Page 42 - EPSI Magazine Issue 8 final 2018.indd

In the same vein there are other renewable en- already see this beginning in the many rough
ergies that can be mapped, such as geothermal and maps that are circulating within the renewable
biomasses there are known areas of biomass produc- energy sector.
tion around the world. Renewable energy produc- More advanced IT applications will work in
tion being currently the topic of debate whose prin- 3D applications, be linked to financial tools and
cipal answer is IT/GIS and GPS. Siting (Mapping) and automated management systems for critical in-
analysis of appropriate quarry areas of most forms of frastructures. Wherever new infrastructure in-
renewable energy which also have geographic con- vestments take place, there’s a strong need for
siderations outside site location for optimal power; geospatial technologies to plan, construct and
such as population proximity to the energy source monitor new developments. When it comes to en-
and the existence of infrastructure to transport the ergy, the contribution of geospatial technologies
power, IT/GIS is needed to comprehensively address is essential. IT is uniquely positioned to analyze
mapping of these Energy Resources and monitor these processes to make certain that
energy resources are optimally sited, and that the
The promise of IT (GIS and GPS) in the power that is generated is delivered efficiently.
Energy Sector

Properly applied, ubiquitous and common IT
can vastly ease some of many challenges and as dis-
cussed above that integrated approach of IT is the
bright future to the energy resource harnessing with
the ability to play very important roles starting with
mapping, management, development, investment
to mention but four
When Challenges that retard the advancement
of this IT in any developing country that is; scarcity
of both material and competent human resources,
Inadequate Infrastructure, lack of financial resourc- By Ivan serebe
es for IT projects (like systematic mapping of energy
resources), Affordable internet speeds, exclusion of
important external stakeholders (decision makers)
in IT projects, information hoarding by IT practition-
ers; Lack of standards to guide IT innovations and lo-
cal politics among others; are addressed to improve
service delivery. Then the energy sector ‘which is the
North Arrow of the accelerated economic develop-
ment Compass of any country’ will thrive.

IT has an expanding role to play in a renewa-
ble energy world; it will assist in the development
of technologies that harness maximal energy crea-
tion at the lowest cost for the widest and the most
effective impact in a sustainable sense. We will not
only be able to map energy resource sites, but get
tools and data to enable deeper integration in the
understanding of energy development and use. The
optimization of energy creation and distribution will
become more perfected using these tools. We can