Drone LiDAR survey of HV Feeder for Vegetation Reporting

October 20, 2020

Drone LiDAR aerial scoping and vegetation reporting of newly constructed HV Feeders

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Works at a Sydney Trains’ maintenance facility involved realigning a section of HV Feeder. Sydney Trains personnel were concerned over vegetation encroachment to the feeder though the severity and frequency of the vegetation defects was unknown. Any vegetation defect would need to be rectified prior to the feeder being electrified. Therefore a detailed vegetation reporting assessment was needed to be completed.

PROJECT SCOPE

Drone-LiDAR

Classified Point Cloud

Google Earth and GIS reporting

DIODRONE SOLUTION

Diodrone was approached by the Sydney Trains HV team to develop a drone-LiDAR and vegetation reporting solution.

Using a drone equipped with LiDAR and high resolution camera, Diodrone surveyed and inspected the length of the feeder.

LiDAR data was then analysed to report vegetation clearances in line with the Sydney Trains specification. Worst span defects were identified and delivered to Sydney Trains and the construction contractor for action prior to electrification of the feeder.

LiDAR derived point cloud used for vegetation reporting of encroachments for clearing — *The classified point cloud, accurate to 50mm and detailing various asset categories including powerlines, 1500V OHL, OHWS, terrain.*

The use of drone LiDAR and vegetation reporting provided a rapid turn-around solution and minimised delays on the project.

Vegetation encroachment reporting was first conducted to identify the presence and location of defects, which were then actioned by arborists, and then again, following vegetation management works, to verify the defects had been cleared and the feeder was safe for electrification.