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，而其他三分之二的山顶包含欧洲最高的山顶，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）解决方案进入其工作流程，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系和线之间的最小距离。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。

这个方法非常accurat也是如此e, 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。稍后要监视的每个细分市场必须在飞行前进行调查，以详细了解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，这将变得重要。

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.

在进一步的过程中，计算出的点云是给瑞士公司Picterra GmbH。该软件确定植被和电源线之间的距离。这些点在确定最小距离的点云中标记。情况计划源自该模型，该模型显示了危害以及包裹的边界和数字，道路，路径，线条和桅杆名称。根据情况计划，可以清楚地找到危险点的坐标。

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.

整个监控现在可以由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.

Leica Geosystems无人机作为浮动多传感器平台还提供了使用其他测量方法的可能性。因此，Alpiq Enertrans AG将工作流程扩展到多光谱相机，例如鹦鹉红杉，以确定植被的归一化植被指数（NDVI）。这可以确定由于植物生长增加而需要更频繁地检查的区域。这个操作eliminates the need for expensive and large-scale inspections使用直升机，可以准确预测被植被威胁的高架线的区域。

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.

The advantages of collecting data for track management with an UAV are not only the reduction of costs and increased security. Rather, the UAV based open-line monitoring is a multiple flexible and allows selective and highly precise vegetation management. While in the case of an on-site inspection or the use of a helicopter, only momentary recordings are collected. The workflow generates data with an UAV, from which various scenarios can be simulated and analysed. This makes it possible not only to identify an actual situation but also to make detailed forecasts.

"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.