Use of geo-referenced images for the surveillance of transmission lines right-of-way

CTEEP transmission system is a government company operating in the State of Sao Paulo (Brazil). Its aim is to provide power to this State which happens to be the most industrialized within Brazil. In some developing countries the continuous growing population trend to build their houses over corridors pertaining to transmission lines right-of-way. For this reason, the transmission companies have a continuous supervising task over these corridors, so that proper juridical actions are taken once occurred such invasions. Satellite images, photogrammetry images and laser-based images generated are now available in the market. Due to the accuracy these technologies present (spatial resolution), they may become and constitute good tools with high applicability when used for this purpose. In this paper, a methodology for the inspection of transmission lines right-of-way, making use of the previously mentioned images, is proposed. Along with the above mentioned tools, it is also generated an information system (database) in which transmission towers, properties and land invasions are recorded under a geo-referenced juridical/civil aspect, and whose coordinates result in key information for the company. Within this concept, the paper compares technically and economically the technological geo-referenced imaging alternatives and its applicability to the proposed service.