9km Topographic Road Survey for the Palermo TS Upgrade

Project Summary

Rapid Linear Corridor Survey for Critical Power Infrastructure

Hydro One contracted IBW Surveyors to perform a comprehensive 9-kilometer topographic survey and boundary compilation for the Palermo Transmission Station Upgrade in Milton. Linear utility corridor projects of this scale present unique logistical challenges requiring unified survey control establishment across the entire alignment, thorough property records research for accurate boundary compilation, and precise surface elevation capture to support engineering design and construction planning. The client faced significant resource constraints that made traditional survey methods impractical for meeting the aggressively tight project timeline. IBW’s innovative approach avoided the need for lengthy road permit approvals, enabling our team to mobilize immediately and deploy a hybrid survey methodology specifically optimized for rapid linear corridor data collection while maintaining the accuracy standards required for critical transmission infrastructure design.

Technical Details

Hybrid Aerial-Terrestrial Data Collection with Rigorous Quality Verification

The technical execution of this project centered on maximizing efficiency without sacrificing accuracy across the 9-kilometer corridor alignment. IBW deployed advanced drone platforms equipped with LiDAR sensors to capture the bulk of the site’s topographical data through aerial mapping, providing comprehensive coverage of the transmission line corridor and surrounding terrain. For features that were obscured from aerial perspective or required direct measurement—including individual tree diameters for vegetation management, culvert inverts for drainage design, and surface utility locations—ground crews utilized conventional surveying methods with high-precision GPS and total station equipment. This dual-methodology approach enabled simultaneous data collection across multiple corridor segments, dramatically reducing field time while ensuring complete feature capture. The hybrid dataset underwent rigorous quality verification through direct comparison between aerial-derived elevations and terrestrial measurements at numerous checkpoints throughout the alignment, yielding exceptional residual accuracy results that validated the reliability of the integrated survey deliverable.

Equipment & Technology

DJI Matrice 350 RTK LiDAR Integration with Trimble Positioning Network

IBW deployed a comprehensive geospatial technology suite specifically configured for rapid linear corridor surveying operations. The primary aerial data collection utilized a DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone platform equipped with Zenmuse L2 LiDAR payload for high-density point cloud capture across the 9-kilometer alignment, providing efficient mass feature collection without requiring road closures or traffic control. Ground survey operations employed Trimble GNSS Systems for precise network control establishment and terrestrial feature measurements, supplemented by Trimble Robotic Total Stations for detailed conventional surveying of features requiring direct measurement accuracy. All field-collected data underwent comprehensive processing and integration using a robust software suite including AutoCAD Civil 3D for design file development, Microsurvey CAD for specialized survey data processing, and Trimble Business Centre for GNSS and total station data management. This powerful combination of aerial LiDAR technology and precision ground surveying enabled IBW to seamlessly merge datasets into a single high-fidelity topographic deliverable that met all Hydro One engineering standards while achieving the rapid mobilization and cost-effective execution required by the project’s aggressive timeline.