New line routing and design
Network Mapping’s Power Line Engineering team can design new routing of transmission lines, from initial route alignments to detailed structure placement/setting out. The controlled revision status and auditable design process offers improvements to both project costings and project timelines.
Where an existing route is to be re-built, or for a completely new line, Network Mapping’s Power Line Engineering team possess optimization skills and experience to automate the design process.
Contrary to popular opinion, by proper placement of prohibited zones and additional cost zones, the routing can be effectively optimized in even the most densely developed areas. In the case of more rural environments, the benefits of automated optimization have been long recognized, and Network Mapping is currently using the skills of our Power Line Engineering team in optimizing the route design of one of the largest transmission projects in the world.
1. A LiDAR survey is conducted over the routing area and an alignment chosen using the aerial photography in plan view. Constraints such as additional cost zones and prohibited zones are identified in the plan view.
2. Respecting the prohibited and additional cost zones, the towers are spotted and conductors strung, in a digital model created within PLS-CADD. The towers are set up for the chosen scenario; minimum cost, similar height or low-height weightings are given to the costings. Using this weighting, the route is optimized.
3. The alignment is refined in the 3D view to account for clearances to features picked up by the LiDAR survey. In this example, a railway line and a house.
4. The final design is then viewed in 3D.
The use of LiDAR data and PLS-CADD™ is the perfect way to reduce construction costs for a new line through efficient routing and engineering design.
PLS-CADD™ enables you to track revision (version) control throughout all stages of the preliminary and final designs. This creates a full audit history for the duration of the project.
