Use of Geographical Information System (GIS) in managing utility incidences: a case study of Kenya Power Company, Roysambu area in Nairobi county

Abstract

In pursuance of an effective incidence management within utility line of business, the businesses should ensure that spatial details and web based system are utilized in managing the incidences. At present the Kenya Power company, does not utilize spatial details and there is no web based system utilized in incidence management. The aim of the project was to demonstrate the role of GIS in managing utility services incidences using Kenya power as a case study. A spatial web based system was developed and tested to address customer's location consideration and a web based solution when managing power outage incidences at Roysambu Area, Nairobi, Kenya.

The system will be hosted and managed at Kenya Power company premises. It was not possible to host the system online, and thus impossible to demonstrate use of smart phones used by field personnel's. The project should be adopted by Kenya Power Company to enhance its incidence service management. The method used in this project is potentially applicable in other utility industries as well as other investments not necessarily on utility line of business.