Transpower to survey its transmission lines in November
This month New Zealand’s national grid owner and operator Transpower is undertaking a comprehensive aerial laser survey by helicopter.
Image for illustration purposes.
New Zealand: This month New Zealand’s national grid owner and operator Transpower is undertaking a comprehensive aerial laser survey by helicopter.
This is being done to get a more accurate view of where vegetation or other issues exist on its 11,000 km of transmission line throughout the country. Trees and vegetation can cause problems for power line companies. From falling trees during storms or high wind events or just through their gradual growth into the lines, they can cause power outages and start fires.
The technology used in Transpower’s aerial survey known as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDaR) allows 2D and 3D imagery to be created of the line below and all its surrounds, helping to identify the distance to the line from trees, vegetation and other potential obstructions on the ground. While Transpower has in the past used LiDaR surveys this is the first time that a complete survey of all its network has been undertaken – and at a resolution that provides a very useful insight into issues existing or emerging.
Transpower’s General Manager Grid Delivery Mark Ryall says that the output will help its vegetation management programme to be more targeted.
“Each year we spend around $8 million on vegetation management, as issues are identified through visual inspection on the ground patrol work by our contractors. LiDaR imagery provides a level of accuracy you just can’t get with an observer on the ground meaning we can be much more targeted, proactive and precise with our vegetation management,” he said.
The flights will start in the North Island in early November with helicopters flying at around 150 metres height along all Transpower’s lines, it will take until early December to fly the whole country.
Source: Transpower