Vegetation Management Optimization for Power Distribution Networks
A leading Power Distribution Company managing over 80,000 km of network faced increasing operational and financial challenges in vegetation clearance along transmission lines. Annual vegetation management budgets approached €30 million, with fragmented workflows across GIS, SAP, and mobility platforms, leading to inefficiencies and limited audit capabilities.
Objective
To optimize vegetation management operations by integrating a satellite-based monitoring platform, automating risk prioritization, and aligning vegetation clearance activities with available budgets.
Analysis Focus
Satellite-based vegetation vitality and proximity analysis
Automated risk matrix generation (species, terrain, and growth dynamics)
Workflow integration with corporate GIS and SAP systems
Budget and operational efficiency tracking
Key Findings
- High vegetation management costs (~€30M/year) with limited spatial prioritization
- Manual workflows between GIS, SAP, and field systems delayed decision-making
- Contractor audits covered less than 10% of total network inspections
- Lack of centralized visibility hindered proactive vegetation control
Performance Summary
| Metric | Before Spotlite | After Spotlite | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Budget | €30M | €15M | ↓ ~50% |
| Processing Time | Weeks (manual) | <48 hours | ↓ 90% |
| Coverage Area | <10,000 km | >20,000 km | ↑ 100% |
| Audit Coverage | 10% | 27% Compliant / 63% To Manage | ↑ 2.7x |
What Could Have Been Done
Prior to implementation, processes were reactive and fragmented. With earlier adoption of satellite-based monitoring and automated data flows:
- Work prioritization could have been optimized by risk level and vegetation type
- Real-time reporting could have enabled faster intervention cycles
- Budget use could have been reduced while expanding maintenance coverage
Conclusion
This case study highlights:
- The power of satellite-based vegetation monitoring for large-scale network management
- The value of automated workflows connecting GIS, SAP, and field operations
- The impact of AI-based vegetation classification on safety, compliance, and efficiency
Value Proposition
Implementing the Vegetation Management Module within power distribution networks:
- Cuts annual costs by up to 50% through optimized vegetation clearance
- Enables automated prioritization based on real risk metrics
- Ensures audit-ready transparency with integrated satellite and field data
- Supports scalable, data-driven vegetation management across the full network