TNB said it is developing its own system to ensure the construction of its transmission tower does not affect endangered plant species in accordance with the utility company’s commitment toward Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).
Using its in-house expertise from the grid division, the Tree Hyperspectral Identification System (THySIS) was developed to be the first and most complete system of its kind to automatically detect endangered tree species using remote sensing techniques. “This THySIS system will allow us to identify the flora and fauna in the area involved before submitting a proposed delivery route, as opposed to relying entirely on information from forest authorities. Thus it will be used when the Land Planning Department at TNB wants to identify the route or alignment of test lines for the development of new transmission line towers,” said its Chief Grid Officer, Ir. Dev Anandan.
According to him, it is one of the group’s initiatives to further strengthen the national electric utility company’s commitment to ESG aspirations which is one of the important agendas in empowering and intensifying the Energy Transition. In fact, he said, he supports Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) in the 12th Malaysia Plan based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (UN) which aim for people to enjoy prosperity by balancing the economy, social and environmental. “This project is expected to be able to help TNB and the country conserve forest reserves and unique plants, especially save endangered species from extinction.”
The THySIS system operates by using the LIDAR (light detection and ranging) method along with the hyperspectral method installed on a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle). Both systems collect data about plants and map them in an image bank. Dev said this means that the use of THySIS allows TNB to detect early the types of plants in the proposed area and thus be able to select routes for the construction of towers and transmission lines in order to avoid areas of endangered tree species.
The Department of Forestry and the Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia has identified 40 tree species that cannot be cut down because they are going extinct,” he said. Dev explained that the implementation of THySIS enables TNB to achieve several goals namely: Classifying tree species along proposed transmission line routes using hyperspectral data. Identify and monitor dangerous trees of endangered species on existing transmission lines using LIDAR data so that their growth does not affect overhead line cables. Gathering data to develop an application for automatic detection of endangered tree species; and Uploading information in the Grid Land Plan System (GLPS) web as a reference that helps in identifying the alignment of TNB’s proposed route.
