Looking for easiest way to measure overhead power line heights

Total Station none prism mode
Terrestrial scanning
Drone 3d mapping

I. Ben Havin, post: 431166, member: 6834 wrote: Looking for ideas on quick ways to obtain power transmission wire heights.

Hit the button on your scanner...

TS prism less
When wind is moving lines too much to shoot measure a distance from crossing, get HI and measure vertical angle up to line.

I've used a reflectorless TS (SET4) for years to shoot conductor elevations.

I'm not sure kind of project you're working on, but all power-power crossings I locate for my power company clients usually also include locating the attachment points and heights at each end of the conductor, a low-wire elevation (bottom of the sag, if determinable) and the outside air temperature at the time of the measurement.

I'm assuming your don't have a scanner or reflector-less ability or this would be a non-issue. If that is the case intersect 2 HA's for distance, record both ZA's, average them and pull put the calculator or CAD flavor of your choosing and inverse. Points Paden brought up are something to think about.

paden cash, post: 431173, member: 20 wrote: I've used a reflectorless TS (SET4) for years to shoot conductor elevations.

I'm not sure kind of project you're working on, but all power-power crossings I locate for my power company clients usually also include locating the attachment points and heights at each end of the conductor, a low-wire elevation (bottom of the sag, if determinable) and the outside air temperature at the time of the measurement.

Same here. Topcon GTP 3005. I've mapped as much as a mile and a half an hour reflectorlessly, covering a half mile per setup. Works great for wire heights.

Use to do vertical offsets. That works good too. Just need a rodman under the conductor.

BK9196, post: 431181, member: 12217 wrote: I'm assuming your don't have a scanner or reflector-less ability or this would be a non-issue. If that is the case intersect 2 HA's for distance, record both ZA's, average them and pull put the calculator or CAD flavor of your choosing and inverse. Points Paden brought up are something to think about.

Intersecting 2 HA at the low point can be a problem.

Position the insultaors on the poles by intersection. Then, measure a single HA/VA to to the low point in the sag of the power line. The low point is a brg/brg intersection between the insulators.

Jules J., post: 431182, member: 444 wrote: ...Use to do vertical offsets. That works good too. Just need a rodman under the conductor.

Before I got the Leica SET4 130R3 I used a Nikon. Although it wasn't reflectorless, if you took a shot on the reflector then moved the barrel up to sight the conductor, the displayed elevation would also change. This all happened BEFORE you hit the record button. It made it really slick and easy to get heights on objects you couldn't get to. You just had to make sure you were DIRECTLY underneath them.

You also have to be very careful of the rod height that was stored in the TS....;)

I was disappointed the Leica did not work the same way as the Nikon. Gawd those were good guns.

paden cash, post: 431189, member: 20 wrote: Before I got the Leica SET4 130R3 I used a Nikon. Although it wasn't reflectorless, if you took a shot on the reflector then moved the barrel up to sight the conductor, the displayed elevation would also change. This all happened BEFORE you hit the record button. It made it really slick and easy to get heights on objects you couldn't get to. You just had to make sure you were DIRECTLY underneath them.

You also have to be very careful of the rod height that was stored in the TS....;)

I was disappointed the Leica did not work the same way as the Nikon. Gawd those were good guns.

A good chainman helps in this situation I'd imagine.

If you only need wire heights above ground and not location, then a disto laser may work.

leegreen, post: 431167, member: 2332 wrote: Total Station none prism mode
Terrestrial scanning
Drone 3d mapping

Mobile mapper

Depending on tolerance, you may have some aerial lidar available that will be close enough. It would certainly help ID the low points for reflectorless shots.

I guess a good ol' fashion wire height rod is too low tech for most easy stuff? Otherwise my go-to is the TS in prismless mode. Push comes to shove I'll just book the zenith and S.D. from my setup and figure it out back in the survey cave.

Williwaw, post: 431196, member: 7066 wrote: I guess a good ol' fashion wire height rod is too low tech for most easy stuff? Otherwise my go-to is the TS in prismless mode. Push comes to shove I'll just book the zenith and S.D. from my setup and figure it out back in the survey cave.

Height rods are good for backyards and county back roads (where I prefer working). Some of the stuff I measure is Interstate highway and in the neighborhood of 40 to 50 feet in the air.

But that's really a good thing. I mean, who's gonna tell you you're wrong? 😉

We shoot a distance to pole with prism, gun vertical at 90' and read rod and double angle to wire and then do the math.. Pretty easy and fast with right eyeman(person)

Vertical angle offset

The Leica TS16i is great for this. The imaging capabilities make it easy to aim at the lines. Just put it on reflectorless and continuous mode. This way even if the line is bouncing in the wind, you are sure to get it. And with Leica's data overlay on the live image, you know you got the shot in the right place.

As others have said, either shoot directly with reflectorless, or shoot to the rod man and turn the angle up.

Larry Scott, post: 431187, member: 8766 wrote: Intersecting 2 HA at the low point can be a problem.

Position the insultaors on the poles by intersection. Then, measure a single HA/VA to to the low point in the sag of the power line. The low point is a brg/brg intersection between the insulators.

This is the most accurate and reliable way unless you are willing to rely on the reflectorless readings for the cable/
I do the maths using a spreadsheet and it will calc the height at any point with an "angles only" reading.
The HA gives you the E and N of intersection with the line between the insulators. The HD follows by trig and thus the VA gives you the VD.
There are onboard applications that wiil do it if you need an answer in the field.

If you don't have a reflectorless EDM then the insulators will need to be measured by intersection from 2 stations.

paden cash, post: 431173, member: 20 wrote: I've used a reflectorless TS (SET4) for years to shoot conductor elevations.

I'm not sure kind of project you're working on, but all power-power crossings I locate for my power company clients usually also include locating the attachment points and heights at each end of the conductor, a low-wire elevation (bottom of the sag, if determinable) and the outside air temperature at the time of the measurement.

I have also had to add wind speed and direction to this deliverable