Baker to Create National Pipeline Geospatial Database.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1998--Michael Baker Jr., Inc., a subsidiary of Michael Baker Corp. (AMEX:BKR), has been selected by the United States Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) to maintain the national geospatial database for the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). The NPMS will contain natural gas transmission pipelines, hazardous liquid trunklines, and liquefied natural gas facility data. OPS is collecting other data layers such as natural disasters and consequences, population density, environmentally sensitive areas, and other transportation networks. The pipeline data will be overlaid with these other data layers to assess potential response situations, support planning activities, and assist in performing regulatory responsibilities. The contract is valued at $3 million and has a two-year base term with three additional option years.

Based upon the standards developed by the Joint Government-Industry Pipeline Mapping Quality Action Team, Baker will work with OPS, state repositories and pipeline operators in all 50 states to collect hard copy and digital data, convert hard copy data to digital data, and to maintain the digital geospatial data in a Geographical Information System (GIS). Baker will work with OPS in designing and developing this system. States with their own NPMS repositories will forward copies of their datasets to the NPMS national repository at Baker, and Baker will maintain the pipeline data for those states without their own repository.

Mike Pavlides, vice president and project manager for Baker's NPMS Project, says, "The NPMS is a unique partnership between the federal and state governments and pipeline industry. This collective cooperation is a milestone in making pipeline data on a national scale accessible for a variety of objectives. Most importantly, this data assists in the mitigation of a potential catastrophe resulting from a natural or technological disaster. Government and private industry are working together as an interactive team to assure public and environmental safety."

Baker has been a leader in pipeline design and construction management for nearly 50 years and is currently involved in several major domestic and international pipeline projects. A core competency of Baker, GIS is used company-wide to manage data more effectively and deliver projects more quickly.

Michael Baker Corporation (www.mbakercorp.com) provides engineering, construction, and operations and technical services through its five global business units: buildings, civil, energy, environmental, and transportation.