Helicopters are flying over the Goulburn Valley to monitor vegetation near powerlines.
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Helicopters are scanning powerlines across the Goulburn Valley as part of Powercor’s year-round bushfire mitigation and vegetation management program.
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The scanning will continue over the next three weeks across Shepparton, Rochester, Kyabram, Nathalia, Numurkah, Cobram, Yarrawonga and surrounding areas.
The helicopters fly about 300 metres above the ground and use technology known as Light Detection and Ranging to scan the distance between tree branches and powerlines.
Using the LiDAR data, Powercor teams create 3D models of powerlines and their surroundings, which helps inform what vegetation needs to be cut.
LiDAR scans show vegetation near powerlines.
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Powercor head of vegetation management Ayce Cordy said it was important that accurate measurements were taken of all vegetation every year.
“Inspecting and managing vegetation growing near powerlines is an essential part of how we keep power safe and reliable for our customers,” Mr Cordy said.
“By capturing data every year, we can track growth rates of vegetation across our network, helping us plan where to cut right now and when we may need to conduct cutting in the future.”
Each year Powercor uses a fleet of three helicopters to inspect more than 77,000km of powerlines across western Victoria.
Powercor’s cutting program is held to clearance requirements that are regulated by Energy Safe Victoria.
The company’s cutting teams clear vegetation near powerlines on private and public property and, unless urgent, will notify customers of cutting required at private addresses.
Powercor said larger clearance areas were required in areas of higher bushfire risk.
Helicopters use LiDAR scanning on 77,000km of powerlines across western Victoria.
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