Energy Network and Infrastructure
EO Capability Benefits
Many developing countries lack accurate, comprehensive and standardised geospatial data on existing energy infrastructure such as power towers, transmission lines, and transformers. Earth Observation (EO) can help create inventories of existing energy infrastructure by mapping features such as HV (high-voltage) and, more importantly, MV (medium-voltage) and LV (low-voltage) power infrastructure and networks. Similarly, datasets like night lights are used to monitor electrification progress.
The large-scale nature of energy infrastructure makes it highly vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events and geological processes. Damage to energy infrastructure assets from extreme events can significantly impact network stability and lead to loss of service. Overlaying accurate locational data of infrastructure assets with information on hazards such as Flood Risk, Ground Displacement or Landslide Susceptibility can help improve infrastructure planning and enhance the disaster resilience of energy systems.
EO Capability Description
Power transmission mainly depends on overhead transmission infrastructure, such as transmission towers and power lines. Identification of transmission towers is a challenging task due to their small size and diversity of locational contexts. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can be used to identify transmission towers by using their strong scattering characteristics.
Due to ground displacement and other shifts in the natural environment, transmission towers are prone to tilt over time. In severe cases, the transmission line will be disconnected, causing serious power losses. Optical remote sensing imagery and neural networks have been used to correctly estimate tower tilt in order to take remedial action.
It should be noted that monitoring the construction progress of transmission lines over large areas usually requires commercial Very High Resolution (VHR), rather than free and open High Resolution (HR) imagery, even when the location and timing of construction are known. The cost of acquiring commercial imagery over large areas should therefore be factored into the overall project budget.
Indicative Cost Range Details
Monitoring the asset integrity of transmission towers or vegetation encroachment tends to involve a subscription model. Services offering once-off detection of assets such as wind turbines and oil storage tanks start from around 1.50 EUR/km² which does not include the cost of acquiring the VHR imagery itself.
Indicative Cost Range
Subscription or from 1.50 EUR/km²
