Academy for Educational Development

The advancement of the medium voltage network in Kilamba Kiaxi as
shown on a GIS map.

Nearly three decades of civil war left the country of Angola’s infrastructure broken and outdated. Electricity, which is vital to the development of any nation, became largely unavailable. Now, however, that is starting to change as AED works with the country to rebuild its electrical system.

“Providing electricity to homes and businesses requires more than just installing poles and stringing cable,” said Mary Worzala, AED’s director of energy programs. “Maps, census, customer, and infrastructure data—which are outdated or nonexistent in Angola—are essential in planning for and providing electricity.”

Using Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, AED’s Angola Electricity Support Program is filling these information gaps in partnership with the utility company EDEL and the municipal governments of two large, urban communities on the outskirts of the Angolan capital of Luanda.

GIS is a computer program that uses satellite photos to prepare digital maps, which can be used to plan, build, and manage electricity networks. The GIS maps AED is creating are providing the utility company with vital information, such as street addresses, meter numbers, and where houses are connected to the electrical system. That information will help EDEL deliver more accurate electricity bills and provide better customer service.

AED is also training staff at the municipal government and EDEL in how to use the GIS technology effectively to help make decisions.

Currently, the two districts are piloting a project to test connection, metering, billing, and collection strategies. In the first phase, roughly 25,000 people will benefit from improvements to these systems.

“GIS is not only used to make maps,” said Worzala. “It is a strategic platform that significantly benefits utilities, municipal governments, and communities. It can be used for tasks ranging from planning development near underused power lines, to determining the cost of service, and AED is making this strategic planning a reality in Angola.”