Protection Against Woodpecker Attacks at Linja
Steep mountains and narrow fjords – a beautiful natural landscape stretching from Askvoll in the south to Ålesund in the north. Here, we find the utility company Linja, which provides electricity daily to its 170,000 residents. For the electricians working at Linja, this is also a challenging and dangerous landscape to operate in.
Linja has long been troubled by woodpecker damage on a specific section of its power grid. The woodpeckers cause significant damage to the wooden poles, leading to high repair costs and the risk of power outages. To address this challenge, Linja has partnered with Gridguard to install sensors on the poles as a crucial measure to protect the infrastructure.
The Challenge
A particularly vulnerable section of Linja's power grid has been targeted by woodpeckers, which peck holes in the wooden poles. This results in weakened poles and increased maintenance costs. Additionally, these damages pose challenges to operational reliability, as they can lead to power outages and disruptions for customers.
The Solution
To address this problem, Gridguard implemented their advanced sensors on the poles along the vulnerable section. The sensors are designed to detect and alert about vibrations and pecking that indicate woodpecker damage.
To address this problem, Gridguard implemented their advanced sensors on the poles along the vulnerable section. The sensors are designed to detect and alert about vibrations and pecking that indicate woodpecker damage.
Installation and Implementation
- Sensors were installed on selected poles along the stretch.
- The sensors continuously monitor vibrations and pecking, sending data to Gridguard's monitoring center.
- Upon detecting a woodpecker, sounds are played to deter the bird, and an alert is immediately sent to Linja's maintenance team.