Platform for 3d planning of future energy and linear network connected with augmeted reality for improved public participation
Interactive collaborative 3D cloud-based platform using a large database of digital maps and satellite images supporting
power grid operators in planning the future energy infrastructures faster, cheaper, more visual, more interactive and more
socially accepted by improving the communication and social acceptance with public authorities and local communities in the
permitting process. Instead of using current manual and paper-based methods, experts and planners at power grid operators
will be able to map and visualize in 2D - 3D technical, environmental, regulatory, economic and social factors determining
the map of suitability to the construction of new power lines and to interactively calculate in few minutes multiple solutions
and their corresponding technical and economic parameters. Instead of using steady images on posters when presenting a
project, the usage of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) on mobile devices will improve the communication between
power grid operators and local communities and administrations in order to increase the chances to find a common
agreement. This will reduce the local opposition usually leading to a delay or to the death of projects. The collection of
feedback from different locations in the landscape by using AR/VR allows to generate the map of the social acceptance of
new power lines and to identify critical regions which need alternative solutions such as underground cables. The map of
social acceptance is a novelty that could be applied to plan infrastructures such as wind farms, roads and future
transportation systems. The software has been created, tested and validated in collaboration with power grid operators
which provided also case studies. Our solution has been awarded with the 1st prize of the Innovation Challenge promoted by
Elia Grid in 2017. Two power grid operators are currently paying for our solution.