India’s urban landscape is increasingly relying on piped natural gas (PNG) for domestic, commercial and industrial use. As the city gas distribution (CGD) network rapidly expands across metropolitan and Tier II cities, the need for intelligent and resilient systems to manage these infrastructures has increased. Two technologies have emerged at the forefront of this transformation – supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and geographic information systems (GIS). Together, they are revolutionising how gas utilities plan, monitor and operate their networks, ultimately delivering safer, more efficient and more responsive services to consumers.
SCADA: The backbone of real-time operations
SCADA is the central monitoring system of modern CGD networks. It enables real-time monitoring, control and automation across critical gas distribution assets. From city gate stations to compressed natural gas (CNG) filling points, SCADA connects diverse elements of pipeline infrastructure, ensuring safety, efficiency and rapid emergency response.
By offering real-time access to operational data, SCADA minimises delays in decision-making and supports preventive action before faults escalate into disruptions. For instance, the system can automatically shut down gas valves during a detected pressure drop or equipment malfunction, avoiding potential accidents. Moreover, SCADA plays a pivotal role in improving data integrity and reducing human error.
SCADA monitored assets
The scope of SCADA extends across multiple asset categories. In city gate stations, the system interfaces with flow computers, odorant systems, gas and flame detectors, control valves, and transformer rectifier units. At CNG stations, SCADA integrates components such as compressors, dispensers, heavy commercial vehicle filling points, air compressors, uninterruptible power supply systems, and generator sets. Within district regulating skids (DRS), it monitors gas detectors, remote tripping mechanisms and slam-shut valves. Additionally, commercial and industrial metering points are linked to SCADA for capturing consumption data and flow rates.
All these functionalities converge into a centralised dashboard that visualises smart key performance indicators, monitors alarms, forecasts demand, enables emergency shutdown, and integrates with external platforms such as GIS and Journey Management Application.
Overcoming challenges with SCADA
SCADA addresses some of the most persistent operational challenges in the CGD sector. One critical area is data accuracy. With multiple personnel managing different segments, some on-site and others off-site, the potential for discrepancies and delays remains high. SCADA creates a unified platform that consolidates real-time data inputs, streamlining both field operations and office-based analysis.
Efficient resource management is another major benefit. By automating data capture and asset monitoring, SCADA reduces the dependency on manual labour, thereby lowering operational costs and improving productivity. The platform also helps maintain schedules by identifying wear-and-tear patterns in components such as compressors, dispensers and flow regulators. This predictive maintenance approach reduces downtime and extends asset lifespan.
Another important functionality of SCADA is gas reconciliation, ensuring the volume of gas purchased, transported and consumed is accurately accounted for. It enables CGD operators to track gas flow at every node, helping detect and rectify unaccounted-for losses.
A major hurdle is equipment compatibility. CGD companies typically procure hardware such as compressors and dispensers from multiple original equipment manufacturers, each using different communication protocols. This makes seamless integration complex and often necessitates extensive custom mapping. Physical space constraints, particularly in retrofitting older CNG stations with remote terminal units, also pose difficulties. Ensuring communication reliability across long cable networks, particularly in densely populated urban areas, demands advanced design and continuous maintenance. Integration with third-party software also requires robust application programming interface and standardised data formats to maintain real-time responsiveness and data fidelity.
Despite these challenges, the benefits of SCADA have prompted many utilities to expand its capabilities across three core platforms – the SCADA client, the web application and the mobile application. The SCADA client offers full functionality, including alarm management, communication monitoring, event tracking, price change operations and emergency valve control. Meanwhile, the web and mobile applications serve as lighter versions, offering access to live parameters, dashboards and reports, especially useful for teams on the move.
GIS: A visual framework for network intelligence
GIS enables utilities to map every inch of their pipeline infrastructure digitally, replacing traditional “as-laid” drawings with dynamic, interactive maps. These maps provide a single visual platform where operators can view the entire network, track asset health, locate faults and even plan for future expansion.
GIS is essential for operations and maintenance teams. It enables coordination with field staff. With mobile GIS platforms, field technicians can identify the exact location of valves, meters, or pipelines in real time, enabling fast response during gas leaks or accidental damage. GIS also assists marketing teams in identifying potential PNG customers by highlighting underserved pockets, thereby penetration in residential clusters.
A particularly innovative GIS application is the geofence system, an excavation vehicle monitoring solution designed to prevent third-party damage. It establishes a virtual 5 metre boundary around laid pipelines. If a GPS-enabled excavation vehicle breaches this boundary and remains stationary for more than five minutes, the system triggers real-time alerts to central control, ground teams and zonal heads. These alerts are supported by mobile map links, helping teams navigate directly to the risk site.
Cross-platform implementation and system integration
To cater to different departments within the CGD ecosystem, GIS is deployed across three primary platforms. Desktop GIS is primarily used by system administrators and GIS experts for data management and quality control. Web GIS provides access to all departments for network planning and decision-making. Meanwhile, mobile GIS is tailored for on-field teams to view and validate asset information at the ground level.
India’s leading CGD players have adopted GE Smallworld as the foundational technology for their GIS architecture. The platform is closely integrated with quality and construction management (QCM) systems to reflect real-time updates of pipeline projects. Additionally, it interfaces with SCADA for live monitoring and vehicle tracking systems for patrol unit tracking.
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of GIS is its integration with SCADA. Live SCADA data, particularly pressure readings from city gate stations, CNG stations, and DRS, can be overlaid on GIS maps.
While SCADA and GIS manage operations and visualisation, QCM systems ensure that the infrastructure being monitored is built to standard. These are then imported into the GIS database, ensuring a one-to-one match between physical installations and digital records. This seamless transfer of verified construction data helps prevent discrepancies between planned and actual networks and strengthens accountability.
The future of gas networks
As India pursues ambitious targets for energy security and cleaner fuel adoption, the optimisation of CGD networks through SCADA and GIS will be critical. The integration of these technologies not only ensures operational efficiency but also enables utility companies to provide safer, smarter and more scalable services.
In the years ahead, the emphasis is expected to shift towards artificial intelligence for anomaly detection, cloud-based SCADA for scalability and advanced GIS analytics for urban planning. The convergence of these digital platforms ushers in a new era in urban utility management – one where infrastructure is not just maintained but continuously optimised in real time.
Based on remarks and a presentation by a THINK Gas representative at a recent India Infrastructure conference.
