A Word from The Boss

Energy Transition, Race to the Future

Welcome to our Spring newsletter for 2024!

In this edition, read on to discover how Mipela GeoSolutions Alignment digital transformation stage revolves around the cloud to enable our Clients’ to Sustain and Innovate their day-to-day activities. We hear from our most recent client success story, Inner West Council’s use of our X-Info Assurance suite to migrate their legacy Before You Dig enquiry response system to add value to their business. We also hear how, long term client, Epic Energy continues to contribute to renewable energy, supporting South Australia’s ambitious target to achieve 100% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.

As the Energy Transition race gains momentum, largely fuelled by environmental sustainability concerns, we recognise that its success hinges on ensuring it simultaneously provides energy security and access, while also promoting economic growth and development.

For us the journey to our third generation X-Info platform began two years ago with the decision to move to the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS). Offering over 200 plus fully featured services from data centres around the world, AWS has allowed us to Migrate and Modernise our products and services.

Work started late 2022 with a proof of concept (PoC) that our X-Info suite would operate as required in the AWS ecosystem, with our Cloud service provider iTOC at the time, who are now part of ThoughtWorks.

2023 saw us plan, build, deliver our AWS framework and migrate 100 plus critical infrastructure clients successfully to our new Platform as a Service (PaaS), which includes our Security Operations Center (SOC), managed by our Security partner, Fortian.

2024 has been the year of Alignment in our product roadmap, as we continue to modernise and leverage the services AWS has to offer – with security being our number one priority. We are centralising user management into Microsoft Azure Entra ID from an infrastructure and system perspective. The completion of our Security Information Event Management (SIEM) and the establishment of our Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) policies mark important milestones, and we are well on track with the next phase of procedures, governance, and compliance as we work towards achieving ISO27001:2023 certification by 2025. This is crucial to ensure that our solutions continue to address how our clients:

• Standardise data about their business processes
• Manage change in a responsive manner
• Execute work processes in a repeatable fashion
• Drive quality so they can make reliable decisions
• Connect stakeholders whether in the office or field.

On an exciting note, Adam Herbert, Jaci Button and I look forward to travelling south to see our clients and industry colleagues in Adelaide 12-15 October for the 2024 Australian Pipeline Gas Association Annual Convention & Exhibition. We will be focusing on this year’s compelling theme, Future Pipelines. We look forward to catching up with you over the course of the event and invite you to our cosy Psychiatrists’ Office to help diagnose your most pressing cloud hosting or data management ailments. Drop by Stand 37 in the exhibition to fuel your business sessions with some M&M’s on us.

Hayden McDonald
Founder and Managing Director

Welcoming Inner West Council

We are thrilled to announce Inner West Council, a Sydney Metropolitan local government body, as a new client and to support them in safeguarding their critical infrastructure. Their commitment to the residents of Inner West Council remains unwavering, and we are proud to have successfully implemented X-Info Assurance suite seamlessly, in collaboration with the Inner West team.

One of the highlights of working with Inner West Council is to showcase the impressive speed of our X-Info Assurance suite. We’ve had great conversations with clients about efficiency and speed, and we’re excited to share that Inner West Council’s responses are now returned to enquirers in just 0.1 of a minute on average—that’s a mere 6 seconds!

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Inner West Council as they join our growing community.

But that’s not all… Since partnering in March, we’ve had the opportunity to learn more about the vibrant Inner West Council and its diverse charm:

Cultural Diversity: Over 42.9% of households in the Inner West speak two or more languages, creating a rich tapestry of cultures that influence the local arts, music, and food scenes.

A Unified Council: The Inner West Council was established in 2016 through the merger of Ashfield, Leichhardt, and Marrickville councils, streamlining governance and enhancing community services.

Thriving Arts Scene: The Inner West is a hub for creative industries, attracting artists, musicians, and performers. The area is known for its dynamic arts community and public art projects.

Sustainability Commitment: The Council is dedicated to environmental sustainability, with initiatives like the Inner West Sustainability Hub providing valuable resources to both residents and businesses.

Historic and Eclectic Neighbourhoods: The Inner West boasts a mix of historic suburbs like Balmain and Leichhardt, known for their heritage architecture, alongside eclectic neighbourhoods like Newtown and Marrickville, celebrated for their indie music scenes, unique eateries, and vibrant street art.

We look forward to continuing our partnership and further exploring the unique qualities that make the Inner West such a remarkable place.

Welcome aboard!

Jaci

In Focus: New Support Portal

Mipela GeoSolutions, are excited to announce our new Support Portal is almost ready!

Our new Support Portal is being designed to give our clients secure access and transparency over the life cycle of their Support Request.

What is the Portal for?

The Portal will centralise and automate the processes for logging a Support Request and will enable our clients to track progress of their request, providing faster and more efficient support.

What can I do in the Portal?

Key features of the new Support Portal will include:

• Access Your Support Requests: View and manage all your current and past requests
• Review and Update: Make updates and changes to your requests effortlessly
• Real-time Progress: Stay informed with up-to-date progress on your requests.

With this system, Mipela will be able to track and resolve issues in a timely manner, ensuring minimal disruption to its clients’ business operations.

What if my request is urgent?

For any urgent issues, we still recommend calling our Support team directly at 07 3252 5589.

When will the Portal be available?

Keep an eye on your email the next month or so for more detailed information including our GoLive date.

Mipela’s continuous improvement model means that the new Support Portal will evolve over time along with our clients’ needs.

Our Support team are looking forward to serving you better with this significant enhancement to our IT infrastructure.

Kamapim Update: Strategic Progress and Future Innovations

As we wrap up another productive quarter, we’re excited to share a glimpse of the forward momentum we continue to build. While we can’t always dive into specifics, we’re proud of the work we do to set the stage for ongoing success.

Over the past few months, we’ve focused on planning, demonstrating, and refining key concepts that will drive innovation in the years ahead. One highlight has been the successful integration of a leading third-party GIS product with X-Info Connect, to enable clients to create share and access geographic information from anywhere.

We’ve also held an annual briefing on Mipela’s strategic planning to align the team and our long-term vision with the evolving needs of the industry.

Additionally, we’ve completed a proof of concept for a new approach to how one of our key solutions is delivered. This holds significant potential, and we’re eager to bring it to market after further development.

We’re excited about what we are doing and looking forward to bringing our clients and the wider industry new and refined solutions in 2025.

Staff Updates: Introducing…

Diego Pinon – Solutions Project Coordinator

We are excited to introduce the newest member, Diego Pinon. Diego brings with him a wealth of knowledge and 20 years experience in the spatial industry.

Diego surveying in the Antarctica

Diego’s career has spanned various facets of the spatial industry, from surveying to advanced geospatial analysis.

Diego migrated to Australia from Argentina in 2022.

In his spare time, Diego enjoys fishing and camping with his family.

Diego will be taking on the role of Solutions Project Coordinator, where his passion for spatial technology and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our mission to connect people with information.

Nisha Pradhan – Solutions Specialist

We are also delighted to welcome Nisha to our Services team, bringing with her the Mipela suited blend of expertise across both IT and GIS. With approximately 8 years of experience in IT help desk and application support, coupled with another 8 years as a GIS Analyst, Nisha is well equipped to contribute to Mipela’s operations and innovation.

Nisha originates from the Kingdom of Bhutan. She loves gardening and camping with her family. She also has quite a collection of pot plants.

Oh, and her super power – making friends easily!

Mipela Leads the Way in Sovereignty and Security

In an era where global business operations often dilute national identity, Mipela proudly stands as a beacon of Australian sovereignty. With all products developed in Australia and a Support team based entirely within Queensland, Mipela remains 100% Australian-owned, free from offshore investors or parent companies. In fact, we are one of a surprisingly small number of software product developers that are certified by the Australia Made campaign.

Celebrating 28 years in business, Mipela continues to thrive with deep roots planted firmly in Australian soil. Our commitment to serving the Energy and Infrastructure sectors – classified as critical infrastructure – underscores our dedication to exceptional service and security.

Understanding the importance of data sovereignty, Mipela is devoted to maintaining the highest standards. We exclusively utilise AWS Cloud Services located across two availability zones in New South Wales, ensuring that our clients are supported with comprehensive security solutions.

Mipela remains committed to excellence, providing unparalleled support and security to our clients while championing Australian values and sovereignty.

Christmas is coming…

…and, for a lot of our clients that means change freeze and shut down time. It’s time to think ahead if you want enhancements made to your existing X-Info solutions prior to the new year – yup, 2025…

Simply log a Support Request by calling 07 3252 5589 or email us.

Development Update: X-Info Connect version 8.0

Development is underway and our Products team will be busy next year working on providing a new solution of our software. X-Info Connect 8.0 aims to provide solutions to clients using simple workflows to connect and exchange information.

There are many key objectives to meet with this version that will provide enhanced performance, more efficient storage of data, dynamic integration, flexibility in database and process design, and enhanced security – all delivered in a modern application using current technology.

A significant transformation of the architecture will allow migration of previous versions of databases to provide seamless transfer to new solutions for clients.

Unlocking Innovation with AWS Serverless: A Proof of Concept

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to innovate while maintaining flexibility and cost-efficiency. A recent proof of concept (PoC) completed by Mipela GeoSolutions, using AWS serverless technology has demonstrated the immense potential of loosely coupled architecture design in achieving these goals.

At the core of this PoC was the deployment of a serverless architecture leveraging AWS services such as AWS Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB and S3 Storage. The objective was to create a highly scalable and resilient application to manage automated map processing without the need for managing servers or complex infrastructure.

One of the key benefits of this approach is the cost-effectiveness. With serverless technology, you only pay for what you use, which can significantly reduce operational costs. This is highly advantageous for unpredictable or fluctuating workloads, as they can scale seamlessly to meet the demand as it happens without the overhead of always on infrastructure.

The PoC also highlighted the scalability of serverless architectures. AWS Lambda automatically scales based on the demand, handling thousands of concurrent requests effortlessly. This scalability is crucial for applications expected to handle varying loads, ensuring performance remains consistent even during peak times.

We look forward to keeping you updated on this PoC and others and how these may become market ready projects in the future.

Epic Energy Powers Forward: Contributing to South Australia’s 2030 Renewable Energy Goals

Epic Energy continues to contribute to renewable energy, supporting South Australia’s ambitious target to achieve 100% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.

It’s exciting to know that the Mannum Solar Farm Stage 2 is now operational and supplying renewable electricity into the SA network. This new phase operates independently of the initial Mannum Solar Farm, boasting its own dedicated connection to the SA Power Network’s distribution network. With an average annual generation of 75 GWh, Stage 2 will produce enough renewable energy to power 15,000 homes! This project is one of many exciting ventures Epic Energy is advancing to feed clean energy back into the National Electricity Grid, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability and a cleaner energy future.

Mipela is proud to support Epic Energy in managing its assets efficiently. Leveraging the power of the X-Info Assurance suite, Mipela ensures lightning-fast responses to any enquiries regarding excavation, digging, and planning activities. Together, we are driving progress and protecting vital infrastructure in the renewable energy sector.