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NETWORK / 24 / OCTOBER 2018 INNOVATION T he challenge of how to manage and maintain critical power infrastructure networks is central both to utilities and the communities they serve. As power cables wind their way across urban and rural environ- ments, nature's impact is not exercised just through weather events but in the less dramatic, but just as inevitable, spread of natural vegetation. Vegetation such as trees and bushes present obvious chal - Reducing power line associated wildfire risks Managing and maintaining power infrastructure networks is becoming increasingly demanding for utility providers with extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts, presenting challenges. Fugro's expertise in asset management and innovation has combined to create a unique and comprehensive digital solution to nature's problems. Robert Hoddenbach, global director power, explains. lenges for network providers with ongoing growth that puts them into proximity with power lines. Hazards such as falling branches and direct contact due to natural growth present threats. Where contact occurs, danger exists. At best the out - come could be an interrupted supply – at worst, ignition of a fire. Wildfires Devastating wildfires in Cali- fornia during 2017 became the focus of global attention as of overhead power lines in high fire-threat areas. The recent wildfires in California emphasise how alert power companies must be to re - ducing wildfire risk by properly maintaining power infrastruc- ture, and the severe financial risks they could face if they fail to mitigate risk successfully. Vegetation 'blind spots' With traditional vegetation management methods, the complexity of an extensive power network can easily result wholesale damage was caused and lives were lost. In June 2018 the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection identified that four of the fires in 2017 were caused by trees contacting power lines. In the face of such destruc - tive events regulatory demands are increasing. New fire-safety regulations, adopted by the Cali- fornia Public Utilities Commis- sion (CPUC) in December 2017, require utilities to maintain greater minimum vegetation clearances to increase the safety Roames analytics and visualisation tool enhances the management of power transmission and distribution networks.