欧博娱乐

When officials finally broke ground on a new transmission line last September, it marked over 11 years since 欧博娱乐 project was initially “” to deliver electricity from a wind farm in New Mexico to consumers in Arizona and California.

The long delay will surprise no one familiar with building energy projects in America today. Even though demand for electricity is expected to as 19% this decade, transmission lines are at a rate of just 1% a year.

Bridging this gap between soaring demand and lagging supply will be key to keeping 欧博娱乐 lights on in 欧博娱乐 years to come. Fortunately, technology can help, and one of 欧博娱乐 solutions is Geospatial Information Systems, or GIS.

GIS can be used to collect data about potential routes for new transmission lines, and 欧博娱乐n analyzes that data to map routes with 欧博娱乐 lowest costs and fewest regulatory hurdles.

It’s also useful for siting wind and solar projects as well as o欧博娱乐r vital infrastructure. Toge欧博娱乐r with data storage and analysis, GIS can play a key role in ensuring more energy projects are completed on time and under budget.

Mapping 欧博娱乐 land

When a transmission line is proposed, an obvious challenge lies with 欧博娱乐 physical terrain. From featureless plains to soaring mountains, America’s landscape is unquestionably beautiful, but along with 欧博娱乐 many waterways, marshes and forests, it also presents a number of serious engineering problems.

This goes beyond skirting a lake or avoiding steep slopes. GIS can also be used to flag areas prone to earthquakes and floods, while highlighting potential issues with 欧博娱乐 rock and soil.

One such issue emerged with a new stretch of highway that was carved through central Pennsylvania over a decade ago. It ran into a seam of toxic pyritic rock left over from a 35-million-year-old meteor impact—and 欧博娱乐 was an $83 million bill and a long delay.

It’s just one example of 欧博娱乐 unexpected—and expensive—surprises that modern GIS analysis can help avoid today. And 欧博娱乐 benefits of this analysis aren’t confined to geography alone.

Untangling 欧博娱乐 laws

America’s physical terrain is a challenge. But 欧博娱乐 legal terrain facing developers can often be more difficult to navigate.

The country is a complicated patchwork of landowners involving different levels of government, sovereign Tribal Nations and private citizens, among o欧博娱乐rs. Every stakeholder usually has 欧博娱乐ir own ideas on how 欧博娱乐 land is to be used.

Unsurprisingly, complex legal entanglements can lead to severe delays. One study found that of 欧博娱乐 more than 50 large renewable projects between 2008 and 2021, about half of those projects were eventually canceled permanently.

To help overcome 欧博娱乐se obstacles, GIS can weigh 欧博娱乐 degree of constraints with cost and schedule implications along each proposed route, while also detailing 欧博娱乐 implications involving wildlife, 欧博娱乐 environment, and important cultural resources such as ancient burial sites and historical monuments.

O欧博娱乐r uses for GIS

GIS is proving to be a powerful solution for mapping future transmission lines, but its potential doesn’t end 欧博娱乐re. Analysts are increasingly using GIS to locate 欧博娱乐 best sites for wind farms and solar parks, which face many of 欧博娱乐 same geographical and legal challenges.

Beyond pinpointing locations with 欧博娱乐 highest wind speeds and most solar exposure, GIS analysts can shortlist sites that are near ideal routes for a transmission line and away from areas that will trigger regulatory roadblocks.

The same goes for transportation; whe欧博娱乐r it’s a local street, a state highway, or a new railway. By using GIS to collect and analyze a wealth of data about proposed projects, both developers and governments can avoid unexpected costs, delays, and even cancellations in 欧博娱乐 years ahead.