In the world of natural gas infrastructure, precision is everything. Behind every successful project at Sunrise Engineering is a powerful mapping engine—Geographic Information Systems (GIS)—that helps keep our pipelines safe, compliant, and efficient from day one.
We spoke with Jarom Hlebasko, GISP – GIS Department Manager, to explore how Sunrise’s GIS team supports natural gas projects from the planning stages through long-term operations—and why good mapping is the key to great outcomes.
More Than Just a Map
GIS at Sunrise is far more than a visual layer—it’s a full-service tool that enables smarter decision-making at every phase of a project. Here are just a few of the ways GIS supports natural gas work:
- Asset Tracking – Monitor materials, equipment, and crew locations in real time.
- Project Monitoring – Dashboards track construction progress and flag deviations from the plan.
- Maintenance & Lifecycle Management – GIS tracks the condition, age, and inspection history of every pipeline segment and fitting.
- Emergency Response – Integrated with SCADA systems, GIS helps pinpoint leaks or failures quickly and accurately.
- Regulatory Compliance – GIS ensures our documentation is accurate, accessible, and up to regulatory standards.
- Stakeholder Communication – Interactive maps help communicate complex project details to clients, regulators, and communities.
Early Involvement, Long-Term Impact
The GIS team supports projects from the very beginning. During planning and design, GIS provides essential data for route selection, permitting, and alignment sheets. For many clients, the GIS team also performs parcel and right-of-way research, gathering information from county systems and assessor’s offices to support the design process.
Field Data with Precision
One of the most powerful tools in GIS today is high-accuracy GPS. Sunrise uses GPS to capture the exact location of pipeline components like valves, fittings, tees, and meters, down to sub-meter or even centimeter accuracy. This allows for:
- Precise as-built mapping
- Regulatory traceability
- Faster, safer maintenance and emergency response
- Improved long-term asset planning
Jarom explains, “GPS gives us the ability to map underground assets with a level of precision that drastically improves safety, accountability, and future planning.”
Ensuring Accuracy Through QA/QC
Although the GIS team theoretically receives finalized as-builts, they still verify every detail. Their process includes:
- Checking internal consistency in documents
- Comparing against aerial imagery and the existing land base
- Cross-referencing older facilities and records
- Adjusting GIS maps to reflect real-world conditions
Sunrise is also actively upgrading its land base data to ensure future GPS data aligns perfectly with what’s on the ground.
GIS QA/QC includes:
- Annotation and label formatting
- Geometric accuracy checks
- Attribute validation for all assets
- Visual clarity and styling
- Rigorous data integrity reviews
These checks make sure every map is not only clear, but dependable.
Client Systems Integration
For clients like Southwest Gas (SWG), the GIS handoff is smooth and structured:
- SWG sends work request numbers to begin the mapping process.
- Sunrise retrieves the associated as-builts and sets up project files in a shared web app.
- Once a mapper completes the edits, they go through internal QA.
- Approved maps are sent back to SWG for their own final QC.
- The finalized session is posted to the live system used daily by field crews and contractors.
This end-to-end integration keeps client systems up to date and field teams informed in real time.
Challenges and New Frontiers
One challenge Jarom’s team often faces is standardizing data from older projects, where past mapping practices or outdated land bases can create inconsistencies. Balancing legacy accuracy with modern standards requires skill, patience, and a deep understanding of both data and geography.
But there are exciting developments ahead too:
- Field GPS during installation
- Expanded use of ArcGIS Pro
- Drone imagery for more detailed land data
The Expertise Behind the Tech
Working in GIS for natural gas requires both training and technical expertise. Most team members have degrees or certificates in GIS and extensive experience with Esri platforms like ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro.
Jarom and his team bring the skills, tools, and mindset to make sure every project is mapped with clarity, consistency, and confidence.
At Sunrise Engineering, GIS isn’t just a background function—it’s a mission-critical system that keeps our natural gas infrastructure accurate, safe, and future-ready.