newsbytes@clarinet.com (02/04/90)
WANCHAI, HONGKONG, 1990 JAN 28 (NB) -- Intergraph Graphic Systems Hongkong Ltd (IGS) has won the territory's biggest automated mapping and facility management (AM/FM) contract in a $3.2 million deal with Hongkong Electric Co Ltd (HEC), one of the two local power utilities. Douglas Kwok, general manager of IGS, says, "HEC will have a system that will allow it to more accurately plan the future of Hongkong's power supply and ensure sufficient power reaches certain areas." The system will give HEC a number of precision analysis tools required for the planning, engineering, work order processing and maintenance of the colony's power supply. Power demands on HEC and the China Light & Power Co (CLP), which supplies the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, have grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade and both companies have plans for new large generating stations. In the past, constant road openings by the power, gas and telephone companies and the government's Water Supplies Department have given rise to extensive complaints and criticism of inefficiency and lack of coordination. There is growing recognition that accurate up-to- date mapping of all underground services is essential. One aim now is to coordinate all service mapping. IGS claims its technical support team has been able to provide for the integration of HEC's AM/FM system with the digitized maps of the Buildings and Lands Department. HEC's chief software engineer, Ms M.L. Lee, says the decision to convert to a new system was taken about two years ago. "We had a digitized mapping system, but it was about eight years old and there was a need to phase it out." Mr. Kwok added, "This is a major breakthrough in the Asia Pacific region with important implications for future business in the area. Other utilities managers from Hongkong and Macau will be watching this project very closely." The deal includes an Integraph VAX-based 6420 as the host, Interview mapping colour graphic workstations and the first Hongkong installation of an Intergraph 8836 laser plotter. The installation of equipment will begin during the current quarter and will be completed in early 1991. (Norman Wingrove/19900203/Press Contact: Mike Dunn, MDL, + 852 838 3889)