Mapping of Power Distribution Network Using

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Technology in Poblacion,Linamon,
Lanao del Norte
Jhunrhyme G. Baclaan Daniel P. Bongo
Department of Electrical Engineering and Technology Department of Electrical Engineering and Technology
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
Iligan City, Philippines Iligan City, Philippines
[email protected] [email protected]

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Abstract — This research mainly focuses on the use of information should be collected and thoroughly analyzed,
Geographical Information System (GIS) Technology for the which contributes not only to efficient services, but also to the
mapping of Power Distribution Network of Poblacion, operation and maintenance of assets, as well as to the prudent
Linamon, Lanao del Norte. The research aims to produce data planning of new works and extensions.
that will be beneficial for the local electricity provider, Lanao
del Norte Electric Cooperative (LANECO). ArcGIS software A. Importance of the Study
was used for the digitization of map. Electrical Transient Erratic power is a constant problem in Poblacion
Analyzer Program (ETAP) software was used for the load flow Linamon. Causes can range from vegetation, animal
analysis of the network where it is connected in a intervention, and the most common cause overloading of
subtransmission transformer rating of 10 MVA 69/13.8 kV at transformers. This study aims to locate potential transformers
Kauswagan Substation. After the load flow simulation, two
with load exceeding its capacity and fix the erratic power
transformers have exceeded the ideal maximum capacity. The
voltage delivered by the transformers are relatively low for the
problem.
load and can cause overloading of the transformer. Mapping the B. Statement of the Problem
power distribution network in GIS can help the LANECO plan The town’s topography has always been a challenge
for preventive operation and maintenance, efficient service for
for the development of the town especially in its power
better provider-consumer relationship, load management,
revenue realization, and in sensible planning of new works and distribution network. Developing roads, new commercial
extensions for barangay Poblacion. buildings are just some of the new additions for the expansion
of Linamon. For the year 2021 until early 2031, the LGU has
Keywords— GIS, GPS, Mapping Power Distribution sets of plans that include the development of a new bus
Network, ETAP, Transformers terminal, coastal park, water treatment facility, evacuation
center and many more. Despite all these feats the town
continues to suffer from power outage or sudden brownout
I. INTRODUCTION during peak energy demand or bad weather. Most of the
The growth of any country's economy is heavily reliant on utility poles were constructed in the early 2000s with some
the availability of affordable and reliable power supply to not functional or needing maintenance. This research aims to
meet the growing demand for energy from industry and other address the lack of information associated with the current
key sectors such as commercial and industrial production [3]. problems faced by the local electricity provider and to
Utilities around the world are under enormous pressure and produce quality data that is very useful for the continuous
undergoing unprecedented change, and the focus is now on development of Linamon, Lanao Del Norte.
developing new strategies to address any shortcomings in
power supply transmission, load management, and other
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
commercial services. Advancement in hardware, software,
and networking technology has created opportunities for the A. Efficiency of Distribution System Using GIS
utility industry to build and benefit from more comprehensive Efficient transmission of power is impossible without
and complex Geographic Information System (GIS) [8]. proper record keeping and monitoring of the distribution
In GIS, an electric distribution utility uses a network of network system. Any organization that expects to run an
physical facilities to provide electric power and energy to efficient day-to-day operation as well as effectively manage
customers connected to those facilities throughout a and develop its services must understand what assets it has,
geographical area [8]. Poblacion’s topography has always where they are, their condition, and how they are performing
been a challenge for the development of the town especially [7]. To make strategic and operational decisions, knowledge
in its power distribution network, which can be difficult if of the physical assets of the electricity distribution network is
traditional approach of GIS will be used because it’s very required. As a result, in order to make such informed decisions
complex to manage utility information where the databases about the distribution and management of electricity and its
are not managed and maintained in form of information where facilities, information must be collected and analyzed to the
decision makers can extract information (i.e., electric cables, greatest extent possible using GIS techniques.
street light poles, feeders and fault logging etc.) [1]. So, in The creation of a digital map and a functional geodatabase
order to make sound decisions about the operation, about the facilities will be able to show the utility transformer
management, and expansion of distribution facilities,

XXX-X-XXXX-XXXX-X/XX/$XX.00 ©20XX IEEE

and the transformer's rating, which can be used to determine digitized a map. Decisions, actions, and results are the final
the capacity of the energy it can distribute and the current step of a GIS process.
energy demanded on it [3]. This will also display the number
of customers connected to each transformer as well as the
amount of energy consumed by each customer. This will assist
in determining whether the transformer is overloaded or
operating within its installed capacity. Determine the upriser
to turn off from a transformer that is already overloaded for a
period of time, make a decision on how to carry out load
shedding, how to detect illegal connections, when to replace
the transformer, and when to prevent new customers from
connecting to a transformer.
B. Load Flow Using Electrical Transient Analyser
Program (ETAP)
ETAP Load Flow software provides accurate and
dependable power flow analysis and voltage drop
calculations. It is the most efficient electrical power flow
analysis tool available today, thanks to features such as
automatic equipment evaluation, alerts and warnings
summary, load flow result analyzer, and intelligent graphics.
The ETAP load flow calculation program computes bus
voltages, branch power factors, currents, and power flows
across the entire electrical system. ETAP supports swing,
voltage-regulated, and unregulated power sources, as well as
an unlimited number of power grids and generator
connections. This load flow calculation software can conduct
analyses on both radial and loop systems. ETAP allows you to Fig. 1: Overview of Methodology
choose from a variety of load flow calculation methods to
achieve the most efficient and accurate results [5]. B. Case Study Area
In ETAP, all electrical equipment must be modeled using Poblacion is a barangay in the municipality of Linamon,
a Single Line Diagram (SLD). For load flow calculation, all in the province of Lanao del Norte. Its population as
electrical equipment requires specific input. ETAP considers determined by the 2020 Census was 7,367 [6]. This
the bus that is connected to the load (motor or static load) to represented 34.64% of the total population of Linamon.
be the load bus. ETAP defines a swing bus as a bus connected Poblacion is situated at approximately 8.1852, 124.1598, in
to a source (Grid or generator) and operating in swing mode. the island of Mindanao. Elevation at these coordinates is
Similarly, ETAP selects the V-control bus, PF control bus, and estimated at 8.1 meters or 26.6 feet above mean sea level. The
MVAR control bus based on the operating condition of the household population of Poblacion in the 2015 Census was
source. 7,098 broken down into 1,595 households or an average of
C. Evaluation of Mapped Power Distribution Network 4.45 members per household. It shares a common border with
Buruun Iligan City, Magoong and Purakan, Linamon, Lanao
An effective designing, planning, and execution of
generation, transmission, and distribution end is prime need to del Norte.
ensure customer satisfaction. Using a GIS model can be Linamon’s strategic location gives it a huge advantage in
created to overlay any number of requirements into one multi- gaining dominance over both cultural and economic
criteria map which is created by reclassifying layers using development towards its neighboring town. Its development
relevant scores, which are then added together spatially. In the is growing exponentially with no signs of slowing down.
case of power distribution network, according to Barnard Currently there are at least 12 major development projects to
(2006), GIS is a great tool for sensible decisions essential to be considered in Linamon. Local population is also expected
the operations, management and growth of distribution to grow even more in the first quarter of the next decade.
facilities, information should be collected and fully analyzed,
which contribute not only to efficient services, but also in the
operation and maintenance of assets, and in sensible planning
of new works and extensions.
III. METHODOLOGY

A. General Method
There are four major steps involved in building and
processing a GIS map. First is the data collection.
Researchers coordinated with LANECO providing them with
necessary letters for the acquisition of data. Next is the
digitization of map. Researchers used ArcGIS software for
the process. After the digitization, processing and analyzing Fig. 2: Poblacion, Linamon, Lanao del Norte
are next. With the help of the collected data (i.e., base maps, Area
GPS points of transformers, etc.), researchers were able to
C. Materials GPS points is uploaded in the base map provided by Google
Necessary materials were needed for the development of Earth software.
the study. The resources used for the research process from
extracted data, software, hardware and devices are:
C.1 Data Requirement
• Satellite Image
• GPS Points of Poles and Transformers
• kVA and Current Rating of the Transformers
C.2 Software Used
• ArcGIS 10.7.1
• Microsoft Word
• Load Flow Using Electrical Transient Analyzer
Program (ETAP) 19.0.1 Fig. 4: Base Map
ArcGIS Desktop is software developed by ESRI, which
consists of the following: A. Transformer Current Rating Data Collection
• ArcView Since the data for the distribution network is not fully
• ArcEditor digitized and not readily available for modifying, line worker
• ArcInfo Roger B. Lusay along with the researchers, conducted data
Each of these contains ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and collection on all transformers of the study area.
ArcToolbox. ArcMap is software that is used for mapping
whereas ArcCatalog is used for managing shapefiles and
databases [2]. TABLE 1
Coordinates, Current, and kVA Rating of Transformers

Fig. 3: ArcGIS Desktop

The ETAP software will be used for the design of the

Single-Line Diagram (SLD) of Poblacion which voltage,
current, and kVA rating of the transformers will be used. The
SLD that will be implemented in ETAP will perform load
flow study which will help the researchers to determine the
transformers that are overloading.
C.3 Hardware
• Asus 8GB RAM, 250GB SSD Laptop
• GPS Receiver
D. Evaluation
The researchers referred to the GIS map with grouped
layers and to the result of the SLD power flow calculation.
The researchers have identified the transformers that were
overloading and recommended the LANECO on referring to
the GIS map. They would use the map to produce the line
configuration and line placement in the study area and
optimal areas for future works and projects.

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents and discusses the results obtained
through simulations that’s how the data acquired such as load
demand, load flow and the Single-Line Diagram (SLD) using
the ETAP and ARCGIS software. Data acquisition for the
 TABLE 1 (continuation)

Fig. 5: Roads of Poblacion, Linamon

TABLE 2
Current Rating Per Purok

Fig. 6: Poles and Transformers of Poblacion with its

Location

Since majority of the area in Purok 8 contains plantation

sites and the number of households cannot reach the ideal
load demand, their power can be directly tapped from nearby
Purok 7.
B. Data Digitization
By combining the data obtain from the GPS device and
base map, the digitized map of the power distribution network
is pinpoint accurate. The utility poles are indicated in a point-
colored red, each point has a corresponding way point data
that indicates its latitude and longitude values. The border
indicated as red polyline, roads indicated as black polyline
and the river indicated as thick blue polyline. The type of line
that passes through each pole and transformer are also
indicated in which the primary lines are indicated as three-
lines colored black and single-phase lines indicated as a
Fig. 7: Buildings and Households of Poblacion Digitized in
single brown line.
ArcMAP
 According to the data collected along with Line Worker
Lusay, the transformer 5A and transformer 6-1 has exceeded
the ideal maximum capacity, 65%, of a transformer by the
virtue of LANECO handbook. Both transformers have an
80% capacity. Figure 7 shows the Bus 7 and Bus 12 has been
flagged as marginally undervoltage with a marginal
undervoltage percentage of 98% which means the rating of
the lumped loads are higher than the voltage being delivered
from the transformer. The voltage delivered by the
transformers are relatively low for the load and can cause
overloading of the transformer.

Fig. 8: Complete GIS Map with Grouped Layers

C. Load Flow Analysis of Power Distribution Network
The power distribution system of Poblacion is connected
and energized by a 10 MVA 69/13.8 kV power transformer
located in Kauswagan Substation. Due to the lack of
information, the researchers assumed that a 230 kVA,
13.8/7.62 kV step-down transformer is powering Poblacion.
According to Roger Lusay, a line worker from LANECO, a
7.62/240 kV transformer is used for the secondary
distribution lines of Poblacion.

Figure 7. Bus 7 and Bus 12 with Marginal Error

V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Despite numerous setbacks with data acquisition and a
lack of data, the researchers were able to collect all of the
electric utility coordinates and store them in ArcMap. The
transformers, buildings, and electric poles are all marked on
the fully digitized map. This will assist the electric provider,
LANECO, in improving planning, load management,
revenue realization, and possibly consumer relationships.
There are two main ways that transformers cause issues
with power distribution. They can either fail or overload, and
these can lead to serious power interruption. Loads connected
in Bus 7 and Bus 12, Purok 5A and Purok 6-1, respectively,
have relatively high kW rating due to the high number
costumers connected in the transformers. This made the
transformers to operate at 80% capacity. That is why erratic
power supply problem is present in Poblacion. This can
shorten the equipment life faster than expected but still, it can
ensure the reliable service available in the near term
whenever resorting on an option to overload an operating
transformer because of lack of spare transformers. It will still
be a loss for the electric distribution utility, LANECO.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The researchers would like to express their gratitude to
everyone who supported and contributed to the completion of
Fig. 9: Single-Line Diagram of Poblacion in Full View this study. They would like to start by thanking God for
using ETAP providing them with the strength and guidance throughout the
project. Their parents, who instilled the foundation of their
learning, and the faculty of the Department of Electrical
Engineering and Technology at College of Engineering and
Technology, Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of
Technology, especially their thesis adviser, Engr. Anacita P.
Tahud, for her unwavering support, knowledge, and technical
skills. The researchers also want to thank the members of the
panel, Dr. Carl John O. Salaan, Engr. Karl Martin A. Aldueso,
and Dr. Noel R. Estoperez for their technical assistance and
valuable suggestions.

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