Abstract
The construction of new high voltage overhead power lines (HVOPLs) has become a controversial issue for electricity companies due to social opposition. Citizens are concerned about how these power lines may have an impact on their lives, basically caused by their effects on health and safety. Visual impact is one of the most easily perceived. Although there are several published works that deal with the assessment of the visual impact produced by HVOPLs, no methodology has been proposed to assess this impact from an objective perspective. This work presents an original methodology which helps to identify the optimal routes for a new HVOPL under an objective observability criterion, enabling the selection of those with the lowest visibility in a zone. The application of the proposed methodology achieves a set of routes that links new HVOPL origin and destination points creating a corridor which includes all possible routes with an observability of its towers under a threshold limit. This methodology is illustrated by a real-life use corresponding to the selection of the route with least observability for a new power line in La Rioja (Spain). The results obtained may help to achieve a consensus between key stakeholders since it is focused on the specific issues of the planned HVOPL and its observability from an objective perspective.
Highlights
Electric energy is an essential component in present societies
The variable used as cost is the Global Potential Observation Hours (GPOH), which corresponds to the cumulative value of the number of hours in a mean day in which any tower of the new high voltage overhead power lines (HVOPLs) can be viewed by all the possible observers
The construction of new HVOPLs is essential to be provided with a reliable electric power supply and facilitate the integration of power plants based on renewable energies
Summary
Electric energy is an essential component in present societies. An inexpensive and reliable electrical supply is a precondition for a competitive economy and, an important basis for our technological society. Developed the Overhead Electric Transmission Line Siting Methodology [30] that deals with visual impact creating a “visual exposure map”, which is a grid-based map (raster map) where each cell value represents the number of times a location is seen from a set of viewer locations (mainly houses or roads). This article presents a new methodology for objectively determining possible routes for a new HVOPL with a defined limit for the visibility or observability of its towers. This methodology is based on GIS and allows to obtain a map to identify visual corridors.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
