The same as pipeline maps, LNG maps are intended to be designed as professionally and as accurately as possible. Therefore, we will employ the updated technologies of GIS and geodatabases for the appropriate data capture, processing and interpretation of any LNG map. A number of the Panhandle Energy companies take advantage of the designing of such LNG maps, but our services are also extended to maps of other pipelines systems as well; Trunkline Pipeline and Florida Gas Transmission need to manage more than 8,000 miles of pipeline together (almost 5,000 miles Florida Gas Transmission and about 3,500 miles Trunkline); one can imagine just how valuable pipeline maps are for the area covered by these two companies.

In point of fact, it is not just for the exclusive advantage of larger natural gas operators that maps are generated. On the contrary, smaller companies, such as Trunkline LNG, will benefit from the existence of such maps. The same as other gas pipeline maps, LNG maps will use the information stored in geodatabases and the detailing features of GIS technologies in order to have a view as unobstructed as possible of LNG locations, transportation areas and market zones.

An LNG map created with the assistance of geodatabases will use the storing and querying features of such infrastructure and, subsequently, obtain an improved display of the spatial relationship among the items mapped. As a result, even an examination of the potential market demand can be estimated in the case where LNG maps concerning end users of LNG (liquefied natural gas) are correctly drawn. However, the design of an LNG map is not restricted to the ?services? offered by geodatabases.

On the contrary, the integration, processing and management of the information provided for and by an LNG map will be handled by Geographic Information Systems, a technology that uses geographic science (the same as geodatabases, in fact) in more detail than other programs. While this may be a rather confusing definition, an example will turn clearer the explanation of GIS functioning principles.

In the creation of an LNG map you need, first of all, a location reference. Both GIS and geodatabases combined will offer you the reference you are looking for. Subsequently, when LNG maps are the main concern, what is significant is to be aware of where LNG fields, transporters, operators, markets are located. The choice of the chief objective of LNG maps belongs entirely to the customer, of course. Therefore, we have touched upon the second ?need? throughout the process of map design: the objective/purpose of the map.

However, we are also concerned with the manner in which different databases are translated into GIS digital information and interpreted as such. The whole point is that various computer databases act like some infrastructures for the further development of an LNG map. The map itself is an element of infrastructure, but it needs its own ?grounds? in order to be actually operative at the following, more practical levels.

Subsequently, GIS technologies will practically digitize any data in a map. It does not really matter that the information which needs to be used is not in a digital display in the beginning. The helping point is that they can be brought to such a digital form by computer scanning procedures and even by manual operations (by simply tracing maps by hand in a computer program). Also, since we are in the area of conversions to digital structures, the information can be relatively quickly digitized by transferring location coordinates (x, y, z ? GIS can also act on three-dimension bases) from Global Positioning Systems recipients to GIS programs.

All in all, whether we are talking about an LNG map or about any other pipeline map, GIS and databases are essential for the proper management of pipeline plans in the near future. We are placing an emphasis on the notion ?near? because maps are permanently subjected to changes due to the variations in environment conditions.