4th Annual Vegetation Management Conference · 2017-11-21 · 4th Annual Vegetation Management Conference Jason Mahoney, ComEd & Geoff Watson, Davey Resource Group J v t V DAY 1 -

Tel: +1.514.866.5377 Fax: +1.514.904.5038 [email protected] www.ceati.com

Conference Overview

The purpose of the Vegetation Management Program is to bring industry professionals together to discuss and develop solutions on common industry issues, providing exceptional networking opportunities for vegetation managers, updating current practices, and developing improved planning techniques and regulatory filings. The group provides vegetation managers with a cost-effective vehicle for sharing experiences and for addressing issues pertinent to their day-to-day operations, maintenance, and planning. Furthermore, the annual conference offers an exceptional forum for networking with consultants, manufacturers, and representatives from electric utilities.

CEATI’s Vegetation Management Consortium (VMTF) will be holding their VMTF member-only General Meeting prior to the conference on December 4th, 2017.

For more information, visit www.ceati.com/VM2017

Who Should Attend?

VMTF at a GlanceThe effective management of vegetation on transmission and distribution corridors is essential for providing a reliable supply of electricity and for ensuring public and worker safety. Comprehensive and effective vegetation management programs must address several issues. These programs must comply with new and emerging regulations, while also meeting public and landowner expectations, and consider various environmental issues. Managing vegetation can range from pruning and/or removing individual trees, to encouraging the establishment of low growing compatible plant communities on power line corridors. Furthermore, it involves responding to the public, First Nations, the government, and landowner requests and concerns. At the same time, it must also comply with NERC and other regulations in a cost-effective manner.

Organised by VMTF, the 4th Annual Vegetation Management Conference will focus on several of the most innovative technologies, techniques, and equipment in development, as well as on those currently available to Vegetation Managers.

4th Annual Vegetation Management Conference

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Seattle CityLight

December 5 - 6, 2017 - Orlando, FL

Conference Themes• Work Management and Analysis

• Case Studies: Introducing New Technology & Dealing with Challenges • Data Collection and LiDAR• Products and Equipment

Who Should Attend?Vegetation Management Personnel from Electric Utilities

Professional Arborists & Contractors

Right-of-Way Vegetation Managers

Manufacturers & Equipment Vendors

Service Providers

8:15 - 8:40 Welcome Address and VMTF Introduction Gwen Shrimpton & Paul Ryan, CEATI International

8:40 – 9:10 Utilizing a Work Management System for Your Jason Mahoney, Distribution Right of Way ComEd & Geoff Watson, Davey Resource Group

9:10 – 9:40 The Unthinkable Plan: It’s Better Working Together Stan Vera-Art, Grow With Trees & Iris Caldwell, Energy Resources Centre

9:40 – 10:10 3D Visualization and Data Analytics Using Kreg McCollum, Roames Technology Leidos

10:40 – 11:10 Blazing the Trail to VM 2.0 Eric Woodyard, PG&E 11:10 – 11:40 Data: Is It Serving Your VM Program? Sig Guggenmoos, Ecological Solutions Inc. 11:40 – 12:15 Panel Session All Participants

Session 2: Case Studies: Introducing New Technology & Dealing with Challenges

1:30 – 2:00 Reinventing a UVM Program in an Ever Changing Tom Jackson, World – A Case Study at Hydro One Hydro One & Stephen Tankersley, Clear Path Utility Solution

2:00 – 2:30 Mobile Mapping - Helping Utilities Improve Steve Dowding, Their Distribution Networks Utilizing LiDAR and GeoDigital High Resolution Imagery Sara Sankowich, Unitil Corporation

3:00 – 3:30 National Grid’s Experiences with Emerald Ryan Moe, Ash Borer, System Reliability, and Enhanced Hazard National Grid Tree Mitigation Program (EHTM)

3:30 – 4:00 The Paradox of the New Zealand “No Interest” David Glenn, Tree Legislation Delta Utilities

4:00 – 4:30 Radio Frequency Identification Technology on Timothy Mackey, Ameren Transmission ROW’s Ameren Corporation 4:30 – 5:00 Panel Session All Participants

5:00 Day 1 Conference Adjournment 6:00 - 7:30 Reception - Exhibition Hall Agenda subject to change without notice.

DAY 1 • December 5, 2017


10:10 – 10:40 Morning Break - Exhibition Hall

12:15 – 1:30 Lunch - Exhibition Hall

2:30 – 3:00 Afternoon Break - Exhibition Hall

2:00 – 2:30 Mobile Mapping - Helping Utilities Improve Steve Dowding, Their Distribution Networks Utilizing LiDAR and GeoDigital High Resolution Imagery Sara Sankowich, Unitil Corporation

10:40 – 11:10 Blazing the Trail to VM 2.0 Eric Woodyard, PG&E

3:30 – 4:00 The Paradox of the New Zealand “No Interest” David Glenn, Tree Legislation Delta Utilities

4:30 – 5:00 Panel Session All Participants

7:15 – 8:15 Registration & Breakfast - Exhibition Hall

Session 1: Work Management and Analysis

DAY 2 • December 6, 2017


7:20 – 8:20 Breakfast - Exhibition Hall

8:20 - 8:30 Conference Day 2 Program Introduction Gwen Shrimpton, CEATI International Session 3: Data Collection and LiDAR 8:30 – 9:00 UAS for Smart Utility Vegetation Management Dr. Comfort Manyame, Mid-South Synergy

9:00 – 9:30 3D Virtual Vegetation Management - So Easy, Matt Churches, Even a Forester Can Use It! NM Group 9:30 – 10:00 Are LIDAR and UAVs the Answer to Vegetation Dr. Stuart Clough, Management? It Depends on the Question(s) APEM Inc. Being Asked

10:30– 11:00 Prioritizing Vegetation Management with Ike van Cruyningen, Automated Clearance, Species, and Health LineSpect Measurements 11:00– 11:30 Converting LiDAR Cloud to Tree Canopy for Mike Oliver, Improved Compatibility with GIS Tools Leading Edge Geomatics


Session 4: Products and Equipment

1:15 – 1:45 Manage the Risk of Vegetation to Your Network - Peter Barnes & How to use LiDAR, Earth Observation and Arboreal Martin Stanley, Point4 Experience to Move to Proactive Vegetation Management 1:45 – 2:15 Enabling Rapid Vegetation Encroachment Myles Sutherland, Analysis from 3rd Imagery Over Thousands of Miles - GroundVu Let your Kids Play with the Drones

2:45 – 3:15 Myths vs. Metrics: Aerial Sawing Operations Stephen Bostock, Rotor Blade, LLC

3:15 – 3:45 Hawaiian Electric's Analysis of Vegetation Tom Myers, Management Practices UMS Group


4:15 – 4:30 Concluding Remarks Gwen Shrimpton, CEATI International

4:30 4th Annual Vegetation Management Conference Adjournment

Agenda subject to change without notice.

1:45 – 2:15 Enabling Rapid Vegetation Encroachment Myles Sutherland, Analysis from 3rd Imagery Over Thousands of Miles - GroundVu Let your Kids Play with the Drones

10:00 – 10:30 Morning Break - Exhibition Hall

12:00 – 1:15 Lunch - Exhibition Hall

2:15 – 2:45 Afternoon Break - Exhibition Hall

Jay Mahoney is a Senior Project Manager for Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). Jay manages distribution vegetation management emergent programs in the Chicagoland area and throughout northern Illinois. Jay has 10+ years’ experience within Utility Vegetation Management. Jay has served on the staff of two different utilities: ComEd and First Energy,

undertaking both transmission and distribution forester roles. Jay has also acted as a contract work planner and trimmer for 10 different utilities across North America. Jay has an Associate’s Degree in Urban Forestry, and he is a certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. Jay is also a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, having served for 10 years in the United States Army.



Jason Mahoney, ComEd & Geoff Watson, Davey Resource Group

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DAY 1 - Session 1: Work Management and Analysis (8:40am -12:15pm)

Geoff Watson is the Project Manager for the Midwest and Southeast regions within DRG’s Vegetation Management Services group. He has been with Davey Resource Group since 2004. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Science emphasizing in Urban Forestry from Western Illinois

University and is an ISA Certified Arborist and Utility Specialist. His project management expertise includes transmission and distribution ROW management, risk assessment, Emerald Ash Borer programs, herbicide and ROW reclamations, workload studies, customer communications, reliability based ‘hardening’ programs, and GPS/GIS based paperless flow program development.

Utilizing a Work Management System For Your Distribution Right of Way

Abstract: In the city of Chicago, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) services 3.6 million residential customers (with 3.9 million customers total) supported by 35k overhead distribution miles. Due to this high volume, a good management system is needed. ComEd works with DRG (Davey Resource Group) and their work management system, Rover. Through Rover, DRG plans and schedules work for tree contractors with respect to various programs on ComEds distribution right of way. All work requests that funnel into vegetation management are documented digitally. Whether this includes customer requests, internal requests, Capital projects, or performing quality assurance, everything is captured through a paperless approach. This allows Contract Foresters to organize their workload effectively and to schedule work more efficiently for crews.

ComEd utilizes data and information gathered to prioritize workload(s), to capture circuit and customer work history, and to align data from outages to gain insight into the factors and causes that impact our system reliability the most. Through digital delivery of our quality assurance, ComEd is able to manage and monitor contractor key performance indicators more effectively, to confirm that cyclic trimming is performed to expectation, and to ensure that ComEd is delivering safety and reliability to its 3.9 million customers.

Notes:

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Stan Vera-Art, Grow With Trees & Iris Caldwell, Energy Resources Centre

Stan Vera-Art holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Agriculture as well as a Master’s Degree in Project Management. He has been a PMP (#33535) since 2001 and an ISA Arborist (# 166227) since 2010. Stan has 12 years of experience working

with ecosystem restoration projects and ROW vegetation management departments, integrating adaptive, project, and holistic management principles. He is actively involved in research and development, specifically the creation of a confluence of ecological principles and economical practices. Stan is the President of Grow with Trees, applying Argo-Ecological solutions on ROWs.

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The Unthinkable Plan: It’s Better Working Together

Iris Caldwell earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Iowa State University. She is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois. For over eight years, Iris has worked as a manufacturing plant environmental engineer and as an environmental consultant. She has a

strong background in environmental regulatory compliance, greenhouse gas accounting, carbon offset verification, low-carbon fuel standards, and other environmental and sustainability reporting. Currently she is a Research Engineer at the Energy Resources Center (ERC) located at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her work involves the engagement of the agricultural, transportation, and utility sectors, on projects such as pollinator habitat development.

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Abstract: What will the vegetation on your ROW look like 30 years from now? Did you factor in the inevitable changes that lie ahead: environmental permits, policies, and regulations; increased public awareness, transparency, and exposure; enhanced technologies, data collection, and vegetation management programs? How much effort will you have invested to keep pace with imminent change?

Imagine staying ahead of such change “with a sustainable PLAN”---a plan that embraces the landscape and the principles of succession; one that uses social change and challenges to its advantage. What would that kind of sustainable plan look like?

Grow With Trees Company equips utility vegetation management leaders to navigate change ahead of the curve. Currently working with several utilities and regulatory organizations, programs are designed around a long-term, sustainable ROW vision. Among other things, the vision unites existing efforts within Environmental, Vegetation Management, and Capital Work Departments, as well as among external stakeholders, in a mutually supportive and highly effective structure (cross-departmental engagement) to create powerful movement. The sustainable ROW Vegetation Management Plan takes into account the most common challenges and changes, ranging from capital improvements and environmental regulations, to FERC and NERC rules and regulations. It includes a practical operational plan, holistic ROW vegetation care, measurable goals, and the technology to support it.

One supporting technology is being deployed at the Energy Resource Center (ERC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. ERC facilitates a working group including over 150 different companies and stakeholders, within industry sectors such as Energy, Transportation (DOT and Railroad), and Agriculture---all managing ROWs. The ERC’s geo-spatial habitat database enables inventorying and tracking of sustainably managed ROW sections.

Looking ahead with vision and planning allows us to embrace change---in regulations, technology, and management styles---as well as to bring it about. Move together with a shared vision. It’s better.



Kreg McCollum is a Vice President of Leidos’ Commercial Energy Solutions Operation. Leidos is the exclusive North American provider of the Roames 3D Asset Management technology. Mr. McCollum oversees the strategic direction, development, and delivery of Leidos’ Roames North America Program. Mr. McCollum has over 25 years of experience as a business leader, consultant, and trusted advisor to utilities, municipalities, governments, and others in the electric power industry. He received a Master’s Degree with high honors in Resource Economics from the University of Wyoming, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Resource Economics from Oregon State University.

Abstract: Vegetation management is one of the largest operating expenditure programs for utilities. Advances in vegetation management technologies, enabled through 3D visualization and data analytics, are assisting utilities in reducing their vegetation management expenditures, thus decreasing risk, and increasing both effectiveness and compliance. Vegetation management for utilities typically consists of three main activities:

1. Inspecting the network to identify vegetation intrusion and ground clearing required for maintaining compliance with standards. 2. Managing the vegetation using various techniques. 3. Auditing the outcomes achieved following treatment of the vegetation.

In this presentation, Leidos will demonstrate the use of 3D visualization and the application of tailored business rules to manage risk and to drive value in a vegetation management program, including:

1. Examination of the accuracy of data capture, objectification, and visualization. 2. Application of business rules to pinpoint areas of vegetation encroachment to enable condition-based vegetation management to reduce risk and cost. 3. Integration with network asset risk management in the areas of conductor clearance and pole stability.

Kreg McCollum, Leidos

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3D Visualization and Data Analytics Using Roames Technology

Blazing the Trail to VM 2.0

Eric Woodyard began his utility vegetation management career working as a consulting utility arborist in 2002. Moving up quickly through the ranks, Eric joined PG&E in 2007 where he expanded his background to include quality assurance, program management, and tree failure risk mitigation through the use of data. In 2014, Eric had the idea of expanding PG&E’s remote sensing efforts to electric distribution, where he now finds himself as the principle architect for developing the Vegetation Management Remote Sensing Program. Eric is a Certified Arborist and Utility Specialist, and has earned a B.A. in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University and an MBA from UC Davis.

Abstract: PG&E has been leveraging LiDAR imagery and data analytics since 2011. Until 2016, the use of LiDAR has occurred on a project-by-project basis, with very little programmatic implementation strategy. Now, in 2017, PG&E has turned to remote sensing as a way to capture efficiencies in its Vegetation Management (VM) department, as well as across the Company. From data storage to creating actionable insights through PG&E-developed geospatial solutions, remote sensing is playing a larger part for certain organizations within PG&E. Now, through the guidance of a formal cross-functional remote sensing workgroup, PG&E’s vegetation management team will show how it is leading the Company, and the industry, toward an analytic-driven program.

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Eric Woodyard, PG&E


Siegfried (Sig) Guggenmoos is the President of Ecological Solutions Inc. He is a Professional Agrologist, with a Degree in Horticulture from the University of Guelph. Sig has been involved in research on growth regulators and herbicides, managed a national Canadian vegetation management contractor, and acted as a chief architect of a Distribution Line Clearance program which reduced tree related outages by 80% with a 98% customer satisfaction rating. Since 1995, Sig has provided consulting services in vegetation management and biotic greenhouse gas mitigation strategies. His current work focuses largely on the derivation of least-cost sustainable vegetation management programs, as well as on the forecasting of tree-caused electric service interruptions from field measurable variables to support strategic initiatives and regulatory proceedings. Sig has authored over seventy

articles appearing in technical journals, magazines, and industry newsletters. He served for 5 years as the Editor of the Transmission & Distribution World Vegetation Management Resource Center and VM Insights.

Abstract: Senior management is likely challenging you to find ways to improve reliability and safety for less. They are expecting continuous improvement. You can adopt practices that have proven successful for other utilities. You can try brainstorming sessions for new ideas. However, due to the way your VM workload expands, new approaches may not garner savings upfront, and will therefore need the support of senior management – support which will require data to make your case. Your normal operating procedure provides you with data. You probably know how much of your budget has been spent, what work has been completed, and where it was performed. You may have an exception report that tells you what sites could not be completed as planned and why. However, do you have the data that will support continuous improvement? Can you answer the following questions?

1. Should you take every presented opportunity to remove trees that have historically been pruned? 2. What is the cost benefit of an IVM program that includes the use of herbicides versus cyclical cutting? 3. Is there a pruning cycle that is optimal in terms of reliability delivered per dollar expended? 4. Should a new pest appear, such as the emerald ash borer, can you immediately make a worst case prediction of the cost impact on your VM program?

Sig Guggenmoos, Ecological Solutions Inc.

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Data: Is It Serving Your VM Program?

Notes:



Abstract: The transition from public to private has impacted most areas of the business - utility forestry, customers, communities, elected officials, and regulators have never had higher expectations. Public safety, electric reliability, and cost of service remain among the highest concerns, and vegetation management is one of the largest contributors to each. Hydro One is stepping up by reinventing its utility forestry/vegetation management program to meet this challenge, while working to achieve best-in-class results. This presentation will outline a case study covering how Hydro One has approached this effort focusing on the following elements:

1. Determining the Optimal Cycle – Finding the balance time interval between maintenance cycles and work scope, to achieve the best performance at the lowest cost. 2. Includes a system field assessment and modeling of cost, defect, and reliability performance. 3. Business Practices – Designing effective business practices to provide resource/cost management, system awareness, and continuous improvement. Includes resource strategies, hazard tree assessment, outage investigation analysis, QA/QC, and management systems. 4. Customer Experience – Integrates the activities necessary to achieve desired business results. 5. Future Positioning - Emerging technology, LiDAR & mobile platforms.

Tom Jackson, Hydro One & Stephen Tankersley, Clear Path Utility Solution

Tom Jackson has acted as the Director of Forestry for Hydro One (located in Ontario, Canada), since 2015. Hydro One owns and operates 29,000 km of transmission and 120,000 km of distribution systems, serving 1.3m customers over a 600,000 sq km service area. Their Utility Forestry program is one of

the largest in North America, employing over 1,200 personnel during peak season throughout the province. After graduating from college as a Forestry Technician, he started his career with Hydro One as an apprentice Utility Arborist, spending 7 years in the trade prior to undertaking a variety of supervisory and management positions of increasing responsibility within Hydro One’s Lines, Forestry, and Operating Divisions. Mr. Jackson also gained valuable experience outside of Forestry while working in the Operating Division as an on-shift manager of Hydro One’s consolidated Distribution Operating Centre, responsible for 7 x 24 dispatch and oversight of power restorations activities. Further, he acquired computer systems design, development, and implementation expertise while working as the business lead during the purchase, design, and implementation of Hydro One’s Outage Management System.

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Session 2 - Case Studies: Introducing New Technology & Dealing

with Challenges (1:30pm-5:00pm) Reinventing a UVM Program in an Ever-Changing World – A Case Study at

Hydro One

Stephen Tankersley is a subject matter expert on Utility Vegetation Management (UVM), helping guide gas and electric utility operations, suppliers, and contractors towards the achievement of long-term success. Steve

pursued a 38-year career at PG&E, and later opened Clear Path Utility Solutions, LLC in 2015, bringing clear understanding and strong business acumen focusing on technical needs, program development, strategic planning, and pioneering concepts that drive UVM performance. Steve served on the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) FAC-003-2/3 VM Standards Drafting Team, developing mandatory performance standards for the electric utility industry to avoid a repeat of the August 2003 N/E Blackout. He has been recognized by the industry, having been honored with the UAA Utility Award in 2012, and as the UAA President.

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Sara Sankowich is the System Arborist at Unitil Service Corp. She has been working in the utility arborist field for 17 years. Prior to managing the vegetation management program at Unitil, Sara managed vegetation management strategy at National

Grid. Sara has a BS in Forest and Natural Resource Management from the State University of NY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She serves on the Utility Arborist Association Executive Board and numerous other committees.

Abstract: GeoDigital has deployed a Mobile Mapping system to capture LiDAR data and high-resolution imagery of utility distribution assets and vegetation for a rapid network risk assessment. Utilizing eight 36 megapixel cameras and advanced Riegl LiDAR sensors, GeoDigital can capture entire distribution systems within a matter of days or weeks. Proprietary algorithms then analyze the resulting data to assess the risk of vegetation along each span, while a combination of computer vision algorithms and utility subject matter experts visually inspect assets (such as transformers, poles, cross arms, etc.). The results are delivered via intuitive visualization tools that depict vegetation risk and asset defects.

Electric Utility Case Study: Unitil Corporation – Storm Resiliency Program Effectiveness

Unitil engaged GeoDigital to map approximately 1,301 poles of their distribution network. Data acquisition included the collection of LiDAR data and high resolution imagery, to serve multiple use cases:

1. Vegetation Risk Assessment to identify the vegetation risk of each span, and to prove storm resiliency/ program effectiveness; 2. Asset Defect Inspection to identify the location and type of defect: a. GeoDigital inspectors identified an urgent issue after locating a “Floater broken tie wire”; b. The issue was communicated to Unitil, and their engineers were able to resolve the issue the same day. 3. GIS Audit to provide the location of every pole and streetlight within +/- 1 meter of accuracy.

Moving forward, Unitil is exploring the creation of a yearly mapping program to assess the before and after conditions of the network included in the Storm Resiliency Program to better report on the program’s effectiveness.

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Steve Dowding is a utility industry professional for GeoDigital, a spatial data and analytics company that combines 3D maps (built on remote sensing and LiDAR technologies) with predictive analytics and field-based work management software. Steve is passionate about helping

utilities to leverage geospatial data to make more informed business decisions. He has acquired over 30 years of experience in the commercial remote sensing sector, and he is well versed in all facets of project design, implementation, and management. Steve is currently serving as Account Executive, with a focus on North American Utilities.

Steve Dowding, GeoDigital & Sara Sankowich, Unitil Corporation

Mobile Mapping – Helping Utilities Improve Their Distribution Networks

Utilizing LiDAR and High Resolution Imagery


Abstract: National Grid is an electric and gas service provider in the Northeastern United States. Similar to most if not all electric utilities, National Grid is subject to minimum reliability targets for each jurisdiction or state in which customers are served and operations transpire. This presentation will review the current status of the company’s vegetation management program, as well as the direct benefits of our vegetation management strategies and inputs. An invasive insect, the Emerald Ash Borer, has spread across many parts of National Grid’s service territory. The company has initiated and completed a utility forest condition assessment with emphasis on Emerald Ash Borer infestation, associated mortality, and risks to safety and reliability. This assessment enabled National Grid to conduct an additional predictive analysis of reliability risks with annual projections, and to develop specific mitigation plans. The detailed analysis assisted the company’s presentation of information to our state public service commission. Topics included are current conditions, short-term and long-term risks to the electric system, and our customers. This presentation will address our implementation plans and on-going analysis of effectiveness.

Ryan Moe has been a part of the Vegetation Strategy team at National Grid since 2012. In his role as a Senior Specialist, he is responsible for supporting the design and long-term planning of

vegetation strategies used on National Grid USA’s distribution and transmission assets. This includes: developing annual budgets and work plans, and representing National Grid during annual rate case negotiations. Ryan has also worked in National Grid USA’s Real Estate department, where he began mapping the Company’s property records along transmission lines and analyzing vegetation management rights. Ryan graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design in 2006.

David Glenn, Delta Utilities


Ryan Moe, National Grid

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National Grid’s Experiences with Emerald Ash Borer, System Reliability, and

Enhanced Hazard Tree Mitigation Program (EHTM)

The Paradox of the New Zealand “No Interest” Tree Legislation

David Glenn has worked in the tree industry for 45 Years; he is currently working in the utility sector.

2015 – to-date: Tree Services Manager, Delta Utilities Dunedin New Zealand.2012 – 2015: Area Manager, Asplundh Queenstown Division.2009 – 2012: NZHITO Regional Manager, Otago and Southland, New Zealand.2005 – 2009: National Contracts Manager, the New Zealand Horticulture Training Organization. 2003 – 2005: Head of Department of Horticulture for Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand.

2001 – 2003: Lecturer and Program Manager, the Arboriculture program at Otago Polytechnic Dunedin.1997 – 2001: South Island Manager, Asplundh Tree Expert NZ Ltd.1988 – 1997: Managing Director of Southern Tree Surgeons NZ Ltd. 1980 – 1988: Arborist Manager, STS UK.

Abstract: New Zealand introduced tree regulations in 2003 which retired multiple previous procedures, and introduced several new terms and clarifications regarding the responsibilities of trees. These regulations are officially titled: the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003. These new regulations significantly differ, in that the tree is the main focus, subject to many rules and conditions that can apply to the landowner, the utility works owner, or an interested party, such as an adjacent land occupier. The purpose of these regulations includes the protection and security of the supply of electricity, as well as the safety of the public, through: 1) Prescribing distances from electrical conductors within which trees must not encroach; 2) Setting rules regarding who has responsibility for cutting or trimming trees that encroach on electrical conductors; 3) Assigning liability if those rules are breached; and 4) Providing an arbitration system to resolve disputes between work owners and tree owners regarding the operation of these regulations.


Radio Frequency Identification Technology on Ameren Transmission ROWs

Timothy Mackey, Ameren Corporation

Tim Mackey is a Vegetation Supervisor for Ameren Transmission in Illinois. Tim has worked in the utility industry for over 23 years; the last 17 have been for Ameren. Tim has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. He is a member of the UAA, IAA, ISA, & NATF. He has been an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist since 1996. Tim has served as the UAA state rep for Illinois for the past 15+ years, and contributed to quarterly articles in “Utility Arborist Newsline.”

Abstract: Permanently marking easement boundaries has been a difficult challenge faced by the utility industry. The environment, land owners, and time itself erases these temporary markers that have been installed. Ameren is currently utilizing RFID technology to install permanent, programmable underground easement markers along transmission rights-of-way. These RFID markers allow field personnel to obtain easement info, easement boundary location, and other information deemed necessary with the wave of a wand!

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Notes:



Dr. Comfort Manyame is the Research and Technology Strategist for Mid-South Synergy Electric Cooperative in Texas. With a PhD from Texas A&M University (College Station) and over 10 years of electric utility experience (mainly in the areas of GIS, Data/Analytics, Vegetation Management and Operational Technology), Dr. Manyame is a regular conference speaker and author of peer-reviewed publications and articles.

Abstract: Mid-South Synergy Electric Cooperative serves a predominantly rural territory which spans six Texan counties (Brazos, Grimes, Madison, Montgomery, Waller, and Walker), delivering power to about 30,000 electric meters. Trees growing outside the distribution utility’s right-of-way account for more than 95% of Mid-South Synergy’s vegetation-related outages in any given year (vegetation outages account for at least 30% of the Coop’s total outages annually). Following the Texas drought of 2011-2012, the Coop saw an increase in dead trees and subsequent vegetation outages in its territory. Using their Geographic Information System (GIS), the Coop created a ‘dead tree risk’ model derived from soil type, vegetation type, and historic outage data (T&D World, March 2013). This GIS model enabled the Coop to predict where hazard trees could be located, and hence allowed for a massive dead tree removal operation, which resulted in about 60,000 dead trees cut and significantly reduced outages.

However, in its quest to further improve their vegetation management program and to reduce vegetation-related outages, in 2016 the Coop started using UAS (Unmanned Aerial System), derived LiDAR and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data, to identify dead tress close to power lines. Hazard tree removal work is now being prioritized based on tree ‘health’ as reflected in the NDVI values. Such practices are expected to further reduce costs, by preventing unnecessary truck rolls, improving customer relations via solely cutting down trees that are dead or unhealthy, and reducing outages by removing trees from the system which would otherwise cause an outage (or a forest fire). The Coop is also looking into other potential UAS uses, which include asset inspections and GIS data collection.

Dr. Comfort Manyame, Mid-South Energy

UAS for Smart Utility Vegetation Management

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DAY 2 - Session 3: Data Collection and LiDAR (8:30AM-12:00PM)

Notes:


Matt Churches, NM Group

Matt Churches has 15 years of work experience devoted to the utility industry, serving in both vegetation management and asset management. He received a Bachelor’s

of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of Nevada, Reno. He has been a certified Arborist since 2004, with the designations of Utility Specialist and Municipal Specialist. Churches has served on the board of the Texas Vegetation Management Association, International Society of Arboriculture-Texas, Texas Urban Forestry Council, Houston Area Urban Forestry Council, and Keep Texas Beautiful.

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3D Virtual Vegetation Management - So Easy, Even a Forester Can Use It

Abstract: Many utility companies still cling to legacy methods of surveying power line corridors to identify encroaching vegetation (such as field surveys). With today’s technology, vegetation management professionals are no longer confined to the field, conducting surveys and patrolling utility distribution and transmission networks for encroaching vegetation. Revolutionary software, including Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), is now being used to accurately and effectively manage vegetation on transmission and distribution systems across the globe, from the comfort of your desk. Using this data, along with other cutting-edge technologies to create a 3D visualization, enables utility companies and forestry contractors to plan vegetation management activities—without having to visit the field. This 3D visualization, coupled with advanced vegetation analytics, delivers functional information to help utilities better manage the risks posed by vegetation-related outages through remote inspection, audit, and analysis. The highly accurate nature of the data allows vegetation managers to prioritize risk and costs across the network, improving vegetation management strategy to ensure safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Dr. Stuart Clough, APEM Inc.

Are LIDAR and UAVs the Answer to Vegetation Management? It Depends on

the Question(s) Being Asked

Dr. Stuart Clough has over 20 years’ experience in the environmental consulting industry. Joining APEM as a director in 2006, he took responsibility for the company’s remote sensing division three years later, which now

works in the UK, Germany, and the US. Recently, the company has delivered cutting-edge projects for the US Navy, Florida Power and Light, and New York State Energy Research and Development, among other US-based work. Under Stuart’s leadership, APEM’s remote sensing division has become one of Europe’s leading providers of ultra-high resolution aerial surveys, delivering over 1,000 environmental surveys for many of the world’s leading utility companies.

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Abstract: Most US companies are relying on LiDAR to gather quantitative vegetation data along their ROW. However, recent advancements in ultra high resolution digital cameras and photogrammetric data processing software enable aerial photography to be used to collect both quantitative and qualitative vegetation point cloud data (Phodar) along ROW, with the same level of accuracy as LiDAR data. In addition, the industry is also embracing UAVs as an alternative to helicopter and manned aircraft, believing they will be less expensive. This presentation will present the results of a 2015 pilot study completed in the United Kingdom on behalf of a utility company with assets in Europe and the US. The pilot study used ultra high resolution aerial photography to measure the 3D distance of the vegetation to the conductors, calculated the amount of vegetation greater than 2m, identified individual trees that could fall on the conductors, and calculated the percentage of the ROW requiring vegetation clearance over a certain height. This presentation will discuss how this approach enables species identification, counting of trees, trunk size measurement, vegetation health assessment, mapping of physical assets, and change detection or encroachment of activities from neighboring properties along the ROW. It will also discuss a potential technology framework for companies to consider when deciding between LIDAR v Phodar and Manned Aircraft v UAVs.


Ike van Cruyningen, LineSpect


After completing degrees from Waterloo (BMath), Cornell (BMech), and Stanford (PhD Mech & Elec), Ike van Cruyningen started four software companies in Silicon Valley. At his latest venture, LineSpect, he combines his software, engineering, and business skills to lead a team that is building self-driving drones for power line inspection.

Abstract: Measuring right-of-way incursions and clearances with LiDAR mounted on helicopters is standard industry practice. With an accurate position and orientation system, LiDAR provides real-time point clouds. Clearances to incursions can be measured within inches immediately in the field. However, LiDAR systems with rotating mirrors or lenses are relatively expensive,

heavy, and typically require annual factory calibration to maintain accuracy. Emerging solid-state LiDAR technologies developed for self-driving cars will overcome these disadvantages.

A lighter, simpler approach more suited for mounting on drones, involves taking very many overlapping photographs along the right of way. Commercial photogrammetry software and sufficient processing time will reconstruct high density point clouds of the right of way, making automated clearance measurements practical. Adding ground control points or accurate geocoding of the photographs improves the accuracy to where it matches LiDAR. An added benefit is that photographs make species identification much easier. Fast growing species within the right of way can be prioritized in vegetation management plans. A newer technique is to use stereo cameras with visible light and near infrared sensors for real-time depth sensing. Visible light images simplify species identification. Combining them with near infrared images allows for the calculation of vegetation indices, such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which estimates vegetation health. With tree health estimates, weaker trees along the edge of the right of way that can potentially fall into the lines can be located.

This presentation discusses each approach, how to combine them to measure accurate clearances, species, and health indexes, and provides sample results. The results can be used immediately in work planning software. Knowing the clearance, the individual species, and its health, makes it much easier to focus limited vegetation management budgets on the most pressing threats: fast-growing healthy species in the right of way, or failing trees potentially falling in from along the edge.

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Prioritizing Vegetation Management with Automated Clearance, Species,

and Health Measurements

Notes:


Mike Oliver is the VP of Corporate Development for Leading Edge Geomatics, responsible for strategic growth. Mike is a senior executive with 25 years of experience, ranging from system engineering and project management, to business development, sales, and general management roles in the energy, engineering, ICT, and military/aerospace industries. An electrical engineer, Mike is also a part-time instructor for UNB’s Technology Management & Entrepreneurship program.

Abstract: Leading Edge Geomatics (LEG) has developed a Trees of Interest Mapping (TIM) Process & Report, which transforms the LiDAR derived PLS-CADD points (typically millions), into trees with LEG’s proprietary algorithms. The ability to view and manage in trees vs points in a GIS

environment provides valuable information to the vegetation manager for planning, prioritizing, and operationalizing work orders, to address potential tree violation instead of ‘point violations’. The LEG Tree Based Process results in the vegetation manager dealing with approximately 98% less data to decide on and manage. A typical scenario for an average line would translate 1,000,000 points into 15,000 trees.

The TIM Report is designed to be both a “dashboard” briefing document and an operations tool for the vegetation manager. The TIM Report is comprised of a series of ESRI shapefile point and polygon vector files. Each feature comprising this file will represent a tree that could be of concern, given the utility’s vegetation proximity criteria.

The detailed file information is categorized by transmission line segments and organized using LEG’s interactive Subway Map viewer application. The Subway map will display vegetation ‘areas of interest’ in a priority based format to improve the user’s access to vegetation management information. The term “Subway Map” refers to the fact that we will be laying out the powerline corridor in a left to right projection. It will contain non-geographic vectors that represent the “Subway” segments or spans (regardless of complexity, cardinal direction, and length), and also precisely position tree centers points and grown-in tree polygons. An established relationship will link tabular and statistical information of these layers for the ease of briefing and quick inquiries.

LEG will present project information developed working with NB Power, which acted as the catalyst for developing Trees of Interest Mapping.

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Mike Oliver, Leading Edge Geomatics

Converting LiDAR Cloud to Tree Canopy for Improved Compatibility with

GIS Tools

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Peter Barnes is responsible for company operations, project, and service delivery as well as product development. Peter has 35

years’ experience in strategic, executive, and operational management, and in business & technology strategy. He has been responsible for global operations, project, and service organizations in mission critical environments, serving customers across numerous sectors such as finance, construction, utilities, and education.

Peter Barnes & Martin Stanley, Point4

Session 4: Products and Equipment (1:15PM - 4:30PM)Manage the Risk of Vegetation to Your Network - How to Use LiDAR, Earth

Observation and Arboreal Experience to Move to Proactive Vegetation

Management

Martin Stanley (better known as Stan), has 20 years of experience in the arboriculture industry. In recent years, he has concentrated on the electricity /utility sector, and he has worked as a second tier contractor to primary vegetation contractors carrying out

work for Scottish Power Energy Networks, Western Power Distribution, and UK Power Networks. Martin founded Point4 in 2013, recognising the need for a platform to assist infrastructure operators, amongst others, in managing the risks posed by vegetation to critical services. Martin’s deep experience in arboriculture enabled him to extrapolate the benefits available from the data collected from LiDAR, and to answer the “so what” question posed by operators. Martin has created a number of other patented solutions for practical use in the service and utility sectors.

Abstract: So, you have collected a selection of data using LiDAR: what do you do now? How do you turn all of this data (and there is a lot of data), into useful information that identifies the risk vegetation poses to your services, and allows you to proactively manage the mitigation processes? How do you then ensure that the right work has been performed that complies with operational/and or regulatory requirements?

This presentation, based on a case study from a project with Western Power Distribution (WPD) in the UK, will highlight how LiDAR data is used to determine a risk profile for each tree. A combination of satellite communication and the use of growth modelling (via the efficient management of LiDAR and Earth Observation data, and the transmission of validated critical site compliance data back to the server in real time), allows operators such as WPD to proactively manage and control their network risk, reduce downtime, and to ensure greater compliance to operational and regulatory standards, and to significantly reduce costs.

Notes:

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Myles Sutherland, GroundVu

GroundVu, Enabling Rapid Vegetation Encroachment Analysis from 3D

Imagery Over Thousands of Miles: Let Your Kids Play with the Drones

Myles Sutherland is a geographer and surfer with a passion for building enterprise software and hardware products. He is currently working on growing GroundVu, remote intelligence services focused on 3D imagery and data analytics. Previously, Myles worked in engineering, product

management, and business development at Esri and Trimble. He also founded Esri’s Startup Program, where he worked with startups exploring the use of geography within their SaaS, web, and mobile products. Myles was born and raised in Christchurch New Zealand; he is now living in Manhattan Beach, California.

Abstract: This presentation will share recent developments in rapid low cost enablement of vegetation encroachment through the use of 3D imagery, sometimes referred to as PhoDAR. In this session, we will share lessons learned and approaches to 3D analysis tailored for predictive analysis on risk management, and actionable intelligence for right of way trimming contract optimization.

Myths vs. Metrics: Aerial Sawing Operations

Steve Bostock, Manager of Rotor Blade, LLC is responsible for growing one of two major providers of airborne utility vegetation management in North America. He joined Rotor Blade in 2015 with over 38 years of experience with Asplundh Tree Expert Co., overseeing a variety of services ranging from vegetation management to utility construction. Steve worked in several positions during his tenure with Asplundh, from the crew level to executive leadership in the corporate office. He was responsible for over 3,000 employees throughout the United States until his retirement in 2015. Steve holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Georgia Southern University, and serves in leadership positions in many industry trade organizations.

Abstract: The aerial saw was invented almost 30 years ago. Its use and acceptance has increased in recent years, due to regulatory compliance pressures and the labor shortage in the line clearance industry. Still, there are misconceptions about the safety and cost-effectiveness of aerial sawing. For instance, the practice was almost exclusively utilized for the trimming of inaccessible transmission rights-of-ways, though many distribution lines can also be managed with this technique. In addition, it is now possible to saw at an angle using a patent-pending aerial topping saw in order to safely remove just the tops of diseased or dead trees. This quickly mitigates the risk of fall-ins, and avoids exposing manual climbers and mechanical trimmers to hazardous conditions. Aerial saw operations offer the following benefits: 1. Insurance underwriters estimate the aerial saw to be 10 times safer than conventional methods; 2. Typical productivity involves one mile of right-of-way trimming per hour; 3. The aerial saw process is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); 4. It is American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved; and 5. Ground-to-sky clearance can be achieved in a timely fashion.

Through our presentation of actual project results, the participants will learn the true metrics, myths, challenges, and exponential advantages of utilizing the aerial saw process.

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Stephen Bostock, Rotor Blade, LLC



Hawaiian Electric’s Analysis of Vegetation Management Practices

Tom Myers is a Principal at UMS Group with over 30 years of experience providing management consulting services to the utilities industry. He has extensive worldwide experience developing business plans, achieving improvements in business processes, and implementing

technology to reduce costs and improve operating results. Tom’s extensive worldwide experience and leadership has provided him with a unique understanding of the technical, operational, and business challenges related to asset management and grid modernization. His involvement in over 60 consulting projects at over 40 utilities in seven countries has provided him with a track record of successful engagements. Prior to joining UMS Group, Mr. Myers held leadership positions at IBM, KEMA, ScottMadden, Arthur Andersen, and Accenture.

Tom Myers, UMS Group

Abstract: This presentation will discuss how Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) utilized data analytics to evaluate and improve their vegetation management strategy. Data related to vegetation types, rainfall, trimming practices, network configuration, outage histories, reliability metrics, and costs were analyzed in order to model relationships, correlations, and confidence levels for deriving a hazard function that could be used for predicting future reliability performance under different cost scenarios. The scenarios were then analyzed to determine optimal spending amounts. This resulted in significant improvements in reliability and vegetation, dropping from #3 to #12 in the ranking of outage causes.

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Thank you to all of our Exhibitors!

Documents

4th Annual Vegetation Management Conference · 2017-11-21 · 4th Annual Vegetation Management Conference Jason Mahoney, ComEd & Geoff Watson, Davey Resource Group J v t V DAY 1 -