Optimization of transmission towers and foundations based on their minimum cost

In order to model the cost of a tower in terms of steel, fabrication, assembly and erection costs, all important parameters have been itemized and their cost models (or variation) have been developed either through direct monitoring of the applicable process (time and motion studies) or through a detailed evaluation undertaken with various steel mills, tower fabricators and transmission line contractors. The cost models have been used for tower-foundation optimization of the 1100 km DC line from James Bay to the Des Cantons substation at the southern border of Quebec, Canada. An example given shows how a tower weighing significantly more than another can nevertheless be more economical to fabricate and erect. Two computer programs, COUPYL for tower costs and COUFON for foundation costs, were written