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Traditional vegetation management methods, such as helicopter or foot patrols, create data silos, communication gaps, and human error, leading to hazardous tree sightings and difficulty in capturing precise locations. As a result, many utilities are adopting enterprise asset management solutions to streamline operations and maintenance efforts.
Fremont, CA: Digital technology is being utilized to streamline vegetation management in the US electricity network, which includes over 7,300 power plants and 200,000 high-voltage transmission lines. This is crucial to reduce wildfire risks and ensure safety, as vegetation management is a top operational expenditure, costing $6 billion to $8 billion annually.
More reliable power delivery with digital technology
Traditional vegetation management methods, such as helicopter or foot patrols, create data silos, communication gaps, and human error, leading to hazardous tree sightings and difficulty in capturing precise locations. As a result, many utilities are adopting enterprise asset management solutions to streamline operations and maintenance efforts.
These modern vegetation management practices incorporate the following:
1. Digital workflows
Utilities require improved data to reduce outages, meet budgets, and build resilient networks. A single solution that coordinates operations, integrates data from multiple sources and uses artificial intelligence can eliminate silos and inefficiencies. This data is accessible for comprehensive analysis, informed by future action plans and asset investment decisions.
2. Spatial insight
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a vital utility tool for managing and analyzing vast vegetation management data. It allows visualization and analysis of vegetation, weather patterns, and other factors affecting growth. GIS technology organizes assets by location, creating a system for record-keeping and history of work activities. Incorporating GIS data layers aids vegetation managers in making critical decisions.
3. LiDAR
Utility companies can convert LiDAR point clouds into GIS information to create a digital network model, enabling accurate inventory of assets like poles, structures, spans, and bays. Using minimum voltage clearance distance (MVCD) standards or NERC standards, this data can create a canopy-colored risk map of vegetation, reducing operating expenses and manual labor costs.
4. Augmented reality
Augmented reality systems can aid fieldworkers in locating trees in remote forests by displaying LiDAR points and symbology. Vegetation management is a complex issue that requires careful planning and execution. Utility companies must rethink this to ensure safe electricity delivery while minimizing environmental impacts and costs.
The powerful combination of digital workflows, GIS layers, LiDAR-classified point clouds and augmented reality in one end-to-end solution can help utilities reduce costs, drive operational efficiency and get one step closer to a more sustainable and resilient electrical grid.
