A Word from The Boss

Align to the Future – Delivering Assurance

Welcome to our Summer newsletter for 2024!

In this edition, we learn how maps are “Powering the future of Energy” with a GIS Uplift program of work for an Australian energy company; share Gas Pipelines Victoria’s mobile field data capture client success story; highlight how Viva Energy are streamlining their pipeline patrol and sightings management; and provide both a security and product update.

2024 was a big year for Mipela GeoSolutions. 41 solutions projects were delivered. We implemented our Security Information Event Management (SIEM) and established our Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), as part of our ISO27001 certification journey. This all culminated with the soft GoLive of our new Information Technology Service Management System (ITSM) to more efficiently support our growing Client base. The end is in sight.

As you can tell, it’s been a year of tremendous investment and a year of tremendous change. Thank you for your support and feedback throughout. We know change is not always easy today, even for the promise of something better in the future. We are listening – and will keep listening to your feedback as we go – and strive to keep getting better, as an assurance platform for your business, and as a purpose/values-driven company.

It has been such a pleasure to catch up with so many clients personally – whether it was in meetings, an event, sharing a bite to eat or a coffee – across the country over the last few weeks. It is such a privilege to be able to travel and I am reminded how lucky we are to live in this part of the world.

We are proud to be able to service the dynamic energy and infrastructure sectors at such a significant time, as we all persist to navigate the hugely complex and challenging energy transition that is well and truly underway. This in turn is accelerating our digital Transformation Stages. Challenges include (but are by no means restricted to) hiring and retaining the resources to deliver on our commitments while keeping up to date with the risks of cyber incidents, business disruption, changes in legislation and regulation.

2025 will see us Race to Align the next generation of X-Info suite with our new AWS Platform. You will see us identify capability gaps and cross-organisational dependencies. Doing so will also help us create strategies for improving our cloud platform operations, ensure stakeholder alignment, and facilitate relevant organisational change management activities. It is certainly exciting to be heading into the new year.

I would like to acknowledge and welcome our most recent new client, AGIG’s Multinet Gas Network in Victoria. Thank you to the significant number of clients who have renewed and congratulate two of our long-term valued clients for their successful migration and modernisation to Mipela GeoSolutions hosted AWS platform: AGIG’s DBP Corporate GIS and X-Info Suite and APA’s BYD teams X-Info Assurance Suite automated response and third party works solution. These migrations enhance stability, user experience, data integration and provide scalable performance – while preparing these clients for future growth. These projects have marked an incredible end to 2024. Hats off to all involved in what was an incredible team effort.

In closing, Mipela GeoSolution’s success is a team effort. We are proud of our culture and the contributions people make on a daily basis and as such special recognition goes out to, Alana O’Connor for 10 years of Service, Adam Herbert and Jaci Button for 5 Years of Service in 2024. These three Wantoks go above and beyond in supporting all they work with and who I enjoy coming to work with every day, thank you for all you do.

On behalf of the Mipela team thank you to all our Clients, Suppliers and Partners for your trust and support through-out 2024. Wherever you might be with family and friends over the Christmas period, we send our best wishes for a rewarding and successful New Year which we look forward too with excitement and confidence, travel safe!

Hayden McDonald
Founder and Managing Director

Gas Pipeline Victoria: Streamlining Right of Way Fault reporting

Gas Pipelines Victoria Pty Ltd (GPV) owns and operates the high pressure Carisbrook to Horsham gas transmission pipeline in Western Victoria. This critical infrastructure supplies natural gas to distributors serving communities in Avoca, Ararat, Stawell, and Horsham.

To enhance its landowner and stakeholder engagement, GPV employs Mipela’s X-Info Lands Management system. Recently, as part of its commitment to continuous improvement, GPV sought to automate and optimise workflows for Right-of-Way (RoW) fault reporting. The company partnered with Mipela to explore how their existing solution could meet this need.

An Efficient Mobile Solution

Following a requirements gathering session, a solution was proposed that would allow field workers to capture fault details using Mipela’s mobile app, X-Info Aware. The app allows field workers to log fault details with ease, capturing descriptions and uploading photos, while automatically recording location and property intersection data in the background.

Once submitted, the fault data becomes instantly accessible to office based teams for review and action. The platform also automatically consolidates this information for monthly reporting, enabling trends to be tracked over time and ensuring compliance with operational standards.

Improving Safety and Compliance

The integration of X-Info Aware has proven invaluable for GPV. Users can quickly log, search, and filter faults within the X-Info Lands Management system to monitor status, analyse safety outcomes, and ensure consistent reporting.

Jason Harris, GPV Project Manager, highlighted the benefits, “The use of X-Info Aware to capture Right-of-Way faults not only saves time but also ensures consistent fault reporting. This supports our compliance with the AS2885 pipeline safety standard and allows us to share meaningful insights with the regulator.”

Expanding Automation for Pipeline Management

Building on the success of the RoW fault reporting workflow, GPV is planning to implement a similar solution to automate data capture for Cathodic Protection (CP) checksheets. This initiative will streamline data collection from test points along the pipeline, further enhancing operational efficiency and safety.

In Focus

Tips for using X-Info WebConnect

Q1: I’ve opened several tabs that I no longer need to view. Is there a way to close all tabs at once?

A1:  Yes, there certainly is! Right click anywhere in the tabs and select CLOSE ALL. Additionally, if there is one tab you would like to remain open and close the rest, right click on the tab to keep and select CLOSE ALL BUT THIS.

Q2: Can I modify the Activities panel so I can see my main information in a bigger space?

A2:  Yes, you can adjust the Activities panel to a width that works for you. Or if you prefer to view X-Info WebConnect without the Activities panel to have more viewing space, you can unpin/close the panel to view your main panel in a bigger view.

To bring the Activities panel back, simply select the hamburger button on the left-hand side.

Q3:  Can I use a map to view data spatially and update or create an interaction without leaving the map?

A3:  You can do so much more from a Map Activity than just viewing a map. Clicking on the object in the map, whether it be a Stakeholder/Property/BYDA, will display any available Contextual Activities. This allows users to complete tasks while viewing the data spatially.

GIS: Powering the Future of Energy with Mipela

Back in 1997 when Hayden McDonald first started Mipela, you could find him and Justin Fielke madly producing maps for some pipeline projects in Papua New Guinea. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is the backbone of Mipela’s history. Fast forward to today, GIS remains at the heart of Mipela’s expertise, strengthened by a team of exceptionally talented consultants who continue to drive innovation in the field.

So, it was no surprise when a large Australian energy company contacted us asking for some assistance with a GIS feasibility study in 2023. They sought a robust strategy to centralise their GIS services, ensuring seamless support for both their current operations and ambitious future infrastructure projects.

Our collaboration began with a feasibility study, which set the stage for success. The study focused on crafting a governance framework and standardised templates for consultants, coupled with a detailed cost analysis of enterprise solutions tailored to the companies’ data governance, storage, and application needs. To ensure sustainable success, we recommended a phased approach to implementation, emphasising the parallel development of the five key GIS pillars: data, hardware, skills, software, and processes.

Driving Innovation: The GIS Uplift Program

The next phase, aptly named the Uplift Program, identified five essential deliverables:

1. Requirements Traceability Matrix – to ensure alignment with strategic goals
2. Requirements Document – a comprehensive blueprint for GIS success
3. GIS Data Catalogue – a centralised resource for streamlined data access
4. GIS Training Plan – empowering teams with the skills to excel
5. GIS Governance Plan – ensuring accountability and consistency.

These deliverables aimed to create a modern GIS capability, foster high user adoption and satisfaction, and support informed decision-making through precise documentation and architectural designs.

Delivering Tangible Results

Building on this strong foundation, Mipela worked closely with the energy company to achieve key milestones, including:

• Developing data capture standards and updating spatial data repositories
• Crafting a GIS staffing plan with clear position descriptions
• Performing a cost-benefit analysis to guide business investments
• Designing an integration checklist and architectural framework tailored to the companies IT principles.

To ensure every aspect was systematically addressed, Mipela provided a detailed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and a high-level schedule. This roadmap offers the energy company a clearly defined path toward achieving GIS maturity, ensuring all five fundamentals evolve cohesively.

A Bright Future

This partnership underscores Mipela’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower organisations to unlock the full potential of GIS. By helping this energy company enhance their operations and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow, we’re not just supporting a project—we’re shaping the future of energy and infrastructure.

With each phase, this energy company is steadily advancing toward a centralised, cutting-edge GIS capability, one that will drive efficiency, innovation, and growth for years to come.

Kamapim update

Continuous Improvement in 2024

In 2024, our team embarked on another year of continuous improvement, aligning with our mission to uphold technical excellence in delivering solutions to the asset and infrastructure industry.

Throughout the year, we ran a series of sessions aimed at expanding our knowledge and enhancing the value we deliver to our clients. From technical innovations to compliance and security, our sessions touched on a vast range of critical topics, enabling our team to stay informed, and aligned with industry standards.

The year began with a clear focus on alignment, setting the stage for cohesive teamwork and strategic clarity. As we moved forward, sessions such as “Life of a Pipeliner” and insights into Modern GeoSolutions allowed us to delve deeply into industry-specific challenges and solutions, enhancing our understanding of the realities faced by our clients.

A key highlight was our work on Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), where we conducted a three-part series addressing critical aspects of security as we progress to ISO27001 certification. This commitment underscores our safeguarding of both our data and our clients’ sensitive information and demonstrates our commitment to critical infrastructure businesses.

Our focus on innovation included exploring X-Info integration with ArcGIS Online, expanding our use of cloud-native technologies, and presenting a unique solution for one of our long term New Zealand clients.

With security at the forefront, we introduced a two-part Security Awareness session and examined updates on the Australian Privacy Act, enhancing our team’s understanding of evolving legal and ethical obligations. These sessions were designed to foster a culture of security and responsibility, crucial for working with sensitive information as well as assets and infrastructure.

The year concluded with an impressive review of how we executed a comprehensive cloud project for a national client, reinforcing our capabilities in managing large-scale, transformative initiatives.

We are proud to bring this strengthened expertise to our work, ensuring we continue to provide outstanding solutions to our clients.

Thanks again to our clients that came in as key speakers during the year and to our team members that presented the awesome work they have been doing.

Jaci

Staff Update: 21 Years of Being Awesome

For over two decades, Justin Fielke has been a driving force behind Mipela’s IT journey, tackling challenges with unmatched patience, and a side of dry humor. Starting as a GIS Specialist, Justin’s journey to Senior IT Technical Lead is proof that combining a love for tech and coffee can lead to greatness.

His superpower? This Man is Zen and somehow, he does it without rolling his eyes too much.

Outside of work, Justin swaps keyboards for tree saplings and spreadsheets for tractor rides. A good podcast, and life on the land becomes his personal recharging station.

He’s no just dirt and data though. Lately, he’s been learning to surf. Having envied his coastal boarding schoolmates’ mad surfing skills, he’s finally giving it a go, armed with his new board and a healthy sense of humor for getting dumped.

What does an IT Lead eat?, Scallops—cooked any way, but he does have a passion for a Tassie curried scallop pie. And he might argue coffee deserves its own food group.

When I asked Justin what he could not live without, (thinking he would say “my wife”) he said Starlink has revolutionised his rural life. “Fast internet in the bush? Absolute game-changer,” he says, proving he can nerd out about connectivity as easily as he can about scallop pies.

With his blend of technical brilliance, rural know-how, and an endless sense of adventure, Justin has made Mipela a better place for 21 years and counting.

Renewables Protection: Beyond Fences and Private Land

“Mipela’s collaborative approach to establishing the GEO Data set for MSF2 delivered a final product that met requirements aligned with Epic’s third party interference controls quickly and efficiently, whilst taking into consideration the nuances with energy infrastructure”.

Jarrod Gilby
Manager, Improvement and Assurance – Epic Energy

In 2024, we’ve seen many of our clients successfully activating wind turbines, battery parks, and solar farms. But what do these projects have in common? While they’re typically inside a fenced perimeter or located on private property, true protection for these assets goes beyond these physical barriers.

As specialists in the energy and infrastructure sector, Mipela partners with asset owners and managers to carefully review all considerations for securing renewable assets with its Before You Dig (BYD) automated response system, X-Info Assurance suite. We don’t just provide solutions—we work with you, ask the right questions, and ensure every detail has been evaluated for optimal asset protection.

A common assumption is that anything within a secured area is shielded from third-party disruptions like earthworks. But is this always the case? Here are two key factors to keep in mind:

• Transmission Lines: These often extend beyond the secure perimeter, making them vulnerable to interference and potential damage
• Third-Party Excavation: What if a BYD request includes blasting near your assets? It raises an essential question: how close is too close when it comes to ensuring the integrity of your above-ground renewable investments?

Congratulations to all our clients who have worked closely with us to assess these risks and taken proactive steps to safeguard their renewable assets from excavation impacts. We’re committed to supporting you in securing the future of renewable energy.

Streamlining Pipeline Patrol and Sightings Management

Ensuring the safety and compliance of Australia’s pipeline infrastructure is critical. Under AS2885.3, all licensed pipelines must be regularly patrolled and inspected, with detailed reports identifying:

• Potential threats from unauthorised external interference, such as third party activities near pipeline assets
• Changes to the pipeline easement, including signage, tree planting, or erosion
• Signs of a Loss of Primary Containment (LoPC) observed during Right of Way (RoW) easement patrols.

The frequency and scope of these patrols are determined by risk assessments, which can vary by pipeline or even by sections of the same pipeline.

To enhance the efficiency and accuracy of its patrol and sightings management, Viva Energy partnered with Mipela to deploy a comprehensive, technology driven solution. Key benefits of this initiative include:

Centralised Data Management

All patrol and sightings data, processes, and documentation are stored in a centralised database. This ensures robust quality assurance, supports system and assurance audits, and enhances governance and decision making with high quality information.

Comprehensive Record-Keeping

The system maintains a detailed history of contacts, agreements, and communications with stakeholders such as:

• Pipeline Inspectors
• Air Patrol Contractors
• Third-Party Contractors
• Landowners and Occupiers
• Authorities and Unauthorised Third Parties.

Automated Reporting

The solution automatically generates and emails critical reports, including:

• Daily and monthly patrol logs
• Pipeline aerial patrol logs
• Incident reports.

This reduces administrative burden and ensures timely dissemination of vital information.

Enhanced Transparency and Accountability

A browser based dashboard tracks all outstanding actions related to patrol and sightings management. Users can monitor progress, receive automated email reminders for due tasks, and apply escalation rules for overdue actions.

Mobile Data Capture and Field Collaboration

Using the X-Info Aware mobile app, field workers can capture information onsite in real time. This data is seamlessly integrated to generate patrol reports, Right of Way permits, and stakeholder engagement records. Authorised users can log into a secure portal to assign tasks, access reports, and view or search data, ensuring full transparency across operations.

The Outcome

By implementing this innovative system, Viva Energy has significantly enhanced the protection and compliance of its twelve transmission pipelines, aligning with AS2885.3 requirements.

This collaboration underscores the potential of technology to streamline complex processes, improve safety outcomes, and maintain compliance in Australia’s critical energy and infrastructure sector.

Product Update

Introducing Connect Overwatch for X-Info Assurance suite

X-Info Assurance suite has recently integrated Connect Overwatch, a powerful tool developed by Mipela GeoSolutions to enhance the tracking, monitoring, and management of Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry processing. Connect Overwatch, utilised by Mipela GeoSolutions Support, ensures proactive management of BYDA processing, preventing delays and improving efficiency in BYDA projects.

For our clients, Connect Overwatch provides another layer of assurance by monitoring every BYDA referral and validates against defined metrics. Connect Overwatch will proactively identify situations of performance degradation and provide alerts to the Mipela Support team for investigation. It will also provide detailed insights into the processing time stages and where improvements might be possible.

The How

• Connect Overwatch extracts and stores BYDA processing data and statistics
• It runs alongside BYDA processing, capturing processing status and times “Parallel Operation”
• The collected data is used to manage, monitor, and report on BYDA processing “Data Utilisation”
• It manages processing frequency and volume, enabling proactive management to prevent bottlenecks or failures “Support Functionality”
• It provides statistics and breakdowns on processing times, types, and stages, offering insights for analysis and efficiency measurement over time “Data Insights”.

The Why

So Mipela can provide added Assurance in stable and efficient BYDA processing.

Connect Overwatch enhances operational efficiency with several key capabilities:

• Providing a real time support dashboard to manage and resolve errors or failures “Manage Errors”
• Search parameters are used for enquiries and identify specific processing statuses “Search”
• Identifying areas or regions experiencing data processing delays to resolve them quickly, ensuring efficiency and consistency “Identify Delays”
• Report generation and statistics to analyse performance over time “Reporting and Statistics”

Connect Overwatch also allows for the analysis of average processing times, providing summary information over specified periods.

This proactive and preventative solution is an integral part of X-Info Assurance suite, aimed at enhancing the overall efficiency of BYDA processing.

Mipela Support will be progressively deploying this new feature throughout 2025.

Security update

In 2024, operators of critical infrastructure and organisations that service critical infrastructure faced a surge in cyberattacks amidst escalating geopolitical tensions. According to the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) 2024 Annual Cyber Threat Report, state-sponsored actors persistently targeted essential sectors like energy, healthcare, and telecommunications, employing sophisticated tactics such as zero-day exploits and custom malware. Notably, this year, the Australian government repeatedly warned Australian companies about Chinese-sponsored threat actors specifically targeting western (and Australian) critical infrastructure.

Given that we at Mipela service the critical infrastructure sector, staying ahead in our cybersecurity efforts is of paramount importance. The threat is real, and we must do what we can to protect both ourselves and our customers.

We are staying on top of cyber threats through automated patching; enforced device compliance for access to company resources; and security training for our team on the latest phishing techniques. Central to our approach is our robust Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system and Security Operations Centre (SOC), operated in collaboration with Fortian, our trusted Australian cybersecurity partner.

Our SIEM collects and analyses logs from across our business systems in real-time, enabling us to detect and respond swiftly to emerging threats. Unlike conventional SOCs that rely heavily on generic vendor-provided detections, our SOC employs a tailored, threat-informed methodology. This approach ensures that our detection capabilities align closely with our unique threat profile. For example, in 2024, the ASD reported a campaign by Iranian threat actors targeting Australian critical infrastructure through brute force and MFA fatigue attacks originating from specific VPN IP addresses. Within hours of this disclosure, our SOC conducted a comprehensive threat hunt to identify potential indicators of compromise within our environment. New analytic rules were deployed promptly, ensuring continuous monitoring for these activities on an hourly basis.

By combining strict access controls, a partnership with a leading cyber security provider, and a tailored threat-informed approach, we aim to ensure that Mipela remains secure in a hostile digital landscape where critical infrastructure and their suppliers remain at constant risk.