How UAS Lidar and Imagery Support Transmission Line Projects
By Niklas Anderson, GISP, Geospatial Project Manager,
and Paul Crocker, UAS Program Manager
High-quality geospatial data enhances the planning and design of transmission line projects. While we don’t perform transmission line design ourselves, Ayres’ in-house unmanned aerial systems (UAS) fleet and sensor technology allow our pilots and data compilation technicians to provide the detailed, accurate datasets that design teams rely on.
Why UAS Lidar?
UAS lidar has revolutionized how we collect and process geospatial data to support transmission line projects. Here’s why:
1. Unmatched point cloud density and accuracy
Flying at altitudes that are lower than manned aircraft, our UAS platforms capture significantly more data points per square meter than other aerial approaches. This high-density point cloud enables:
- Detailed vegetation and terrain modeling
- Accurate conductor clearance and sag analysis
- Precise identification of small but critical features like guy wires, insulators, and pole attachments
About the Expert:
Niklas Anderson, GISP, is a project manager in Ayres’ Geospatial division, specializing in the application of advanced geospatial technologies to support utility and infrastructure projects. With a strong background in UAS operations, utility project design, and geospatial data integration, Nik has led numerous initiatives that leverage aerial mapping and remote sensing to streamline design workflows, improve data accuracy, and enhance decision-making. His expertise bridges the gap between field data collection and engineering design, so clients receive high-quality, actionable deliverables tailored to their project needs.
This level of detail is essential for ensuring safe and efficient transmission line design, especially in complex or constrained corridors.
2. Cost-effective and scalable
Compared with manned aircraft or boots-on-the-ground survey crews, UAS operations may offer a more economical and scalable solution:
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- Lower operational costs: Fewer personnel, less fuel, and smaller equipment footprints.
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- Rapid deployment: An in-house fleet allows us to mobilize quickly and efficiently.
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- Repeatable and safe: UAS can be flown multiple times over the same corridor for monitoring or change detection, all while keeping crews safely on the ground.
This economy of scale makes UAS lidar especially attractive for long corridors such as transmission lines, where traditional methods can be time-consuming and expensive.
About the Expert:
Paul Crocker is a senior project manager in Ayres’ Geospatial division, bringing over 25 years of geospatial experience. With a strong foundation in enterprise GIS environments, Paul has consistently delivered applied geospatial solutions that drive decision-making and operational efficiency across a range of sectors. Paul focuses intensely on UAS and has leveraged UAS technologies to capture high-resolution data and transform it into actionable insights for clients, enhancing everything from land management and infrastructure planning to environmental monitoring. Throughout his career, Paul has demonstrated a commitment to innovation, integrating advanced geospatial tools and methodologies to meet complex client needs. His work harmonizes cutting-edge technology and practical application, making him a trusted advisor in the geospatial community.
Imagery That Adds Context
In addition to lidar, our UAS platforms capture high-resolution imagery that’s used to generate:
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- Orthoimagery: A seamless, high accuracy basemap for route planning, permitting, and stakeholder communication
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- Planimetrics: Vector features like roads, structures, and hydrologic elements extracted from imagery and lidar
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- Obliques: Imagery captured from an oblique angle, which helps assess structure condition, access issues, and right-of-way encroachments
These deliverables provide essential context for design teams and help streamline decision-making.
Choosing the Right Tool for the Job
UAS isn’t the best fit in every case. Airspace restrictions, corridor length, and project complexity can help determine the ideal approach. That’s why our team evaluates each project individually – sometimes recommending a manned aerial approach or hybrid methods to provide the most effective outcome.
This flexibility means our clients receive the most accurate, efficient, and cost-effective data collection strategy tailored to their unique project goals.
See it in Action
Check out our UAS transmission fly-through video at the top of this post to see the density and clarity of our lidar point clouds, along with the orthoimagery and planimetrics created for a recent project.
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