Technology Allows for 360-Degree Photo and Terrestrial LiDAR-Based Mapping of the Utility’s Distribution System
HERNDON, Va. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — August 31, 2010 — The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (Herndon, VA) and Highline Electric Association (Holyoke, CO) today announced that Highline Electric would use GeoNav Group’s nVIEW 360° service to map its electric distribution system. nVIEW 360° allows utilities to map their systems using a truck-mounted, photo- and light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-based interface, which allows for a complete, immersive view of a utility’s field assets.
“Our system plant is extensive,” said Highline Electric General Manager Mark Farnsworth. “We serve seven counties in northeastern Colorado and four counties in southwestern Nebraska—totaling more than 4,900 miles of lines and 25 substations. nVIEW 360° allows us to map our plant more easily and more effectively than other GIS products out there.”
GeoNav Group uses a 360-degree camera, mounted on a truck, equipped with a LiDAR system. This system allows the user the ability to extract high-accuracy positional features used to populate their geographic information system (GIS). The vehicle can collect data at speeds up to 30 miles per hour and it can map a system in about half the time of a traditional mapping service.
“The amount of information nVIEW 360° can capture is exceptional,” said Guner Gardenhire, GeoNav Group President. “While sitting at your desk, you can review high quality photos and video of your entire system. The ability to see in-depth, detailed information about any part of a distribution system can lead to significant cost savings for electric cooperatives.”
nVIEW 360° also allows utilities to evaluate vegetation growth, joint-use of poles and line sagging. It can also help electric utilities make informed decisions about future engineering projects and improve system restoration times after outages and natural disasters.
About NRTC
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) represents the advanced telecommunications and information technology interests of more than 1,500 rural utilities and affiliates in 48 states. Founded in 1986, NRTC provides products and services developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, such as high-speed Internet access via satellite, full service Internet access and support, advanced metering infrastructure, SmartSCADA, wireless technologies, power quality products, long distance programs, mobile phone service, IP backbone services, direct broadcast satellite service (DBS) with DIRECTV and programming for Internet protocol television (IPTV). For more information, visit www.nrtc.coop.
About Highline Electric Cooperative
Highline Electric Association is a consumer-owned cooperative serving seven counties in Northeastern Colorado and four counties in Southwestern Nebraska. The headquarters for Highline Electric is located in Holyoke, Colorado. For more information visit www.hea.coop.
About GeoNav Group
GeoNav Group International, Inc. is a C-corporation specializing in geospatial technology. GeoNav specializes in GIS project management, utility GIS implementation, Geospatial Data Quality Assurance, Ground-based spherical video and LiDAR acquisition and vehicle navigation and tracking products. Since its founding, the GeoNav Group has provided guidance to utilities in GIS geospatial technology. The company’s experience and independent straight forward approach makes it an ideal choice for electric and telephone utilities. GeoNav currently has offices in Durango, Colorado; Great Falls, Montana; Herndon, Virginia, and Charlotte, NC. With over 50 years of combined utility GIS experience, GeoNav’s staff has worked with over 150 utility companies implementing GIS and GPS technologies. For more information, call 877-943-6628 or visit www.geonavgroup.com.
Contact:
National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC)
Chris
Martin, 703-787-7288
