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Project Owner
Electric Transmission and Distribution Co.
Location
Ohio, Michigan & Indiana
Work
Over 3,750 miles of hazard tree identification
Time
3 years
Our Integrity Tree Services work planning department was tasked with performing a tree risk assessment on approximately 374 transmission circuits in 3 states. The goal was to identify trees that could damage the electric utility infrastructure.
Our team was instructed to physically identify the trees with paint, put them on a map, mark the access route, and notify land owners of the intended work. Throughout the course of the project, our team identified over 6,700 hazard trees.
Hazardous Tree Identification
Our planners identify hazardous trees with a visual inspection. They take a 360 degree walk around any tree with the potential to come within the minimum approach distance of the utility wire or structure. They look for critical defects like root rot, base decay, and fruiting bodies.
For this project, the client instructed us to immediately report and coordinate mitigation any tree found that had a high probability of imminent failure.
One instance occurred when we identified a locust tree that was splitting at the base and leaning towards a 345 kV transmission line. After assessing the tree and taking measurements using our rangefinders, we found the tree could make contact with two of the three conductors. Our safety representative assessed the possibility of removal, and after he deemed the tree safe to cut, we were able to assemble a production team to safely fell the tree within 24 hours of identification. This was right before a severe storm passed through the area, safely eliminating the risk of this tree to the surrounding community.
Tools & Equipment
Our planners used rangefinders, DBH (diameter breast height) tape, and UTVs (utility task vehicles). Our most useful tool was our ArcGIS mapping system. This software is used to efficiently and expertly mark the location of hazard trees, access roads, and track land owner interactions.
With this system, our planners were able to tailor our maps to fit the specifications for each individual forester and for every electric line we audited. It gave our clients the ability to track our progress in real time by viewing our maps and dashboards, all from in the comfort of their office.
We gave our clients the ability to view pictures of the trees, GPS locations, access roads, field hazards, and land owner relations. Our production crews were also able to access the information and easily locate the trees while tracking their progress. If a third party was assigned to remediate the trees, the data our planners collected could be quickly exported and shared.
The completion of this 3-year project was essential to making this community more safe and reliable. Our work planning services provide precise and accessible information to both our clients and production teams.
To start your next project with Integrity Tree Services, contact us.
