Omaha Public Power District LiDAR Capture for Digital Transformation

DENVER, CO, February 2, 2023 – VeriDaaS Corporation, a leader and innovator in Hi-Definition (HD) LiDAR data acquisition and solutions is proud to support to the efforts of Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) in their digital transformation project.

OPPD has embarked on a massive 14-county LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) laser mapping program to accurately map and spatially reference all overhead electric distribution facilities. Mapping the electric facilities accurately is the first step in moving to utility-wide digital transformation. Digital transformation of a utility enhances the Geographic Information System (GIS) and promotes the use of Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) leading to more efficient reliable power.

we-do-IT Inc. (Broomfield, Colorado) project managed and ran a request for proposals process, selecting VeriDaaS Corporation (Denver, Colorado) to capture the high-density LiDAR. VeriDaaS’ LiDAR sensors are flown on fixed-wing aircraft at higher altitudes that result in larger swath widths without compromising density or accuracy, thereby lowering the cost of acquisition.

“The correction of geospatial data is an important step in OPPD’s journey to modernize our grid,” said Tami Davey, supervisor of Geospatial Systems and Drafting for OPPD. “Accurate location of our facilities will not only improve dispatching of crews and field audit functions, but also allow us to better align with other utilities and agencies in the design and coordination of our systems. VeriDaaS has collected the utility’s entire service area (approximately 5,000 square miles) at 50 points per square meter with their high-density sensors. VeriDaaS then extracted/classified the utility feature classes to support vegetation management and conflation use cases. The entire acquisition and classification were completed in two months, which included down time associated with poor weather conditions.

The high-density LiDAR data provides the ability to extract transmission and distribution features across very large areas of a service territory which supports a wide range of use cases for utility customers. The image below is a sample of the LiDAR data that has been color-classified by elevation.

In summary, the modern utility uses data like LiDAR to better manage the grid. The benefits include enhanced efficiency (better use of navigation to electric facilities during outages), improved safety (identify trees near the power lines or low sagging conductor), asset location accuracy for overlying on base maps and more.

About VeriDaaS

At VeriDaaS, we're building the most comprehensive geospatial data library ever created, bringing a full spectrum of geospatial solutions, from data acquisition to GeoIntelligence analytics, to market. VeriDaaS’ highly accurate datasets and derivative products are curated and supported by an expert team and best-in-class IT infrastructure, resulting in some of the highest quality and most easily accessible products and solutions on the market today. We’re providing deeper insight for greater results. VeriDaaS’ purpose is to reduce the cost of data while expanding accessibility and functionality, satisfying the needs of end users across a wide range of new and emerging markets.