Utility Solutions
Key Advantage:
High accuracy
Reduces safety risks for project team
Increases public safety
Reduces costs
Low public disruption
Data can be collected 24/7
Data collected with regular flow of traffic
Caltech leverages the latest Mobile Mapping System (MMS) technology to help our clients gain a competitive edge on their projects.
Challenge
One of Caltech’s recent MMS projects involved the upgrade of utility distribution lines in an urban community in British Columbia. A detailed as-built survey was required of approximately 3.5 kilometres of overhead powerlines, including the surrounding features and topography. The objective was to provide highly detailed 3D CAD polylines and points to facilitate the re-design and construction of the powerline network.
The nature of dense utility networks within urban environments can make surveying them conventionally very challenging. It also introduces safety risks to the surveyors. Caltech’s mandate is to make safety a top priority. By utilizing MMS our team collects dense 3D digital geospatial data in the safest manner possible.
Solution
With mobile mapping, data can be collected remotely from a truck that’s traveling at regular road speeds. This approach significantly reduces field time and minimizes the risks associated with working near busy roads. Removing the need for traffic control also lowers project budgets.
MMS use lidar for these types of utility projects. Unlike passive remote sensing, like photogrammetry, lidar is an active form of remote sensing that isn’t affected by shadows or light. Therefore, data can be collected at night, or other times when the sites being surveyed are less busy. As well as improving safety, the use of lidar also significantly reduces the amount of time needed to complete data collection.
Caltech utilizes a state-of-the-art high accuracy, high-precision MMS approach, allowing our geospatial team to extract additional attributes regarding the utility infrastructure. The dense 3D Lidar and spherical imagery can converted to 3D CAD and GIS-friendly products.
Data is extracted automatically into client-specific CAD layers. Feature codes and attribute lists allow for direct integration into their existing datasets.
The accuracy the Caltech geospatial experts are able to achieve is a testament to the power of lidar and mobile mapping technologies. The high-resolution data captured shows the roadways, features like trees, utility poles, powerline sag, anchors, manholes, and finer details like paint markings, electricity entry points and even road curbs.
Deliverables provided:
- Classified lidar LAS files
- 3D ArcGIS Online Web Experience
- 360 Degree spherical imagery
- 3D CAD points and polylines
- 3D CAD plan and profile views of all powerlines including contours
Time:
Total mobile mapping can be completed in one hour
Total time on site can often be kept to a single day, including a high-accuracy control network to verify the data quality
Quality: The data provided exceeds the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Guidelines for the use of Mobile Lidar in Transportation Applications, Accuracy Level 1 specifications
Fill out the form to view our PDF: