Power line detection

To vectorize your powerlines, you will have the option between ''Detect from class'' and ''Detect from points''. 

In ''Detect from class'', the software will automatically vectorize all the lines and poles within the point cloud using the classification previously done. Simply select the corresponding class for each element then click  to begin the process.

In ''Detect from points'', the user will have to manually click the starting point for the detection on a line by clicking . Then click  to begin the process. If ''Single line'' is checked, only one line will be detected at a time, otherwise the software will detect all the lines around the starting point within the ''Search radius'' specified in ''Detection''.

Detection Parameters

You may need to tweak the detection parameters for your point could. To do so, click on ''Parameter'' and review the options available.

• Min. segm. length: This option determines the minimum segment length that will be detected. The smaller this value is, the more points will be detected per power line.
• Max. segm. length: This option determines the maximum segment length that will be detected. The larger this value is, the less points will be detected per power line.
• Max. Z distance: This option determines the maximum distance in elevation (Z) that will be tolerated. Sometimes when power lines are not being fully detected, it can be helpful to slightly increase this value. However, if the maximum Z distance is too high, the algorithm may confuse neighboring power lines as being the same.
• Max. XY distance: This option determines the maximum distance in planimetry (X and Y) that will be tolerated. Sometimes when power lines are not being fully detected, it can be helpful to slightly increase this value. However, if the maximum X and Y distance is too high, the algorithm may confuse neighboring power lines as being the same.
• Search radius: This value determines the search radius for detecting other power lines. The search radius will be used only if the option Single line is unchecked, meaning that multiple lines will be detected at once.
• Min. dist. betw. lines: This value determines the minimal distance between two detected lines. This option was added to avoid detecting too many lines in a given area.

Once items have been added to the list, it will be possible to modify them. Power lines may be selected or deselected, this will show them or not. Power lines may be renamed and their colors may be changed. Right clicking on a specific power line shows a contextual menu:

• Check all: Selects all power lines in the list; displaying all items on the screen.
• Uncheck all: Deselects all power lines in the list; hiding items on the screen.
• Delete current: Deletes the currently selected power line.
• Split: Activates the split function. The line to be split does not necessarily have to be the selected line.
• Merge: Activates the merge function. The lines to be merged can be any lines displayed on the screen.

It is also possible to expand a power line to view the points contained in the line. Click on Points to expand a power line and view the list. By right clicking on a point in the list, a contextual menu will display a few extra options.

• Hide points: Collapses the current power line, hiding the list of points.
• Remove all: Empties the points in the list. The power line will contain 0 points.
• Remove current: Removes the current point from the list.
• Insert: Adds a point before the current point and updates the point list.
• Repick: Allows the user to repick the selected point. The selected point should be highlighted in red on the screen.

Add manually

In this section it is possible to manually add a power line. This option can be used for hard-to-detect power lines or for lines that require a specific vectorization.

• Add a line: This button will add an empty line to the list of power lines on the left of the window.
• Start/Stop pick: After clicking on Add a line, the Start pick mode is automatically activated. This will set the tool to picking mode – where the user may manually vectorize a power line by clicking on points in the main screen. Once picking the line is complete, click on Stop pick to exit picking mode.

It is also possible to add points to an existing line. Simply select the line in the list and click on Start pick. Pick as many points as necessary and click on Stop pick to exit picking mode.

Classify

The classification tool is used to classify power lines detected using ''Detect from points'' to a specific class.

• Class: A class number must be entered here. For example, if the number 15 is entered, all points within the given radius will be marked as belonging to class 15. The user may also rename any class in the Explorer to match its contents.
• Radius: The radius within which a point in the point cloud will be considered as a power line and therefore will be classified as such. For thick power lines, use a larger radius.

Clash detection

The clash detection tool is similar to the classify tool, except in this case any objects which are close to the power lines will be colorized to allow its visualization. This can be quite useful to detect nearby trees, branches, poles, or any other type of obstruction.

• Class: Select the class 
• Skip class: Select the class you want the software to skip so it will be ignored during the clash detection process
• Class for intrusion zone: Select the classes you want the software to look into for the intrusion
• Intrusion zone: Here you will select the type of intrusion you want to check. You have the option between ''Radial'', ''Quadratic'' and ''Conical''. Once selected just enter the appropriate dimension.

Detected zone

Once the clash detection process is over, go to the ''Detected zone'' tab to check the results.

Pole detection

The pole detection tool will detect any cylindrical objects that appear along a detected power line. The detected objects will be added to the ''Detected Poles'' tab and provide you with their height and radius.

Icon	Description
	Deletes all selected objects in the item list
	Lets you manually add a pole by clicking a cylinder in the point cloud
	Will allow you to pick a pole on the screen and select it in the list
	Will let you draw the cylinder on screen