Transmission Line Siting
NV5 Geospatial is at the forefront of using geospatial analytics to help utilities deliver safe and reliable electric service. We have more than two decades of experience providing industry-leading geospatial services to dozens of utilities across North America.
As co-developer of the EPRI-GTC Overhead Transmission Line Siting Methodology, NV5 Geospatial has an unmatched expertise in helping electric utilities locate preferred routes for new transmission lines. The award-winning methodology has been used to site more than $1 billion in new infrastructure in eight states and three countries.
RIGOROUS APPROACH
The selection of preferred transmission line routes is a growing source of regulatory scrutiny and public debate throughout the world. Siting new power lines requires resolving a complex set of engineering, environmental, and societal issues.
The EPRI-GTC methodology sets the standard for taking any transmission line construction project from initial planning through final route selection. The rigorous step-by-step process facilitates the selection of an optimal route, taking into account the natural environment, built environment, and design and construction concerns.
FASTER, DEFENSIBLE DECISIONS
Electric utilities benefit enormously from a standardized approach to siting selection.
The EPRI-GTC methodology:
• Produces siting decisions that are quantifiable, consistent, transparent, and defensible
• Reduces risks by addressing regulatory scrutiny and stakeholder issues early in the process
• Shortens the planning and permitting cycle
• Improves productivity and analytical capabilities
Siting Methodology
Identify Alternate Corridors
Collect more detailed data within the macro corridors
Create suitability maps (grid of 15-square-foot cells)
Define four types of alternate corridors:
1– built environment (human activities and interests)
2 – natural environment (environmental concerns)
3 – engineering requirements (design and construction)
4 – blended result with the input of external stakeholders, set evaluation criteria and rank factors (such as housing density and wetlands and land cover)
Select a Preferred Route
Review a standard list of metrics (cost, number of houses nearby, etc.) for the alternate routes (metric values are automatically calculated)
Assign relative weights to community concerns, visual concerns, special permit issues, scheduling risks, and accessibility for construction and maintenance
Rank top alternate routes, then use expert analysis to identify the preferred route