Pam Boschee
News Editor
Time: 0700. Personnel report to Command Center for the daily flight briefing. A map on one wall shows highlighted routes; another wall displays a daily duties checklist. At 0730 the crew is transported to the airport, and by 0800 they are airborne and en route to begin the day`s first two-hour sortie.
This military-like exercise was part of Kansas City Power & Light Co.`s (KCPL) mapping project contracted with GeoDigital Technologies Inc., Santa Maria, Calif. Spanning 18 days of flight time, the crew mapped 22,000 transmission and distribution structures and 200 substations, according to Joseph A. Gawron, KCPL`s manager of transmission construction and maintenance. GeoDigital flew and mapped about 1,300 miles of transmission line (69 kV, 161 kV, 345 kV) and 800 miles of 34 kV.
Citing many potential benefits, Gawron pointed to knowledge transfer as the most important benefit derived from mapping. As older personnel retire, valuable knowledge about structure and substation locations contained in a sprawling territory walks out the door with them. A KCPL substation manager used the map database to extract latitude and longitude coordinates as navigational tools. Using mobile computers in the utility`s trucks, new personnel can now locate remote substations in rural areas.
The perspective gained from aerial mapping yielded some surprises for KCPL. For example, "We were surprised at the amount of cropland in our system. Much of our transmission system is in cropland," said Gawron. He added, "When questioning whether a structure is in a bean field or other area, they don`t have to drive out there to check."
KCPL also discovered right-of-way infringements, such as a full-size garage built by a farmer.
The aerial view showed the expansion of urban sprawl when compared to older utility records. "We had good drawings in the `40s. Now here we are 40-50 years later with tremendous growth. The ground beneath those lines has really changed. You lose track of that by being down on the ground," said Gawron.
KCPL`s cost for mapping was less than $250,000 for GeoDigital`s services and $20,000 for the MapInfo (software) license, according to Gawron. "That`s relatively cheap for what we got. You can send a guy out there with a GPS from Wal-Mart. But how long is it going to take? You gotta send him out 22,000 times."
To gain economies of scale, KCPL added mapping of its 34 kV system, making the cost per mapped point less when done as part of a larger job.
GeoDigital used a helicopter-mounted survey system with high resolution digital video stored on CD-ROM. It provides simultaneous viewing of digital video and maps. The survey includes software, setup, training and continuing technical support. Gawron said GeoDigital`s map database was readily useable. "The problem comes with us adding information (insulators, poles, etc.) about each mapped structure. The amount of data you want to add starts growing and growing."
KCPL had two summer students begin the process of adding information to the map database. They completed the 345 kV and 161 kV data. Gawron said, "To work with this stuff, you gotta know what you`re doing. There`s a slow learning curve. Populating the database requires dedicated help."
Additional benefits to be gained from the database include:
- Inspection data will be added to the database. Osmose does inspections for KCPL. Gawron said, "We`re not good at managing information people are giving us. This will help us combine the information."
- Management of maintenance activities;
- Inventory decisions;
- Survey results may be used for tax determinations; and
- A real-time lightning program can be overlaid on the mapping program to determine strike locations.
Gawron said transmission systems are overall "pretty reliable." They are most affected by lightning strikes that cause blinking when they hit relays and substations.
"Capacity is going to be a big issue nationally. Flows on lines are changing dramatically." For example, he said the loss of KCPL`s Hawthorn #5 generating station (see photo) made tremendous changes in load flows.
"Upgrading of the system is the key. No one looks forward, everybody wants to save money. They`re all looking at next summer, not looking out five years." n
Gawron may be contacted at 816-245-3700, and GeoDigital Technologies Inc. may be reached at 805-348-0023.
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Rubble resulting from a boiler explosion in February at KCPL`s Hawthorn #5 generating station has been cleared, and rebuilding (planned capacity 550 MW) should soon begin. The foundation is expected to be ready in December with operation scheduled to begin in summer 2001. Photo by Pam Boschee.
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GeoDigital`s aerial inspection reports combine specific map locations with photos of equipment problems. Photo courtesy of GeoDigital Technologies.
