Satellites aid EWEB's tree trimming program

EUGENE: The Eugene Water & Electric Board’s (EWEB’s) tree-trimming efforts just got smarter and more efficient.

To help prevent tree-related outages, EW EB crews trim vegetation on more than 500 miles of overhead power lines each year. But it’s important to determine which sections of power lines need attention the most.

EWEB is using smart technology to solve this problem. By integrating advanced analytics and up-to-date satellite imagery, EWEB can proactively address high-risk areas and reduce the risk of tree-related power outages to enhance overall grid reliability.

EWEB’s new forestry analytics software, Overstory, uses 3D satellite imagery of tree canopies to detect tree height, health, and species and combines that with local information – including data about EWEB’s poles and lines, terrain, and slope maps – to quickly identify areas that could benefit from additional attention.

Last year, smart software analyzed vegetation across 180 miles of line in more densely vegetated areas and found that EWEB’s current vegetation management practices are highly effective at maintaining clearance.

Many of EWEB’s power lines run through areas that are difficult to access using conventional means and equipment, making it hard to assess whether they need attention. With Overstory’s remote sensing technology, EWEB can efficiently analyze terrain that’s difficult to inspect visually and target high-risk tree-trimming areas.

Customers see EWEB’s urban power lines every day, but many power lines also run across rough terrain in the McKenzie Valley. This technology gives EWEB a better view of those power lines in remote areas, allowing the customer-owned utility to better determine when to send vegetation management crews in for maintenance.

The data in the software are continually updated with new satellite imagery and other inputs, providing a bird’s eye view of the changing landscape. The tool recently incorporated satellite imagery from earlier this year that reflected the severe damage caused by the January ice storm. This new data will be used to inform the next round of planning for tree trimming.

“Better data allows us to make better decisions. Safety is always our top priority, and with this tool, we’re able to improve reliability and keep rates low at the same time, too,” said Jeannine Parisi, EWEB’s resiliency program manager. “Ultimately, investing in this tool today will make us more resilient tomorrow.”

In 2024, EWEB plans to analyze about 425 miles of line of the electric system with smart software.