Populating a GIS of Utility Corridor Assets Using an Integrated Airborne Data Acquisition System

Author: Richard David Vann
Organization: AVCAN Systems Corporation

625 West Kent Avenue
Vancouver, V6P 6T7
British Columbia, Canada

Phone: 604 654 1862
Fax: 604 654 1880
richard@avcan.com

Recent advancements in high-resolution digital camera technology and infrared sensors, coupled with developments in DGPS and aerial inertial measurement units, make it possible to accurately inspect and collect asset inventory data for utility corridors faster and more cost-effectively than ever before.

Utilities need detailed information about the location and condition of their transmission corridor assets and rights-of-way to quickly and efficiently maintain and service them. To accomplish this, utilities need to regularly inspect and collect accurate data.

The integration of new technology (high-resolution digital photography, DGPS, improved IR sensors, and inertial navigation) allows utilities to collect vast amounts of accurate location and up-to-date attribute data for use in a utility's GIS.

Case studies involving the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI) and other utilities will be discussed. Demonstrations using ArcView GIS for the integration of the data will also be shown.