Digitizing Massachusetts Gas System to Aid in Resilient Energy Transition

Project Partner: Groundwork Data, Spring 2025

Project Summary:  Massachusetts faces the challenge of aging natural gas infrastructure and high replacement costs. A proposed solution is a phased transition to electricity, but strategically decommissioning parts of the gas grid without destabilizing the remaining system requires sophisticated simulation. This project addressed the lack of a digital model needed for such analysis.

Zhenpeng worked with Groundwork Data to create a foundational, GIS-ready map of the gas system for the company’s hydraulic modeling. He integrated disparate data sources, including pipeline and property records, to accurately map main lines, service lines, and end-users. He then developed a standardized and repeatable workflow to automate this process for any Massachusetts town, efficiently correcting duplicates and locational inaccuracies with minimal manual input.

The high-fidelity digital maps are a critical input for hydraulic simulations. By enabling planners to foresee risks such as system failures and pressure drops during a phased shutdown, Zhenpeng’s work provides the foresight necessary for a managed, reliable, and safe transition to cleaner energy.

Project Deliverables: 

• Gas system maps for Oak Hill Park and Winthrop.
• A standard workflow to repeat the technical procedure for other communities.

Watch Zhenpeng’s URBAN Internship Lightning Talk here.