Advanced LiDAR Technology Being Used to Enhance Vegetation Management Across FirstEnergy's Footprint
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is deploying advanced LiDAR technology to manage vegetation along 7,100 miles of high-voltage power lines across its service area. The helicopter-based laser scanning system creates detailed 3D maps of terrain, power lines, and vegetation, enabling proactive identification of potential hazards. This initiative, running through fall 2025, has already helped inspect over 100,000 miles of transmission lines since 2016, reducing manual patrols by up to 50%.
The program is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's grid evolution initiative with planned investments of $28 billion between 2025-2029. The technology enhancement supports vegetation management across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, serving over six million customers while improving service reliability and operational efficiency.
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) sta utilizzando una tecnologia avanzata di LiDAR per gestire la vegetazione lungo 7.100 miglia di linee elettriche ad alta tensione nel suo territorio di servizio. Il sistema di scansione laser montato su elicottero crea mappe 3D dettagliate del terreno, delle linee elettriche e della vegetazione, permettendo l'identificazione preventiva di potenziali rischi. Questa iniziativa, attiva fino all'autunno 2025, ha già permesso di ispezionare oltre 100.000 miglia di linee di trasmissione dal 2016, riducendo fino al 50% le ispezioni manuali.
Il programma fa parte di Energize365, l'iniziativa di evoluzione della rete di FirstEnergy con investimenti previsti di 28 miliardi di dollari tra il 2025 e il 2029. Il miglioramento tecnologico supporta la gestione della vegetazione in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia e Virginia, servendo oltre sei milioni di clienti e migliorando l'affidabilità del servizio e l'efficienza operativa.
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) está implementando tecnología avanzada de LiDAR para gestionar la vegetación a lo largo de 7,100 millas de líneas eléctricas de alta tensión en su área de servicio. El sistema de escaneo láser montado en helicóptero crea mapas 3D detallados del terreno, las líneas eléctricas y la vegetación, permitiendo la identificación proactiva de posibles peligros. Esta iniciativa, que se extiende hasta el otoño de 2025, ya ha ayudado a inspeccionar más de 100,000 millas de líneas de transmisión desde 2016, reduciendo las patrullas manuales hasta en un 50 %.
El programa forma parte de Energize365, la iniciativa de evolución de la red de FirstEnergy con inversiones planeadas de 28 mil millones de dólares entre 2025 y 2029. La mejora tecnológica apoya la gestión de la vegetación en Ohio, Pensilvania, Nueva Jersey, Maryland, Virginia Occidental y Virginia, atendiendo a más de seis millones de clientes y mejorando la confiabilidad del servicio y la eficiencia operativa.
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE)는 서비스 지역 내 7,100마일에 달하는 고전압 전력선의 식생 관리를 위해 첨단 LiDAR 기술을 도입하고 있습니다. 헬리콥터 기반 레이저 스캐닝 시스템은 지형, 전력선 및 식생의 상세한 3D 지도를 생성하여 잠재적 위험을 사전에 식별할 수 있게 합니다. 2025년 가을까지 진행되는 이 사업은 2016년부터 10만 마일 이상의 송전선을 검사하는 데 도움을 주었으며, 수동 순찰을 최대 50%까지 줄였습니다.
이 프로그램은 FirstEnergy의 그리드 진화 이니셔티브인 Energize365의 일부로, 2025년부터 2029년까지 280억 달러의 투자가 계획되어 있습니다. 이 기술 향상은 오하이오, 펜실베이니아, 뉴저지, 메릴랜드, 웨스트버지니아, 버지니아 지역의 식생 관리를 지원하며, 600만 명 이상의 고객에게 서비스를 제공하면서 서비스 신뢰성과 운영 효율성을 향상시킵니다.
FirstEnergy (NYSE : FE) déploie une technologie avancée de LiDAR pour gérer la végétation le long de 7 100 miles de lignes haute tension dans sa zone de service. Le système de balayage laser monté sur hélicoptère crée des cartes 3D détaillées du terrain, des lignes électriques et de la végétation, permettant une identification proactive des dangers potentiels. Cette initiative, qui se poursuit jusqu'à l'automne 2025, a déjà permis d'inspecter plus de 100 000 miles de lignes de transmission depuis 2016, réduisant les patrouilles manuelles jusqu'à 50 %.
Le programme fait partie de Energize365, l'initiative d'évolution du réseau de FirstEnergy avec des investissements prévus de 28 milliards de dollars entre 2025 et 2029. Cette amélioration technologique soutient la gestion de la végétation dans l'Ohio, la Pennsylvanie, le New Jersey, le Maryland, la Virginie-Occidentale et la Virginie, desservant plus de six millions de clients tout en améliorant la fiabilité du service et l'efficacité opérationnelle.
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) setzt fortschrittliche LiDAR-Technologie ein, um die Vegetation entlang von 7.100 Meilen Hochspannungsleitungen in seinem Versorgungsgebiet zu verwalten. Das helikopterbasierte Laserscanning-System erstellt detaillierte 3D-Karten von Gelände, Stromleitungen und Vegetation, wodurch potenzielle Gefahren proaktiv erkannt werden können. Diese Initiative, die bis Herbst 2025 läuft, hat seit 2016 bereits über 100.000 Meilen Übertragungsleitungen inspiziert und die manuellen Kontrollen um bis zu 50 % reduziert.
Das Programm ist Teil von Energize365, FirstEnergys Initiative zur Weiterentwicklung des Stromnetzes mit geplanten Investitionen von 28 Milliarden US-Dollar zwischen 2025 und 2029. Die technologische Verbesserung unterstützt das Vegetationsmanagement in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia und Virginia, versorgt über sechs Millionen Kunden und verbessert die Zuverlässigkeit des Services sowie die operative Effizienz.
- LiDAR technology has reduced manual patrols and surveillance flights by 50%, improving operational efficiency
- Part of $28 billion investment plan (2025-2029) for grid modernization
- Technology enhances accuracy and reduces field risks while improving cross-department collaboration
- Proactive identification of potential hazards helps prevent power outages and improve service reliability
- None.
Insights
FirstEnergy's LiDAR technology deployment improves grid reliability while supporting their $28 billion infrastructure modernization program.
FirstEnergy's implementation of LiDAR technology for vegetation management represents a strategic operational enhancement that addresses a critical reliability challenge. Vegetation-related outages are among the leading causes of power disruptions across utility networks, and this technology provides a data-driven approach to preventative maintenance.
The scale of this implementation is substantial—covering 7,100 miles of high-voltage lines across six states. Since its 2016 pilot, FirstEnergy has inspected over 100,000 miles of transmission lines using this technology, demonstrating a sustained commitment to this approach. The company reports a 50% reduction in manual patrol requirements, which translates to meaningful operational cost savings while improving safety by reducing workforce exposure to hazardous conditions.
Most significantly, this initiative is part of FirstEnergy's Energize365 program, representing a
The deployment demonstrates how FirstEnergy is balancing near-term reliability improvements with long-term grid modernization—addressing immediate maintenance challenges while building infrastructure capacity for future load growth and changing energy consumption patterns across their six-million customer footprint.
LiDAR inspections are conducted using helicopters equipped with laser-based sensors that scan the landscape from above. As the aircraft flies along the power line corridors, the system emits rapid laser pulses toward the ground and surrounding objects. These pulses bounce back to the sensor, providing detailed distance measurements that are used to create a highly accurate, 3D map of the terrain, power lines and nearby vegetation.
This process allows FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries to proactively identify trees and other vegetation that may be encroaching on power lines – data that's often difficult or dangerous to collect using traditional foot patrols. The LiDAR patrols create a more efficient way to review company rights-of-way. Once collected, the LiDAR data is analyzed to highlight areas that require maintenance, ensuring trees are trimmed before they can pose a threat to service reliability, particularly during severe weather.
Ted Allan, Director of Vegetation Management at FirstEnergy: "Maintaining vegetation clearances is critical to providing safe, reliable electricity to the more than six million customers we serve from northwest
FirstEnergy first piloted LiDAR in 2016 and has since used it to inspect more than 100,000 miles of transmission lines. The technology has reduced the need for manual patrols and surveillance flights by up to
As these inspections are completed, the associated vegetation work will be completed on transmission line corridors in
This work supports Energize365, a multi-year grid evolution program focused on transmission and distribution investments that will deliver the power FirstEnergy's customers depend on today while also meeting the challenges of tomorrow. With planned investments of
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
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