Utilities Can Reduce Risk and Optimize Vegetation Management with Skytec’s Remote Monitoring

Utilities face mounting pressure to mitigate risk amid a rapidly changing world and climate. With the increase in extreme weather events, such as droughts and heat waves, forest dynamics are evolving, necessitating more vigilant monitoring to manage these changes effectively. While electric transmission and distribution lines are vulnerable to these environmental stresses, it’s crucial to proactively manage this new reality, as utility companies are key partners in managing risks.

Preventive maintenance and vegetation management improved with satellite imagery and remote monitoring may play a role in minimizing risk for utilities.

Utility Vegetation Management with Skytec
Utilities and investors are looking into new measures and safe gaps to minimize transmission line risk and boost reliability. One area of opportunity is stringent vegetation management, an often costly endeavor. Now with satellite monitoring and remote change detection, utilities can better manage vegetation along power lines, corridors, and utility infrastructure at scale.

For utilities, vegetation management comes with tremendous costs — analyzing miles and miles of lines for power distribution or fuel lines, delineating vegetation that poses a risk or hazard, and using best practices for monitoring or maintaining utility line corridors.

Skytec’s Stereo Data Capture for a Digital Twin

With remote monitoring, change detection opportunities and LiDAR capabilities with drone solutions, Skytec offers utilities access to streamlined, cost-effective ways to manage and monitor almost any area on Earth.

Another innovation in supporting forest and vegetation management is the use of satellite stereo mapping at Skytec. Our analysts build 3D data models using stereo image pairs, which combine two or more overlapping high-resolution images. With very high-resolution imagery and good positioning control, Skytec can build a digital twin or 3D model of any given area. The result is an updated set of measurements for height and position of the forest and vegetation canopy in relation to infrastructure and assets. This can save time and lower costs for deploying field or higher resolution mapping technologies for entire corridors.

“We can leverage remote sensing and GIS to provide an efficient and effective way to monitor thousands of miles of transmission lines,” says Andy Carroll, CTO and Cofounder of Skytec. “The combination of satellite imagery and remote change detection enables us to see forests in decline, identify dead trees and build scenarios or risk modeling to save sending people into challenging areas to cover vast ground on a tight budget.”

Building Best Practices for Risk Mitigation

With Ranger, Skytec gives clients remote change detection for almost any area on Earth. If a problem area is detected through remote monitoring with satellite imagery, Skytec analysts can drill down to focus on a certain area with high-resolution images using the tip and cue process combined with drone data when needed.

If needed, Skytec can collect drone RGB and multispectral imagery using its industry-leading UAS fleet and experienced pilots to best understand the canopy. With the ability to collect drone data sets to improve the accuracy of 3D models, Skytec delivers unprecedented service through its unique solutions.

Combining various data sets from multiple sensors and scales, Skytec can guide utilities to prioritize monitoring and maintenance of crucial corridors. Optimized vegetation management can reduce expenses, identify problem areas, delineate problematic species, and establish best practices.

“We enable utilities to monitor corridors from space and employ best practices and processes for vegetation management,” says Bill Rogers, CEO and Cofounder of Skytec. “There are many ways to capture this imagery; what sets Skytec apart is our ability to work on a scalable solution at the most economical price while delivering incredible value. It’s vital we find the most impactful solution for clients. ”

Read more about actionable analytics through Ranger or contact Skytec to review your unique needs.