Power Line Patrol | Geosun GS-100C+ UAV LiDAR Scanning System Application

Application Case: UAV LiDAR System GS-100C+

for 35kV Power Line Patrol

Project Background

This project focused on the aerial inspection and mapping of a 35kV overhead power line corridor. The inspection was conducted using the Geosun GS-100C+ UAV LiDAR system, deployed at a flight altitude 20 meters above the power line towers and 15 meters laterally offset to capture full line geometry and surroundings.

The objective was to efficiently collect accurate 3D data for condition assessment of the power line infrastructure, identify vegetation encroachment, and support digital maintenance workflows.

System Configuration

Equipment Deployed:
Geosun GS-100C+ UAV LiDAR system integrated with a 26MP RGB camera.

Sensor Core:
Livox Avia LiDAR sensor – offering a 70° circular field of view and up to 190-meter detection range.

Platform:
Multi-rotor UAV (e.g., DJI Matrice 300 RTK) for stable low-altitude flight in power corridor environments.

Flight and Data Acquisition Parameters

• Flight Height: 20 meters above pole/tower height

• Horizontal Offset: 15 meters from the power line

• Flight Speed: ~6 m/s (optimized for corridor scanning)

• Scan Mode: Single-path forward corridor mapping

• Data Types Collected: LiDAR point cloud (triple echo), high-resolution RGB images

Data Quality and Accuracy

The GS-100C+ provided dense and clean point cloud data even under mixed vegetation and low-reflectivity conditions. Vertical accuracy reached better than 10 cm at operational altitude. The RGB imagery enabled colorized point cloud generation and visual asset inspection.

The system captured the full structure of wires, poles, insulators, and surrounding vegetation. No manual re-surveying was required due to the high confidence in data completeness and precision.

Deliverables and Insights

• 3D Corridor Model: Complete digital twin of the transmission line

• Sag and Clearance Analysis: Detection of low-hanging spans and vegetation risk

• Pole Deformation Monitoring: Identified 7 towers with over 2° tilt

• Visual Inspection Images: Linked to 3D coordinates for reporting and maintenance tagging

• Processing Time: Full area processed within 24 hours using Geosun’s software suite

Client Feedback

“The GS-100C+ allowed us to safely inspect the full corridor with minimal manpower and excellent accuracy. We especially valued the combination of LiDAR geometry and RGB visuals for fast risk identification.”
— Power Line Project Engineer, [Client Organization]

Conclusion

This project demonstrates the GS-100C+ as a powerful, compact UAV LiDAR system tailored for medium-voltage power line patrol. It combines reliable 3D mapping capability, efficient data acquisition, and fast processing, making it an ideal solution for utilities seeking to modernize inspection workflows while enhancing safety and operational visibility.

The performance is as following

The images and point clouds match well