When siting a transmission line, electric utilities must consider many factors, including protecting the natural environment, effects on the community, engineering challenges, cost efficiency, and government regulations. In 2004, Quantum Spatial partnered with the Electric Power Research Institute to develop a comprehensive siting methodology that using spatial data as well as input from experts, scholars, and stakeholders to achieve the best results.
Our model has been used for more than 200 projects across the country and internationally. Each project begins with a calibration workshop where professionals and community members give input that defines criteria for a specific siting project. The siting analysis considers environmental factors such as floodplain areas, streams, wetlands, public lands, and wildlife habitat as well as community concerns such as proximity to buildings, building density, proposed developments, property lines, and land use. Engineering factors like terrain slope, agricultural development, and location of existing utility infrastructure are also included in our analysis. The resulting statistics are field-checked and further analytics are employed to determine the best possible siting scenario.
To learn more watch the video, visit our electrical utility page, or contact us!