Private Utility Surveying Engineering: Total Station Experience

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) maintains and operates 21 power plants, 71 dams and hydro facilities, 14,000 mi of electric transmission lines, and 5,000 mi of gas transmission lines in its service territory of 94,000 sq mi. This provides for a wide variety of surveying challenges among some of the most difficult topography and environment to be found anywhere. Typical surveys include: monitoring deformation of dams and power plants, linear surveys for new and replacement gas and electric transmission lines, property surveys for new substations and office facilities, and litigation surveys. To provide a faster turnaround time for their clients and customers, and to be more cost effective with a reduced work force, the Land Engineering Section purchased seven total stations and associated equipment in 1986, PG&E is using this equipment for gathering data and providing final computerized plans and results in several office locations.