WAGIS2018

For a power utility, powerlines and trees present a complicated dynamic when planning for upgrades. Federal fines for high voltage power outages caused by vegetation can be substantial and precautionary tree removal measures can upset the customers utilities seek to serve. When Puget Sound Energy sought to upgrade 18-miles of transmissions lines to meet increasing demand in the Seattle metropolitan area, it looked to The Watershed Company to use geospatial technology to model potential tree impacts. Using a combination of survey and field data, arboricultural inventory, and terrain modeling, the geospatial model allowed for a tree-by-tree case assessment to gauge potential impacts across multiple design scenarios and identify and resolve potential issues along the project’s path.

The Watershed Company’s multidisciplinary geospatial experts’ Amber Mikluscak and Amanda Jobmann share how Puget Sound Energy is using the latest geospatial technology to comprehensively account for regulatory requirements and homeowner needs along this large-scale project’s public and private property route. Attendees will learn how PSE and The Watershed Company are using field inventory and geospatial data to quantify and track tree and vegetation removal and mitigation across the project’s five jurisdictions and the lots of hundreds of individual property owners. The presentation will demonstrate how 3D mapping technology is enabling the project team to efficiently conduct analyses and calculations in the field and facilitate discussions with property owners at the parcel level.