Location Of Power Lines Research Articles

Between the lines: Life cycle impact assessment models of collision and electrocution impacts of power lines on bird diversity in Norway

AbstractThe expansion of the electric grid is inevitable. Renewable energy is on the rise, and new transmission lines must be built to link new electricity production facilities with the local network. In addition, higher electricity demand due to electrification will lead to the growth of the distribution grid. However, further construction of power lines will affect the local biodiversity. Birds are especially vulnerable: every year, power lines cause the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds by collision and electrocution. Yet the environmental impacts of the electric grid in life cycle assessment (LCA) are limited to a few impact categories, failing to cover the area of protection for damages to ecosystem quality. We developed the first methodology to quantify power lines' collision and electrocution impacts on bird richness within LCA. We calculated the potentially disappeared fraction of species (PDF) by developing species–area relationships using high‐resolution species distribution maps, species‐specific characteristics, and the location of power lines and pylons. We applied our models to Norway, a country that aims to become a low‐emission nation by 2050. The characterization factors ranged between 8.48 × 10−16 and 5.6 × 10−15 PDF*yr/kWh for collision and 3.27 × 10−18 and 1.66 × 10−16 PDF*yr/kWh for electrocution. Integrating power lines’ impacts on biodiversity in LCA is essential, as harmonized models can estimate the effects of electricity production alongside the impacts of electricity distribution. This brings us a step further in promoting a holistic assessment of energy systems.

PLE: Power Line Extraction Algorithm for UAV-Based Power Inspection

Power line detection plays an important role in automatic power inspection systems based on the vision sensor and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The positioning of the power line is essential to assist in planning and navigation along the power line during the UAV-based power inspection process. For the along-line inspection problem of UAV power inspection, we developed a power line extraction (PLE) algorithm based on parallel line detection and straight line stretching. The proposed algorithm first extracts the image edges by the Canny algorithm and then constructs criterion functions for PLE based on power line feature information, e.g., length, width, and direction. Finally, the information on power line location, direction, width, and so on will be combined to get the exact power line regions. In order to effectively evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of the PLE algorithm, we constructed a power line dataset for UAV inspection and proposed a PLE effect evaluation method. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively reduce the influence of ground environment and other interference factors. Compared with other methods, the proposed algorithm is significantly better than the comparison methods in detecting power lines for the constructed dataset. Moreover, it is still a higher detection accuracy than the comparison methods when the power line is far away from UAV.

Residential proximity to power lines and risk of brain tumor in the general population

The effect of ELF-MF on human health is still controversial, particularly as regards long-term health effects like cancer. The literature does suggest, however, that they could be involved in the occurrence of brain tumors, although results concerning residential exposure are scarce. Our objective was to investigate the association between residential proximity to power lines and brain tumors among adults in France by using a geographical information system.CERENAT is a population-based case-control study carried out in France in 2004–2006. We used geographical data sources on power line location to create exposure scores based on distance between residence and power lines, and on the number of lines near residences. Conditional logistic regression for matched sets was used to estimate Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).We found significant associations between cumulated duration living at <50 m to high voltage lines and: i) all brain tumors (OR 2.94; 95%CI 1.28–6.75); ii) glioma (OR 4.96; 95%CI 1.56–15.77). Further investigations are needed, particularly to improve the quality and availability of geographical and technical data on power lines.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Between Power-Line Location Monitoring Equipment and High-Frequency Power-Line Communication Equipment

The parameters of signals from high-frequency power-line communication equipment and location monitoring equipment transmitted via high-voltage power lines are compared. The results of experiments on the mutual influence of this equipment performed on existing power lines are presented. It is shown that the location monitoring equipment generating pulses that are shorter by three orders of magnitude than those of the high-frequency communication equipment and are of comparable amplitude do not affect the operation of this equipment. The location pulses are reliably discriminated from the high-frequency communication signals using the averaging and spectral analysis methods. The results obtained are confirmed by the stable parallel operation of location monitoring equipment and high-frequency communication equipment for 10 years.

Community Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields in Jerusalem: A Pilot Study

ISEE-538 Objective: To map spatial distribution and hot spots for ELF and RF-MW in Jerusalem. Materials and Methods: Using maps and field surveys of high tension power lines (HTPL) (161 kV), location of cell phone antennas and transformer boxes, areas of potential risk for radiation exposure are identified in 3 Jerusalem neighborhoods. A Magnum 310 is used to measure ELF at a frequency of 40 to 310 Hz. A CA 43 Fieldmeter was used to measure RF-MW at a frequency of 0.1to 2500 MHz. Both use a 1-minute time weight. Measurements were taken at prechosen locations throughout the city, with findings mapped by GIS. Results: Readings >2 mG, (peak: 120 mG) were recorded near all 8 electrical transformer rooms. Three of these sites are in hallways with adjacent walls to residential apartments. In 1 older residential neighborhood (Beit HaKerem), the peak level in 3 residential locations close to HTPL was 1.5 mG. In contrast, 4 residential locations near newer HTPL (French Hill) readings ranged from 2.8 mG and 9.2mG. In 8 sites near cell phone antennae, intensity levels were <2 μW/cm2; however, 1 site recorded an intensity of 6.7 μW/cm2 at a distance of 20 meters from the source. Conclusions: Prior information from maps on location of power lines, transformers, and antennae helped us identify areas of potential concern for hot spots. The Benevento Statement of ICEMS has questioned the adequacy of INCRIP standards and has recommended application of precautionary strategies. The findings stated the case for notifying families living in apartments adjacent to transformers concerning hazard and potential risk and providing protective shielding. Municipal strategies for citywide exposure abatement include expanded identification of hot spots, burial of power lines, fiber optic last mile technologies, and other measures to reduce exposures to ELF and RF-MW to lowest possible levels.

The possible role of contact current in cancer risk associated with residential magnetic fields

Residential electrical wiring safety practices in the US result in the possibility of a small voltage (up to a few tenths of a volt) on appliance surfaces with respect to water pipes or other grounded surfaces. This “open circuit voltage” (VOC) will cause “contact current” to flow in a person who touches the appliance and completes an electrical circuit to ground. This paper presents data suggesting that contact current due to VOC is an exposure that may explain the reported associations of residential magnetic fields with childhood leukemia. Our analysis is based on a computer model of a 40 house (single-unit, detached dwelling) neighborhood with electrical service that is representative of US grounding practices. The analysis was motivated by recent research suggesting that the physical location of power lines in the backyard, in contrast to the street, may be relevant to a relationship of power lines with childhood leukemia. In the model, the highest magnetic field levels and VOCs were both associated with backyard lines, and the highest VOCs were also associated with long ground paths in the residence. Across the entire neighborhood, magnetic field exposure was highly correlated with VOC (r = 0.93). Dosimetric modeling indicates that, compared to a very high residential level of a uniform horizontal magnetic field (10 μT) or a vertical electric field (100 V/m), a modest level of contact current (∼ 18 μA) leads to considerably greater induced electric fields (> 1 mV/m) averaged across tissue, such as bone marrow and heart. The correlation of VOC with magnetic fields in the model, combined with the dose estimates, lead us to conclude that VOC is a potentially important exposure with respect to childhood leukemia risks associated with residential magnetic fields. These findings, nonetheless, may not apply to residential service used in several European countries or to the Scandinavian studies concerned with populations exposed to magnetic fields from overhead transmission lines. Bioelectromagnetics 21:538–553, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The possible role of contact current in cancer risk associated with residential magnetic fields

Residential electrical wiring safety practices in the US result in the possibility of a small voltage (up to a few tenths of a volt) on appliance surfaces with respect to water pipes or other grounded surfaces. This "open circuit voltage" (V(OC)) will cause "contact current" to flow in a person who touches the appliance and completes an electrical circuit to ground. This paper presents data suggesting that contact current due to V(OC) is an exposure that may explain the reported associations of residential magnetic fields with childhood leukemia. Our analysis is based on a computer model of a 40 house (single-unit, detached dwelling) neighborhood with electrical service that is representative of US grounding practices. The analysis was motivated by recent research suggesting that the physical location of power lines in the backyard, in contrast to the street, may be relevant to a relationship of power lines with childhood leukemia. In the model, the highest magnetic field levels and V(OC)s were both associated with backyard lines, and the highest V(OC)s were also associated with long ground paths in the residence. Across the entire neighborhood, magnetic field exposure was highly correlated with V(OC) (r = 0.93). Dosimetric modeling indicates that, compared to a very high residential level of a uniform horizontal magnetic field (10 mu T) or a vertical electric field (100 V/m), a modest level of contact current (approximately 18 mu A) leads to considerably greater induced electric fields (> 1 mV/m) averaged across tissue, such as bone marrow and heart. The correlation of V(OC) with magnetic fields in the model, combined with the dose estimates, lead us to conclude that V(OC) is a potentially important exposure with respect to childhood leukemia risks associated with residential magnetic fields. These findings, nonetheless, may not apply to residential service used in several European countries or to the Scandinavian studies concerned with populations exposed to magnetic fields from overhead transmission lines.

Spatial Analysis of Childhood Cancer Incidence and Electric Power Line Location in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from electric transmission and distribution lines has been suspected as a possible agent in cancer induction and promotion, especially leukemia and brain cancers in children. This paper examines spatial relationships among childhood leukemia and brain cancer incidence, cancer victim's residences, and electric power line location in Shelby County, Tennessee, using the methods of locational analysis and spatial autocorrelation. Results of these analyses implied that childhood leukemia and brain cancer incidence in Memphis and Shelby County exhibits a nonrandom spatial pattern which may be influenced by factors of urban morphology, including proximity of cancer victim's residences to electrical distribution lines. Leukemia and brain cancer mortality for the population as a whole was also shown to exist in a nonrandom, clustered pattern at the census tract level; however, it could not be conclusively established that electric power lines influenced this pattern.