About ROAMES
ROAMES represents a paradigm shift in vegetation and infrastructure management.
The world leading ROAMES technology, developed by Ergon Energy and its partner organisations, allows the creation of precise, 3D geo-spatial representations of assets such as power networks.
ROAMES - Remote Observation Automated Modelling Economic Simulation - comprises specially modified aircraft fitted with sensors that include photographic and LiDAR distance measurement equipment.
The sensors capture large volumes of data which are processed to enable reliable and precise measurement of Ergon Energy’s electricity network and surrounding objects such as buildings, terrain and vegetation.
The LiDAR data, which is gathered as light pulses, are processed into a precise ‘virtual’ world, capable of deeper analysis and forecasting of needs and trends.
As a vegetation and asset management tool, ROAMES is a fundamental part of Ergon Energy’s core business. It will lead to reduced costs, as well as increased safety and reliability of electricity supply.
The sheer size of Ergon Energy’s distribution area, which covers 97 per cent of Queensland and 150,000 kilometres of network, was an important motivation for finding smarter ways of managing the assets and the surrounding environment.
In 2007, Ergon Energy began working with its partners to find a better way. We are proud to acknowledge the great contribution made by:
- Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRC SI)
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation (ARCAA)
- Seabird Aviation
- Trimble
- Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM)
ROAMES also acknowledges the support of the Queensland Government and looks forward to continuing to work closely with our partners into the future.
Benefits
Ergon Energy manages an $8.7 billion asset base across regional and rural Queensland and serves 680,000 customers spread over approximately one million square kilometres.
Ergon Energy’s network is located in areas ranging from dry, western areas of Queensland to the tropical north. The regions present different growth patterns and that means varying vegetation control schedules need to be used to plan for and control the surrounding vegetation.
The objective of ROAMES is to achieve even greater efficiencies in managing and maintaining the network. ROAMES is enabling an accurate and detailed ‘virtual world’ in which the network and the environment around it can be monitored, analysed and used as a basis for maintenance and expansion planning.
Processed ROAMES data means Ergon Energy can improve its vegetation management activities, reduce the impact of the environment on the network and thereby minimise the number of outages caused by vegetation.
Each year Ergon Energy spends $80 million to minimise vegetation that would otherwise pose a risk to the network or community safety. By using data from ROAMES to generate 3D computer models, Ergon Energy expects to save up to $44 million over five years.
With tens of millions of trees and shrubs estimated to be growing in the corridor surrounding the network, the ROAMES vegetation management capability will enable greater efficiencies in network management.
Vegetation Management is the inaugural ROAMES service to be integrated into Ergon Energy. ROAMES will complete an annual survey of the network, which has the largest distribution footprint in Australia – previously this was completed every three years.
Vegetation treatment profiles will be applied to the 3D models and will result in the identification and classification of vegetation encroaching on the network.
Future technology applications
Future applications for the technology could deliver whole-of-government cost savings and broader community benefits – from economic modelling to the development of precision GPS. Infrastructure 3D modelling is a core capability within the ROAMES program, which is set to capture data from all urban areas within Ergon Energy’s distribution area.
Ergon Energy is currently working with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) on opportunities to use ROAMES imagery to maintain an accurate cadastre, or database of property boundaries.
Find out more
The 3D spatial mapping program and aircraft are on display at the LGAQ conference in October. Find out more by visiting the ROAMES information area in Booth 6 and to see the aircraft on display in the plenary room or email us at enquiries@roames.com.au.
