When Hurricane Helene swept through the Carolinas, it left behind a trail of washed-out roads, damaged infrastructure and entire communities cut off from critical services. In the wake of the storm, Duke Energy faced a complex challenge: how to safely and quickly move thousands of lineworkers, trucks and equipment – including 100-ton mobile substations – into hard-hit areas where typical navigation tools like Google Maps fell short.
That’s when the company’s geographic information system (GIS) team stepped in. Using advanced mapping technology and real-time data, the GIS team developed safe, reliable routes for storm response crews – accelerating power restoration and protecting both employees and the public.
“Our top priority is safety,” said Kaitlyn Roosje, a GIS data integrity supervisor based in Raleigh, N.C. “We do everything we can to make sure our workers, customers and communities are out of harm’s way.”
Smart maps in action
GIS is more than just digital maps – it’s a powerful tool that analyzes data from hundreds of sources, helping Duke Energy operate smarter and respond faster.
During hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, Roosje and her colleagues used a specialized app to overlay company data with public information, creating up-to-date routing guides for lineworkers and damage assessors traveling through dangerous terrain.
These dynamic maps account for real-world obstacles – like washed-out roads, closed bridges and tunnel clearances – and are constantly updated as new information comes in. With I-40 shut down in western North Carolina, for example, GIS tools helped crews find alternate safe routes into the mountains to begin restoring power.
“We use any data we can get our hands on,” Roosje said. “And we’re constantly adjusting to keep our crews moving safely and efficiently.”
It’s become a foundation that supports nearly everything we do.
– Amy Barron, Carolinas’ GIS manager
Visualizing damage, prioritizing repairs
Beyond routing, GIS helps Duke Energy visualize storm damage and direct resources to the most critical areas. Using aerial imagery and data from the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council, the team created virtual flyovers of affected zones to highlight substations and equipment likely impacted by flooding.
“It’s not an exact science,” said Amy Barron, GIS manager in the Carolinas, “but it gives us a jump start. We can see where we need to send people to check for damage, which helps us prioritize repairs and get power back on faster.”
GIS technology is also used long before a storm hits. By analyzing flood modeling data, Duke Energy can identify substations that may need flood barriers or other protective measures – helping the company build a more resilient grid over time.
Powering everyday operations
While GIS plays a critical role during storms, it’s also used in everyday work. Thousands of Duke Energy employees rely on GIS to make smarter decisions – from engineering and environmental planning to customer service.
“If you’ve ever tracked a delivery, ordered food online or looked up your tax records, you’ve used GIS,” said Barron. “For us, it’s become a foundation that supports nearly everything we do. It’s so much more than just maps.”
Here are a few examples of GIS in action:
- GIS helps Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas monitor and maintain natural gas pipelines. By layering environmental data with federal assessments, the company ensures compliance with safety regulations and prevents potential pipeline issues – protecting communities and reducing risk.
- GIS powers tools that keep track of underground assets. This supports the national “Call Before You Dig” system, which encourages customers to call 811 before digging to get underground utility lines marked. This helps prevent third-party damage to electric and natural gas lines – and costly outages.
- GIS supports habitat conservation and environmental compliance. Take the science-backed Habitat Conservation Plan for bats, for example. By identifying areas where infrastructure intersects with protected habitats, GIS enables the company to manage vegetation to protect reliability and reduce impact on endangered species. Read more about the cooperative effort between Duke Energy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).