When electricity is on the line

向整个国家提供电力是一项艰巨的任务。当大约三分之一的国家被树林覆盖时，它的要求更高，而其他三分之二的人则包含欧洲最高的山顶，即阿尔卑斯山。

为了提供不受干扰的供应并保持电力流，Alpiq Enertrans AG集成了Leica Geosystems无人驾驶飞机（UAV）解决方案中的工作流程，以管理对电线，绝缘体和电线杆的视觉检查。Alpiq Enertrans AG不断发展使用无人机来改善工作流程，将其提升到了一个新的水平，为植被管理创造了创新的方式，并使用Leica Geosystems Hexacopter监视环境威胁航空电缆。

Vegetation management from the air

Regular monitoring of the environment around infrastructural constructions is the first step in vegetation management. These structures include:

• Powerlines
• 管道
• Railways

下一步是计划和进行维护工作，以防止任何事件。因此，需要在周围的植物区与线之间的最小距离。这在航空电力线方面非常重要。由于绝缘层太重，线周围的空气可作为无导向的保护。为了防止任何短路，彼此之间的线条或任何植被都不应比最小距离更近。

地球断层和短路可能会造成严重的破坏，火灾，甚至导致一条线的拆除，这可能意味着成千上万的人停电。最小差距取决于国家法律，运营电压和公司给出的定制偏移。

过去，Alpiq Enertrans AG使用专家在电力线旁边行走，以估计电导和植被之间的空间，以查看是否会干扰最小间隙。毫无疑问，整个传导部分都必须关闭，船员必须爬上来才能获得更详细的视野。

都是我thod very accurate, mainly because it was based on appraisals, nor was it very efficient. With most of the constructions being built in difficult terrain, the inspections were very time consuming and it was a major effort for the crew to inspect the powerlines through the rough terrain. Apart from this method, Alpiq EnerTrans AG monitored its grid by using helicopters with infrared-, korona-, RGB-cameras, as well as laser scanners, to get ahead of possible threats caused by the environment

Alpiq正在寻找植被管理的新方法，并在基于无人机的解决方案中找到了他们的完美匹配：

• Raise efficiency
• Heighten safety
• Increase precision

Using an UAV to get as many details as the helicopter provided in combination with the benefit of small crews and light equipment was the perfect combination of versatility and granularity. To capture every data pertinent for the analysis, a Sony Alpha 7R with its full-frame CMOS-sensor (36.4megapixel) and a 28 mm lens is mounted onto the UAV’s gimbal.

使用无人机监视电动线环境的第一步是准备飞行计划。稍后需要监视的每个细分市场必须在飞行前进行调查，以获取各州和可能的危险点。当工作人员在下一步计划最有效的航向飞行时，这变得很重要。

The in-house built flight planning software calculates the most efficient route, the Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) and height of the UAV showing you the duration and waypoints of the whole operation. Another way to get ahead of this task, especially when the area is hard to predict, is the teach-in-function, where the UAV saves the waypoints from the flight to remember them the next time at this place.

To increase the precision, the a RTK/GNSS module can be attached and references the UAV with a scope of 1-3cm. This method is based on the technology of NovaTel and Leica Geosystems.

After the expulsion of the overhead lines, further processing of the data begins. The recorded images are georeferenced with the GPS data of the UAV’s logfile in a special software. Through the georeferenced data, an accurate 3D point cloud of the area and the environment is created.

In the next step, data of the position and the height of the poles are added and the models gets referenced through the GPS coordinates of the poles. After the model is set, computed conductions are added, to simulate the maximum conductor coil sag.

In the further process, the calculated point cloud is given to the Swiss company picterra GmbH. The software determines the distances between vegetation and power lines. Those points are marked in the point cloud at which the minimum distance is determined. A situation plan is derived from the model that shows the hazards as well as the parcel boundaries and numbers, roads, paths, lines and mast designations. On the basis of the situation plan, the coordinates of the hazard points can be clearly located.

Finding the right gap

By using the Leica Geosystems UAV solution, Alpiq has now been able to accurately determine the distances between the overhead lines and the surrounding vegetation toas much as ± 30cmin order to ensure a smooth operation of their routes. Since the current paths must frequently be checked at irregular intervals, the full potential of the UAV develops, in this case, in order to generate exact and comparable results from partial sections.

The entire monitoring can now be carried out by a small crew, since only one other person is required to watch HD live transmission on the screen. The cost advantage compared to a helicopter and the associated crew as well as the elaborate sensors is obvious. Another advantage of using an UAV is the possibility to generate precise data again and again in order not only to create snapshots but to generate a longitudinal section for a long-term study from the data obtained.

徕卡呈无人机作为一个浮动的多传感器解放军tform also offers the possibility to use other measuring methods. So, Alpiq EnerTrans AG is extending the workflow to a multispectral camera, such as the Parrot Sequoia, to determine the Normalised Differenced Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the vegetation. This can identify regions that need to be inspected more frequently due to increased plant growth. This operationeliminates the need for expensive and large-scale inspectionswith helicopters, as areas where the overhead lines are threatened by vegetation can be predicted precisely.

The UAV is also equipped with a LiDAR sensor to achieve even more precise results. By using a LiDAR sensor, the UAV can generatemillimeter-precision point cloudsfrom the air and thus work even more precisely.

使用无人机收集数据管理数据的优势不仅是降低成本和增加的安全性。相反，基于无人机的开放线监视是一种多重灵活性，可以选择性且高度精确的植被管理。在现场检查或使用直升机的情况下，仅收集瞬时记录。该工作流与无人机生成数据，可以从中模拟和分析各种方案。这使得不仅可以确定实际情况，还可以进行详细的预测。

"The aerial robot from Leica Geosystems supports Alpiq EnerTrans AG optimally in the fulfillment of our demanding inspection tasks. A device for professionals by professionals!" - Rudolf Meier, chief executive of Alpiq EnerTrans AG

With the innovative approach of Alpiq EnerTrans AG to specify and modernise vegetation management through the use of Leica Geosystems UAV, the company not only works more efficiently, but it can also depend on solid data to counteract any malfunction.