Q. How does the information you display compare to your competitors’ products?
A. We get our information from similar sources, but how that data is organized, and the ways it can be retrieved, are quite different. Our growth, the popularity of our products with those in the petroleum industry, and customer feedback all tell us that subscribers find our programs easy to use, and they like the way information is organized in AbaData^tm.

Q. How often do you update your information?
A. That depends on the data set, but all of our information is updated either daily, weekly, monthly or as new data becomes available. We have available a printable dataset list with update cycle information.

Q. Where does your information come from?
A. A complete list of our sources is found on the dataset list.

Q. How accurate is your information?
A. Our information is as accurate as the source from which we get it. We do our best to address any inaccuracies and constantly work to improve the program.

Q. How come your product is so much cheaper than other similar products?
A. We think of ourselves as working cooperatively with others in the industry and, since AbaData^tm is a safety product, we think everybody should have affordable access to this information. Also, AbaData^tm was originally designed for internal - not commercial - use. We decided to offer the program to others in the industry because we thought they could benefit from it in the same way we did. The pricing, which has not increased since the program was released in 2004, reflects this.

Q. Are there any additional charges on top of the yearly license price?
A. The price for a license of AbaData^tm includes everything with the exception of the aerial and satellite photos and Telus trenches. Our supplier charges us 50 cents per view for satellite and aerial photos, and we pass this cost along to subscribers. Similarly, Telus requires us to charge subscribers $15 per month to view its trenches in AbaData^tm. In neither case do we make any profit by charging subscribers for this extra information.

Q. How do I get help?
A. Our industry-leading customer service is one of our proudest achievements.

We have no answering service! An AbaData^tm employee will respond to your call 24-hours a day and a software support department operates during normal business hours. We also travel to do demonstrations of the program for new and existing subscribers, and offer monthly lunch-and-learn demonstrations at our office in Red Deer. In addition, we do training sessions at our office’s training centre, or we can train you at your location if you have the necessary computer equipment. Finally, we have an on-line forum available for users to post questions about any of our programs and receive a quick reply. For more information on any of these options, please call us at 1-403-346-7555.

Q. How was AbaData developed?
A. AbaData^tm was originally developed for use internally as a pipeline location tool. Frustrated with the program we were using at the time, we decided to develop our own. After a fairly extensive capital outlay and a lot of effort to acquire the initial datasets, we eventually decided to release the program commercially in 2004. A complete change history detailing additions and alterations to the program is available on our website.

Q. What’s the difference between AbaData and AbaData LITE?
A. AbaData^tm is a web-based oilfield mapping program that, if you have web access, provides instant access to oilfield information, graphically displaying oilfield facility locations anywhere in Alberta.

AbaData LITE^tm is a CD-based program designed for use in the field where Internet access is not always possible. It has less information available than the web-based AbaData because CDs have a limited data storage capability. Subscribers generally use AbaData LITE^tm with a GPS device that allows them to enter a destination, trace routes and view their location in real time.