TRANSMISSION SUITABILITY ROUTE MAP USING THE LEAST COST PATH ANALYSIS (LCPA)

Abstract

This study uses a Least Cost Path Analysis (LCPA) to create a transmission suitability route map. Environmental issues including electromagnetic pollution, habitat fragmentation, forest clearing, and the sight of pylons and power lines, and electromagnetic pollution are just a few that may come up during the planning and construction phases. The study's objectives are to define the criteria for a suitable transmission route, map the current transmission from Kidurong to Kemena in Bintulu, Sarawak, and suggest a new, LCPA-based transmission route that meets these criteria. It is necessary to determine the criteria that influence the construction of the route. There are three main categories for the proposed routes. There are technical, human health, and natural environments.  The road layer and slope layer are combined for the technical group. The residential layer is part of the human health group, and land use is associated with the natural environment. During the planning of a potential power line route, weight was assigned to the criterion maps. The outcome demonstrates that the suggested route was built based on most flat sections, with only a little portion passing through the sharpest sector because there is no other way to depart from the path to avoid it. The output route is nearly straight from the source location to the destination point. The route also curves in a couple of places to go around the step area. The proposed transmission line is inside the buffer zone, and there are no other routes in the area that are more than 1 km from the road. Class 1 has a low dwelling density; therefore, the route passes through it for the residential evaluation. Additionally, there are a few places where the route passes through class 2 because only class 2 has a lower housing density.