Abstract
(1) Background: The visual impact of artificial infrastructures on natural landscapes generates a common negative perception in public opinion. However, as in the case of electrical energy, the increasing demand for power supply and its need for capillary distribution require the installation of new lines, commonly overhead lines with tall tower-like pylons. In most countries, this situation is faced with many attempts of solutions, as participatory workshops and design contests. Nevertheless, the solutions are usually not further developed into real structures due to many limitations (e.g., regulatory, safety, lack of feasibility). (2) Methods: This paper presents a systematic method for the design of tower-like pylons (e.g., electric ones) able to improve the visual quality on the landscape areas in which they will be installed. The method identifies a design strategy that advantageously exploits the inevitable visual impact of pylons on the landscape by integrating the symbolic morphology and the topologically optimized pylon structure from the earliest design phases. (3) Results: The resulting structure is designed in three steps. First, a concept is morphologically developed by integrating symbolic references to the landscape, environment, or cultural society. Second, the concept is topologically optimized, by reducing the structural weight and its visual impact, and respecting regulatory requirements. Third, the resulting structure is engineered and embodied into an industrially feasible layout. (4) Conclusions: The method is able to develop an original, brand new tower-like pylon integrating all the types of requirements, such as regulatory, industrial feasibility, and social components’ needs. The resulting electricity pylon presents an enhanced visual quality according to the citizens’ feedback.
Highlights
Introduction and Related WorksHigh-voltage power lines (HVPLs) are artificial structures with many controversial effects
This paper presents a systematic method for the morphological design of electricity pylons and their Topology Optimization (TO), which takes into account all the sources of requirements, such as regulatory, industrial feasibility, and social components, as measures to improve the visual impact quality, including landscape, cultural, and environmental symbolism
In order to reduce the visual disamenity of overhead electricity transmission lines, the proposed method starts from the early stages of the design process, in accordance with the main guidelines and suggestions coming from the literature review, involving local residents in the decision-making process, addressing natural, cultural, and historical references that soften the citizens’
Summary
High-voltage power lines (HVPLs) are artificial structures with many controversial effects. They are facilities that enhance human activity by responding to the increasing demand for power supply and capillary distribution as well as serving the widespread development of renewable energy sources. They are huge and massive human artefacts with many potential consequences on people’s health and safety, and affecting the natural landscape. The scope of this research activity is focused on the visual impact of these facilities on the landscape, with consequences for society, tourism, and ecology. The element having the greatest visual impact for HVPLs is the pylon, with a disrupting effect on the aesthetics and the perception of natural and rural landscapes. Navrud et al [5] quantified that in Norway the costs of underground cables of higher voltage lines are up to 8–10 times greater than the costs of overhead lines; it is difficult for municipalities to bear an additional cost compared to overhead lines
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