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Oil & Gas Pipeline GIS
A Study of Data Spatial Accuracy & Responsible Budgeting
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Spatial Accuracy
In today’s competitive energy market, businesses need the most accurate and comprehensive Oil & Gas Pipeline GIS and Mapping data available. Until recently, customers were forced to rely on one or two companies for this much needed information. Inevitably, this meant being forced to pay exorbitant prices to vendors who provided less than accurate data due to a lack of quality competition.
.jpg) In a recent poll, conducted by a third party polling service, 155 Natural Gas & Oil Pipeline GIS professionals were asked this question: "What do you consider most when purchasing Oil and Gas Pipeline GIS Data Sets" The response options were: Price, Accuracy & Comprehensiveness, Reputation of Vendor or Updates. An overwhelming 70% of the respondents indicated that accuracy and comprehensiveness were the most important factors when considering a purchase of Pipeline GIS Data Sets. While 14% of the respondents said price was the most important factor, a surprisingly small 10% considered reputation of the vendor as the most important factor. Although updates are essential, only 3% of the respondents felt they were the most important factor.
Based on these results, Rextag Strategies, a customer-driven company, decided to perform their own extensive accuracy tests. While no GIS Data Provider can provide "survey-quality" pipeline data, there are tests that can be performed to help ensure the highest possible accuracy levels are reached and maintained, detailed here:
Industry Background
Every Vendor who supplies pipeline GIS Data Sets claims to have the most up to date, most accurate, most comprehensive and detailed layers of information available, which leaves GIS Users unable to make an informed decision. Here at Rextag Strategies, we strive to provide actual quantitative results as to the spatial accuracy of our pipeline data. In fact, as of the printing of this accuracy statement, Rextag Strategies is still the ONLY vendor who even attempts to qualify its remarks in regards to accuracy. As you can see these results are published and shared publicly for all to see rather than provided only verbally or behind closed doors.
In our industry, GIS users have actually become accustomed to their pipeline data being MILES off their mark. After all, there were only one or two companies to obtain the data from so users paid exorbitant fees for spatially inaccurate data. Marketing efforts of these vendors pushed users into believing the real quality of pipeline GIS data is not in the position of the pipelines at all, but rather in an attribute or a supporting layer of information. Here at Rextag Strategies, the spatially accurate pipeline layer is the foundation for the entire data set. Our attributes are appropriately and fully populated, but these attributes are only useful if pipelines are not miles off their mark. Hence, our focus on spatial accuracy and our efforts to provide challenges to the pipeline GIS industry. We challenge users to finally DEMAND accuracy…..we challenge our competitors to provide truthful and tested accuracy results for all to see, and we challenge ourselves to remain the driving force towards improving the reputation of our industry.
Spatial Accuracy Test
The purpose of this Spatial Accuracy Test is to scientifically assess the quality of pipeline GIS data rather than rely on generic subjective statements made by data providers. For this purpose, more than 1,000 data points were collected throughout the United States representing clear and verified centerlines for some of the most important interstate natural gas pipelines. As all pipeline GIS vendors should have these pipelines, a clear identification can be made by this Calculator and an ‘apples-to-apples’ calculation can be accomplished. We left the State of Texas out of this comparison because it is  deceiving to use Texas to prove accuracy when vendors get their Texas data from the exact same resource. Hence, Texas is never reflective of spatial accuracy in a nationwide dataset. (Always request samples from states other than Texas!) We believe that our accuracy results as outlined below are the best in the industry, but until other vendors follow suit, it will be up to the user to do a detailed apples to apples comparison. We encourage users of other GIS pipeline data to install and run the free Spatial Accuracy Calculator to evaluate the data they currently use. To receive a live online demo of the data call Rextag today!
Responsible Budgeting
After Accuracy and Comprehensiveness, Pricing ranked as the driving factor in GIS purchasing decisions. In the past, GIS professionals were limited to relying on one or two companies for this type of data. As such, these GIS professionals and their companies required healthy budgets to cover the arbitrarily-set fees that vendors charged for this data; a lack of competition kept prices at an inflated level. This status quo existed for so long that GIS professionals began to believe that the higher prices reflected higher-quality.
These large GIS vendors have large overheads due to the several other departments within their organizations. Very often they are owned by a much larger parent company. But they no longer represent the only choices. As demonstrated above, an organization (such as Rextag) that puts forth the required effort can achieve and maintain the quality, accuracy and comprehensiveness that is crucial to revolutionizing the GIS data provider industry. We provide these services and data at a clearly published, reasonable price to companies of all sizes; companies that have overpaid for substandard GIS data may now obtain higher quality data for a significantly lower price – please refer to the chart on this page.
Rextag offers companies of all sizes:
- more commodities,
- better accuracy and comprehensiveness
- honest, up-front pricing that is published for all to see (rather than hidden so that prices may be adjusted based on the vendor’s belief of what the customer can afford)
- license renewals at a significant discount (rather than having to re-purchase the same data at the same –or higher- price each year.
The result is that customers are now able to finally obtain better data at a far lower price than ever before. When considering today’s harsh economic times and the strains put on budgets, any company would be remiss to not at least consider switching to a more affordable Oil & Gas GIS Data provider.
“Your data compared to [Company A*] data is unparalleled. Yours is the best thus far.”
-GIS Manager (one of the top 10 largest interstate gas pipeline companies)
“[Company A & B*] are MILES off the mark and does not even compare with your data.”
-Project Analyst (mid-size E&P company)
"Your prices are definitely more reasonable and we are unsure why we have been paying [Company B*] for data we cannot always relyon."
-Project Manager (mid-size acquisition company)
*Company ‘A’ and ‘B’ represent the two largest and most well-known pipeline GIS data suppliers in the United States.
 The reality is that price is no longer reflective of quality and quality should be proven and honestly stated, not just claimed. GIS Professionals and their companies should find comfort in working with a vendor that provides true accuracy results without breaking their departmental budget. This can be easily accomplished through minimal research where vendors are compared to one another through actual live demonstrations of the data and ensuring a thorough understanding of pricing practices and policies of the vendor.
In short, quality and affordability exists. Current times call for no longer simply taking the word of a vendor when it comes to these factors. Rextag Strategies is a data and mapping provider for the Energy Industry who specializes in GIS Data Sets, Digital Mapping, Custom Mapping, and printed Wall Maps.
Rextag Strategies’ GIS Price Guarantee
Too often companies have to settle for less quality due to constrained budgets.To help ensure that every company can afford to obtain the highest quality of data at the lowest possible price Rextag Strategies is implementing our lowest price guarantee…
Rextag Strategies will beat any GIS Pipeline Data Set price offered by reputable competitors.In addition, for those who are facing renewal from their current vendor but wish to switch, Rextag will honor your current renewal rate or honor our own current price (whichever is less) from your vendor so that you can afford to obtain the highest quality without suffering an increase.
No longer are you stuck with outdated, inaccurate, unreliable data.No longer are you forced to go with “the other guy” simply because of price. Now all companies, large and small, on any budget can obtain GIS Data from Rextag Strategies, where you can enjoy the highest standard of quality and customer service at the guaranteed lowest price!
Simply ensure that you have available your renewal invoice or your official quote to share with us and get the best data at the best price today.
For questions, comments or demonstrations contact:
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Rextag Strategies Corp.
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14405 Walters Rd Suite 510 |
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Houston, TX 77014 |
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General:
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(281) 769-2247 |
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Scott Lynch
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VP of Sales & Business Dev. |
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Direct:
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281-769-2247 |
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Cell Phone:
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281-825-1396 |
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Email:
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Scott.Lynch@rextag.com |
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Rose Fuller
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Account Manager |
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Direct:
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281-769-2146 |
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Cell Phone:
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281-989-1050 |
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Email:
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Rose.Fuller@rextag.com |
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