HELICOPTER AERIAL LIDAR INSPECTIONS
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Per Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements, the helicopter will only be flying in open air space. That means it will fly above 300m in urban areas, and above 150m in rural areas.
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Our survey work will not impact your privacy. We are not taking photos, we are only focusing the LIDAR over a narrow swathe where it will pick up the power lines and nearby trees.
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Aethon Aerial Solutions is the LiDAR company, and Marlborough Helicopters are the helicopter company.
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No there are no health risks, the laser light is just a light beam.
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This is a one-off exercise, although there may be further data collection in the future, we intend to keep the data updated using a drone flying in much smaller localised parts of the network.
What does LiDAR imagery look like?
As part of its maintenance program Marlborough Lines Limited (MLL) carries out regular inspections of its poles and equipment to check for defects, make sure that trees are clear of lines, and plan replacement programs. The inspections are carried out both from the ground and the air, usually with a helicopter,
but increasingly with UAVs or drones.
As a new initiative, MLL is currently planning to carry out a LiDAR inspection of the network. LiDAR is an acronym for ‘Light Detection and Ranging’. It is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light beams to measure precise distances and to accurately map objects in its path. The data from the LiDAR is used to create a 3D model that we use for a multitude of things including assessing vegetation clearance, checking for low power lines and carrying out design work for new lines.
The LiDAR inspection will be carried out using a LiDAR device attached to a helicopter. The whole network will be covered for the first collection of LiDAR data, and thereafter it is intended that a drone will be used whenever the collection of further data is necessary.
We have planned the exercise to create as little disruption as possible and we anticipate that because of the height the helicopter will be operating at there should not be any issues. We’ve avoided calving and lambing seasons and we will also have a spotter in the front seat of the helicopter to look out for livestock, especially horses. If your horse paddock is below powerlines, it might be appropriate to move the horses over the period MLL will be flying. The dates will be advertised. If you would like to be emailed the dates, please fill in the enquiry form with the address of the horse paddock, your name & contact details, or if you have a question please fill out the form.
