Utility network records are an owner's records of its network: pipes, cables, valves, joints, manholes and meters, held as GIS features with attributes and connectivity. They are what operators use to find assets, plan maintenance and trace which valves or switches isolate a fault. New projects hand over to them, and future projects rely on them.
At a glance
| Held by | Water, gas, electricity, telecoms and drainage owners, rail infrastructure managers |
| Usually in | The owner's GIS, to its own data model |
| Contains | Features, attributes, connectivity, survey metadata |
| Used for | Operation, maintenance, isolation tracing, planning, utility searches |
| Updated by | Handover data from projects and the owner's own surveys |
What the records contain
| Part | Examples |
|---|---|
| Feature types | Pipe segment, valve, hydrant, manhole, cable, joint, substation |
| Attributes | Diameter, material, pressure or voltage, install date, owner ID, status |
| Code lists | Allowed values for material, status, condition |
| Connectivity | Which features connect, so the network can be traced |
| Metadata | How each position was obtained, its accuracy and quality level, date |
How they are used on projects
At the start of a project, the owner's records are the source of level D utility information for the design. At the end, the project's as-built data is loaded into them. For that load to work, the owner's data model (feature types, attributes, code lists, identifiers and connectivity rules) should be in the asset information requirements from the start, and a sample loaded into the owner's system well before completion.
Variations
- Commercial utility network models in GIS platforms, configured by each owner.
- Owner-specific schemas and import templates.
- Open formats for exchange, such as GeoPackage, and IFC 4.3 where the owner supports it.
Common mistakes
- Handing over shapes without connectivity, so the network can't be traced.
- Using the project's own identifiers instead of the owner's.
- Delivering design positions as if they were surveyed as-built positions.
- Leaving out survey method and accuracy, so the next project can't judge the records.
Where to read more
The owner's GIS data model and asset information requirements; ISO 19650-3 for the operational phase; PAS 128 or ASCE 38 for how positions are surveyed and reported; and GIS platform documentation for utility network modelling.