Computer aided structural and geometric design of power lines

The authors describe an integrated computer environment for the structural design of new power lines, the evaluation of existing lines, and their long-term management. The contents of the various databases that are needed to describe an entire line are described. A way of verifying the strength of transmission and distribution structures is proposed. The authors illustrate how some of the engineering functions normally associated with line design can be performed interactively. All information needed to describe a line is contained in the files described. The terrain and line installation files are specific to a particular line. The other files can be shared across several line projects. In the interactive environment, the files are treated as objects, callable by name. Files should have ASCII format for ease of transportation between existing or future systems