Case Study: RWE AG achieves near‑real‑time geospatial and non‑spatial data management with Oracle

RWE Power Establishes Near Real-Time Management of Spatial and Non-Spatial Data Along the Mine Surveying Department’s Entire Value-Added Chain

RWE Power, a leading German energy producer operating large open‑cast lignite mines, needed to streamline the collection, processing, and documentation of rapidly changing spatial and non‑spatial data for water and electrical pipe networks. The goals were to replace a costly client‑based GIS, enable field and engineering staff to enter and edit data without IT support, and migrate large volumes of legacy data quickly to avoid disrupting mine surveying and permit processes.

RWE implemented a web‑based geoportal (aimPort) built on Oracle Database, Oracle Spatial and Graph, and Oracle WebLogic, converting visualization into full editing capability and delivering OGC‑compliant spatial data from a single repository. The solution enabled near real‑time data flow across field and back‑office teams, sped up earthmoving permits, cut operational costs by about $150,000 per year, and achieved a fast two‑week migration — improving data quality, reducing manual effort, and preparing the system for mobile field access.

RWE AG

Thomas Oswald

Head of Water Management