Developing a new red band-SEVI-blue band (RSB) enhancement method for recognition the extra-high-voltage transmission line corridor in green mountains

Monitoring the extra-high-voltage transmission line corridor (EHVTLC) in mountains is critical for safe smart-grid operation. However, the transmission lines are so narrow that they are difficult to recognize using multispectral satellite images with a spatial resolution of 10 m. In this study, we developed a new method using the red band-shadow-eliminated vegetation index (SEVI)-blue band (RSB) composite image to enhance the EHVTLC in green mountains (named RSB-enhancement method). Using this method, the EHVTLC becomes evident in the false-color synthesis of the RSB composite of the Sentinel-2 image. Then, we recognized and extracted approximately 342.45 km of the EHVTLC in a mountainous region of Fuzhou City, China, including a 46.73 km three-parallel-lane segment of 1000 kV and a 295.72 km two-parallel-lane segment of 500 kV. Spatial analysis shows that the SEVI mean difference between the EHVTLC and the buffer zone reaches approximately 10%, and three landslides and 2.66 km(2) soil erosion reside in the buffer zone which area is approximately 73.67 km(2). Finally, the RSB-enhancement method can be used in other satellite images with spatial resolutions of greater than 10 m for enhancement and recognition the transmission line corridors in green mountains.

Automated summary

In this study, a new method using a specific composite image was developed to enhance the extra-high-voltage transmission line corridor (EHVTLC) in green mountains. By applying this method to satellite images, the EHVTLC becomes clearly visible in false-color synthesis. Spatial analysis revealed a significant difference between the EHVTLC and the buffer zone, with landslides and soil erosion identified in the buffer zone. The developed method can be used for enhancement and recognition of transmission line corridors in similar areas.