ROUTING OF T.

L:
Transmission line routing requires a thorough investigation and study of
several different alternate routes to assure that the most practical route is selected, taking
into consideration the environmental criteria, cost of construction, land use, impact to
public, maintenance and engineering considerations
To select and identify environmentally acceptable transmission line routes, it is necessary
to identify all requirements imposed by State and Federal legislation. Environmental
considerations are generally outlined in RUS Bulletin 1794A-601, “Guide for Preparing
Environmental Reports for Electric Projects That Require Environmental Assessments.”
State public utility commissions and departments of natural resources may also designate
avoidance and exclusion areas which have to be considered in the routing process..

Maps are developed in order to identify avoidance and exclusion areas and other
requirementswhich might impinge on the line route. Ideally, all physical and
environmental considerations should be plotted on one map so this information can be
used for route evaluation. However, when there are a large number of areas to be
identified or many relevant environmental concerns, more than one map may have to be
prepared for clarity. The number of maps engineers need to refer to in order to analyze
routing alternatives should be kept to a minimum…..

Typical physical, biological and human environmental routing considerations are listed in
Table 3-1. The order in which considerations are listed is not intended to imply any
priority. In specific situations, environmental concerns other than those listed may be
relevant. Suggested sources for such information are also included in the table.

For large projects, photogrammetry is contributing substantially to route selection and

design of lines. Preliminary corridor location is improved when high altitude aerial
photographs or satellite imagery are used to rapidly and accurately inventory existing
land use. Once the preferred and alternative corridors have been selected, the engineer
should consult USGS maps, county soil maps, and plat and road maps in order to produce
small scale maps to be used to identify additional obstructions and considerations for the
preferred transmission line

On smaller projects, the line lengths are often short and high altitude photograph and
satellite imagery offer fewer benefits. For such projects, engineers should seek existing
aerial photographs. Sources for such photographs include county planning agencies,
pipeline companies, county highway departments, and land development corporations. A
preliminary field survey should also be made to locate possible new features which do
not appear on USGS maps or aerial photographs…..

As computer information systems become less expensive and easier to use, electric
transmission utilities are using Geographic Information Systems(GIS) to automate the
route selection process. GIS technology enables users to easily consolidate maps and
attribute information from various
sources and to efficiently analyze what has been collected. When used by routing experts,
automated computer processes help standardize the route evaluation and selection
process, promote objective quantitative analysis and help users select defendable routes.
GIS tools have proven very beneficial to utilities whose goals are to minimize impact on
people and the natural environment while selecting a constructible, maintainable and cost
effective route.

Final route selection, whether for a large or small project, is a matter of judgment and
requires sound evaluation of divergent requirements, including costs of easements, cost
of clearing, and ease of maintenance as well as the effect a line may have on the
environment. Public relations and public input are necessary in the corridor selection and
preliminary survey stages…..

LINE ROUTING CONSIDERATIONS

 Physical Source

• Highways NHA(National highway authority) maps

• Streams,rivers and lakes
• Railroads
• Airstrips
• Topography ( major ridge lines ,floodplains
etc)
• Transmission lines & distribution lines
• Pipelines,(water, gas)
ICID(International commission on irrigation and
drainage) maps
Pakistan railway dept maps
CAA(Civil aviation authority of pakaistan) maps,
Pakistan flood broadcast dept maps
NTDC ,WAPDA maps
SNGP(Sui northern gas pipelines) , SSGP(Sui southern
gas pipelines) maps ans WASA(Water and sanitation
agency) maps

• Occupied buildings Local tax maps, land use maps, local GIS maps
Biological Source
• Woodlands Forestary dept of Pakistan maps
• Waterfowl, wildlife refuges areas, WWF(World wildlife federation) reports
endangered Species & critical habitat areas

Human environmental Source

• Range land Satellite mapping, country planning agencies, state soil
• Cropland Conservation service
• Urban development
• Industrial development
• Mining areas Mining bureau, bureau of land management
NRCS(National resources conservation service)
• Recreation areas
• National parks

CRITERIA FOR ROUTE SELECTION:

The route of a transmission line is decided from the following main considerations

a) Shortest length, hence least capital cost.

b) Ease during construction and ease in maintenance of the line (route near roads for
easy approach & accessibility).
c) Requirement of future loads (sub stations) near the proposed route so that the line
can be easily connected.
d) Required separation distance from parallel communication lines (P&T, Railways,
etc.) for meeting the conditions of induced voltage for obtaining PTCC approval.
e) Avoiding of forest areas as well as wild life sanctuaries.
f) Cost of securing and clearing right of way (ROW).
g) Maintaining statutory distances from Airports / Helipads.

The following areas are to be avoided as far as possible while selecting the route of the
line.

a) Tough inaccessible areas where approach is difficult.

b) Towns and villages, leaving sufficient margin for their growth.
c) Areas subject to floods, gushing nalas during rainy seasons, tanks, ponds, lakes, etc.
and natural hazards.
d) Wooded areas with high trees or fruit bearing trees involving payment of heavy
compensations for cutting of the trees.

e) Swamps and shallow lands subject to flood, marshy areas, low lying lands, river
and earth slip zones, etc. involving risk to stability to foundations.
f) High hillocks / hilly areas / sand dunes and areas involving abrupt changes in levels
and requiring too many long spans.
g) Series of irrigation wells.
h) Rifle shooting areas and other protected areas such as army / defence installations and
ammunition depots.
i) Areas which involve risk to human life, damage to public & private properties,
religious places, cremation grounds, quarry sites and underground mines, gardens,
orchards and plantations
j) Areas which will create problems of right of way and way leaves.
k) Buildings / Storage areas for explosives or inflammable materials, bulk oil storage
tanks, oil or gas pipelines, etc.

The route of the transmission line is to be so located that, as far as possible, it is protected
from high winds and falling trees & branches. In hilly tracks, the line is to be routed, as
far as possible, along the side of the hills or through valleys rather than over high points.
However, a route of the line very close to steep slopes of hills be avoided as far as
possible as there may be difficulty in obtaining lateral (side) clearance to ground for
conductors. Also, there may be overhanging / loose boulders which may roll down and
damage the line.

It is desirable to take the line as near the paths and roads as practicable without unduly
increasing the length of the line so as to facilitate transportation of material during
construction and the patrolling / maintenance of the line. Where the line cannot be routed
near paths / roads economically, care shall be taken to see that easy access is possible at
every 5 to 8 km. It shall be ensured that all angle / tension points, particularly in the case
of 400 kV lines, are approachable to facilitate easy transportation of stringing equipment
during construction and for maintenance / breakdowns.

In hilly / mountainous type of terrain or in thickly populated areas, it is generally not

advisable to attempt a direct route or try to locate towers in long spans. Small angles of a
few degrees cost a little more and add little to the length of the line. Suspension towers
(A – type) can be provided for line angles of upto 2 degrees and small angle towers (B –
type) can be provided for angles upto 15 degrees

In general, large angles in the line are to be avoided wherever possible. The magnitude of
the angle be small as far as possible and should never be more than 60 degrees