What Can One Do with Geoinformation and GIS? Plan Windmills from Behind the Desk!

ProRail

    

        

ProRail is network infrastructure manager of the Netherlands. These maps show and describe how the ProRail Windmill Potency Map is calculated. Map 1 shows the properties of ProRail potentially suitable according to ProRail itself because they are not primarily required for infrastructure. Map 2 shows the external, legal restrictions, and map 3 shows the wind speed. After all, the higher the wind speed, the greater potential for wind energy. Map 4 is a combination of maps 2 and 3, showing the best windmill sites. However, when the properties of ProRail are taken into account as well, this results in map 5, which indicates the viability of suitable ProRail property based on a relative score determined by both the size and the wind speed at that location.

The underlying idea is that the larger the property and the higher the wind speed, the more suitable the location. The ninety-two best locations are shown here. These maps illustrate the value of geographical thinking for ProRail and other organizations. That is why ProRail has used these maps on a poster to promote geographical thinking within its organization.

Courtesy of ProRail.

Map Book Page [PDF]