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T&D Engineering
EDM’s overhead transmission line design team has expertise and experience in many aspects of transmission engineering including new projects and retrofitting and analysis of existing lines for potential replacement or upgrade, stand-alone analysis and assessments. EDM’s team utilizes state-of-the-art information, technology, and software to support our line engineering services, and our engineers are experienced in modeling, analyzing, and designing lines including their structures, conductors, and foundation systems. EDM’s engineers are industry experts on various codes and standards and are often called upon to assist utilities in monitoring code compliance, identifying infractions, and assessing remediation needs.
New and Retrofit Design and Engineering
- Structure design (poles and towers, all materials)
- Foundation design
- Reconductoring/shield wire replacement
- System hardening
- Owner’s engineer (OE) services
- Finite element modeling and analysis (RISA 3D, SAP 2000)
- Seismic analysis and design
- Drafting including 3-D modeling
Custom-Engineered Structures and Foundations
- Monopoles, H-Frames, Y-Frames and Towers
- Cast-in-place drilled pier foundations, direct embedment foundations, mat/slab foundations, rock anchors, helical piles, and micro-piles
- Pole and tower fabricator coordination
PLS-CADD Modeling, Analysis and Design
- Modeling from LiDAR or ground survey
- Development of PLS-CADD design criteria and requirements
- Structural and clearance analyses
- Custom job package reporting
Meteorological Studies and Thermal/Ampacity Ratings
- Development of environmental/structural loading criteria
- Development of thermal rating criteria
- Guidance and recommendations on impacts of climate change relative to wind loading
- Conductor optimization studies for maximum ampacity/maximum operating temperature
- Development of ambient adjusted ratings and enhanced static ratings
- Development of seasonal and diurnal weather-based probabilistic ratings
- Monitoring technologies to support enhanced ratings (e.g., quasi-dynamic and dynamic ratings)
- FERC 811 support services
Standards and Codes Interpretation and Development
- NESC, G.O. 95, IEEE, ASCE, ASTM, DFI, etc.
- Utility standards development and updating both 2-D and 3-D
Inspection, Assessment, Construction Oversight and QA/QC
- Construction management
- Pre/post construction inspection
- As-built drawing development
- Construction QA/QC inspection
- Inspection/assessment of line conditions/aged infrastructure
- Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)-based virtual inspections and site monitoring
EDM’s electric distribution engineering team understands the challenges faced by electric utility companies in providing reliable services with safety in mind. We have a proven record of accomplishment in building collaborative client relationships resulting in excellent services for overhead and underground electric distribution systems - from analysis and design to creating standards and offering training.
Recognizing the complexity of electric distribution systems, our engineers and designers have expertise with projects ranging from single pole replacements to designing new lines. Our team has experience with a range of voltage classes, framing configurations, equipment types and materials.
New and Retrofit Design and Engineering
- Overheard and underground design
- Structural analysis and design
- Foundation design
- System hardening for extreme weather events and wildfire risks
- Reconductoring with standard conductors, covered conductor, and spacer cable
- Owner’s engineering services
- Analysis and design for third party attachments
- Make-ready work
Line and Structure Modeling and Analysis
- Modeling from LiDAR or ground survey
- PLS-POLE, PLS-CADD, SPIDACalc, and O--Calc Pro
- Structural analysis and clearance analysis
- Custom job package creation
- Development of criteria files and materials libraries
Inspection, Assessment, Construction Oversight and QA/QC
- Construction management and monitoring
- Pre/Post/QA/QC construction inspection
- Training in cable connection preparation techniques
- As-built drawing development
- Inspection/assessment of line condition/aged infrastructure
- Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)-based inspection and site monitoring
- Failure Investigation
Standards and Codes Interpretation and Development
- GO 95, NESC, IEEE, ASCE, ASTM
- 2-D and 3-D overhead and underground standards
- Construction, inspection, maintenance, and failure prevention
EDM’s engineering team provides a wide range of services to the electric utility and communication industries. Our approach to evaluating joint-use issues highlights the importance of understanding the needs and goals of both the pole owner and the 3rd party attacher. We recognize the importance of joint-use facilities, the complexities involved in the evaluation process and how end users will utilize recommendations, therefore, our engineering team includes experienced registered professional engineers.
Joint-Use Engineering Analysis/Design Services
- NESC and GO 95 Code compliance for existing and proposed conditions
- PLS-CADD/O-Calc modeling
- Pole loading analysis for existing and proposed conditions
- Mid-span maximum sag/clearance checks from PLS-CADD models
- Make-ready work recommendation and management
- Simple and complex One Touch Make-Ready (OTMR)
- Estimation of distributed labor and material construction costs
- Underground communication layout/permitting
- 5G and wireless equipment installations
- Professional Engineer’s signed/sealed calculations and summary reports
Field Services
- Pre-engineering route inspection/selection
- Data collection for poles, wires, and ground profile
- Post construction inspection
- Complete pole inventory including submeter GPS mapping
- Wood pole intrusive inspection
- Steel pole and lattice tower inspections for corrosion
- Joint-Use pole audits
- Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) based inspection and data collection
Pole Owners Engineering Services
- Complete joint-use engineering program development/management
- Review of joint-use engineering packages
- Review of pole loading analysis submittals
- Design and engineering for custom structures, foundations and complex installations
EDM’s substation design team has decades of experience providing clients with detailed designs, studies, and analysis of substations. Our engineers and designers excel in new substation design as well as upgrades, retrofits, and expansions of existing stations. From conceptual design to closeout and commissioning we are committed to using the latest technology to provide services that meet and exceed our client’s needs. In addition to substation engineering and design capabilities, EDM’s team has extensive construction inspection and oversight expertise and the ability to provide transmission and distribution line engineering and design services for high side taps and distribution feeder exits.
New, Upgrade, Retrofit, and Expansion Design and Engineering
- Electrical design
- Civil/Site design
- Foundation design
- Steel structure design
- Project planning, cost estimating, and management
- Design studies, analysis, and evaluations
- Assembling specifications for material and equipment
- Standard and project-specific drafting including 3-D modeling
Inspection, Assessment, Construction Oversight and QA/QC
- Construction management
- Pre/post construction inspection
- As-built drawing development
- Construction QA/QC inspection
- Inspection/assessment of conditions/aged infrastructure
- Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)-based inspections, inventories, PhoDAR and LiDAR data collection, and site monitoring
EDM has teamed with Intec Services, Inc. to offer additional related services. Intec Services offers a complete variety of pole inspection, inventory and restoration services aimed at helping utilities maximize equipment life spans while maintaining the highest standards of system reliability.
Intec Services, Inc. was founded in 1991 with a dedication to providing in-service pole inspection services which have set new standards for accuracy and cost effectiveness by using an inspection strategy with three critical components:
- Time-proven inspection and retreatment techniques
- Advanced nondestructive testing methods
- Computerized data collection and reporting
The EDM-INTEC team approach enables the preservation of utility line reliability throughout the desired service life and assists utilities in making responsible recommendations and decisions affecting the management of many millions of dollars of overhead line capital assets.
