Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is taking to the skies to improve the resilience of its electricity networks.

Using innovative aerial surveying technology, SSEN is working with NM Group to survey its electricity infrastructure using a fleet of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) equipped aircraft which will model all 63,000km of SSEN's power lines, checking for trees and vegetation that could pose a risk to the DNO's network and subsequently result in possible power cuts to its customers.

The LiDAR system uses light sensors to create extremely accurate and detailed maps, revealing the exact distance, to as little as 2cm, that trees and other vegetation come to SSEN's overhead electricity lines in the north of Scotland and central southern England. In the six months that it will take to scan the entire SSEN infrastructure, the LiDAR system will recover, store and analyse around 75 terabytes of information which will then build the maps used by SSEN to carry out tree-cutting programmes and deliver maintenance work to help develop an even more robust network.

In addition to providing information to help strengthenthe resilience of the network's supply, the comprehensive data collected will allow SSEN to better plan future assets and new line connections, where it's hoped it can assist during the design stage to help with the accuracy and speed of connection planning.

Stewart Reid, Head of Asset Management and Innovation at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, said: "Our use of LiDAR has been deployed without the use of innovation funding, evidencing the maturing of a technology that offers real safety, efficiency and reliability benefits for SSEN's networks and the customers it serves. The creation of the 3D visualisation of overhead lines will reduce the need for foot patrols, resulting in SSEN identifying risks to the network quicker and rectifying problems sooner."

NM Group Chairman, David Langworth added: "The use of geospatial data served in a 3D environment provides DNOs with a powerful tool to manage and visualise their asset data and prioritise operations. We are delighted that Scottish and Southern Electricty Networks has asked us to provide such a service and, in this case, to identify and help manage the risk of tree related power cuts, ensuring a better service for their customers."