Using brains rather than brawn : how the Water Services Corporation uses GIS-based applications

Abstract

Making sure that water continues to flow irrespective of population growth, increases in tourism numbers and other seasonal demands, requires a large infrastructure, sophisticated technology, and a dedicated organisation behind it. The Water Services Corporation (WSC) in Malta has evolved over the past two decades into a modern corporation adopting innovative technological solutions and sophisticated technology that has helped deliver the best-quality service to customers. One way is by using geographic information system (GIS) based applications. Adopting this “spatial” strategy has enabled the WSC to determine how core business can exploit location data to improve decision-making, reduce risks, and optimise operations. The WSC is, as far as is known, the first large local organisation to adopt GIS to manage, control, and plan internal projects. Over the years the corporation has built up a very comprehensive GIS capacity that includes the geo-located points of all water meters, valves, taps, and pipes that exist on the Islands. Since the WSC is also responsible for Malta’s wastewater, the company also has the same facilities in this sector too, complete with slope angle and elevation data.