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CEC-PIER: Funded Projects

Bird Strike Indicator (BSI) Deployment

Monitoring System for Studying Avian and Wildlife Interactions with Power and Communication Facilities

Contract #: 500-01-032

Contractor: University of California, Santa Cruz

Subcontractor: EDM International, Inc.

Contractor Project Manager: Brian Walton

Subcontract Project Managers: Dr. Arun K Pandey and Rick Harness

Commission Project Manager: Linda Spiegel

Commission Contract Manager: Linda Spiegel

The Issue

Bird collisions with overhead power lines and communication towers are a topic of increasing concern to utilities, regulatory agencies and environmental organizations. The topic is currently the subject of significant debate because there are many unanswered questions needing to be resolved before educated decisions are made. A technology is needed to provide the basis for meaningful study of the problem. There is a need for tools to collect information to better define the problem and to determine the effectiveness of potential solutions. In response to this technology gap CEC/PIER has been sponsoring the development of a remote sensor called the Bird Strike Indicator (BSI) that can be cost-effectively used in remote locations to capture vital information necessary to minimize and/or eliminate the subjectivity and conjecture surrounding this issue. The purpose of this project is to field test an array of Bird Strike Indicators on a power line.

Anticipated Benefits for California

Marking power lines to mitigate bird collisions is expensive. This is especially true when lines are located in remote areas where access is limited. Additionally, although there are a variety of commercially available marking devices, the effectiveness of many devices is unknown. The ability to deploy remote monitoring devices will provide information on the need for marking and the efficacy of wire marking devices. Using a remote sensor will save costs by eliminating the need for costly field surveys.

Project Description

The Bird Strike Indicator is an impulse-based vibration sensing and recording tool to study bird strikes on aerial cables. When a bird strikes a wire, sensors capture the induced vibration waveform and automatically send it to a remote base station. The strike information is then reported to the utility company. The basic concept is illustrated in Figure 1.1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1.1 Schematic showing attachment locations for the Bird Strike Indicators and their associated Ground Station on a power line.

EDM is to conduct on-site testing of the BSI at the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota. This site was selected because a transmission power line parallel to U.S. Highway 83 between Lake Audubon and Lake Sakakawea has a history of bird collision problems. Testing is to be done in partnership with Western Area Power Administration, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee, and others.

Three spans with a history of collisions will be instrumented with BSIs. Field observers will monitor strikes recorded by the BSIs while also conducting pedestrian surveys under the power lines. These daily inspections will be designed to determine if the BSIs are recording bird strikes.

Anticipated Results

Anticipated results include the ability to remotely detect bird collisions with power lines. Information on the sensitivity of detecting various sizes of birds and how far away birds can be detected from the sensors is also anticipated. These data will enable the power line owner and regulators to determine which wires are primarily involved in avian collisions. This will allow the utility to properly select the proper wires for marking. After successful testing of the avian monitors, critical spans at the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge will be wire marked to mitigate collisions. Although numerous devices are available to make wires more visible, little is know about their effectiveness. The BSI will be used in future testing to determine the effectiveness of various marking devices.

Final Report

Final Report will be available December 2007.

Contact

Brian Walton • (831) 459-2466

Dr. Arun Pandey • 970-204-4001 • info@edmlink.com