Research in the utility vegetation management (UVM) space has always been pragmatic, economically frugal and conducted as the need arises over time. Historically, several classical studies exist, some longer term, that have helped the industry build prescriptive approaches. However, as we embrace the nuances of climate change, worker challenges, economics and a growing need to work smarter, research will benefit from direct assessments that deliver stricter return on investment requirements and solution-driven deliverables.
Adaptive research, in close collaboration with utilities, seems beneficial in this respect. More and more questions are now being answered by the utilities themselves as partnerships grow. One reason is the rise of new tools that can give utilities opportunities to develop solutions in a relatively short time frame and in-house with the help of external partners and consultants alike.
Examples of these advancements in UVM research and the growing need to work smarter with more targeted resources can be found in workflow software, LiDAR and satellite analytics, biodiversity assessments and safety programs. Additionally, technological advances do offer some answers in the shorter term and may prove to help in the effort to guide our industry forward as we embrace change and the need to improve our return on investments as we continue to face growth and an uptick in the electrification needs of our industry.
Focusing on Biodiversity and Sustainability
As we advance our industry and engage with the nuances of our times, some considerations such as biodiversity levels on our rights-of-way (ROWs), and in some cases, immediately adjacent land areas, are important to greening initiatives, including our corporate sustainability efforts. These are important as we grow relationships with the communities we serve.
The message of biodiversity also extends into mainstream operations as we pay greater attention to ROWs in ecologically important areas, conserve and recognize rare and threatened plant populations and engage with other sensitive sites. The use of technological innovation to engage with other entities (state and federal agencies), will improve collaboration and opportunity to identify and maintain required protocols. Collaborating with these regulatory agencies will also aid in the development of proactive solutions and relations amongst cross-agency and multidisciplinary teams.
Emerging, too, is the importance of areas of intersection of urban forests and ROWs. Research gains in the utility sector and tools that are refined with UVM intent are also being able to be deployed into the urban forestry (UF) sector. Helping this along is the need to understand the benefits of canopies and care of canopies—especially in areas where utilities UVM and UF canopy merge.
Sharing Knowledge with Other Sectors
As sectors such as urban development, housing and energy infrastructure continue to expand, there is a growing opportunity to leverage research from one sector to benefit another. This need is becoming increasingly essential with the development and construction of new corridors, solar farms, improved distribution infrastructure and energy storage—all of which are becoming more interconnected with the growing urban development and housing demands.
Opportunities for integrating UVM research into mainstream practices include enhancing software for better tree inventory tracking, developing risk models and implementing effective arboricultural techniques. This includes diverse tree plantings, proper planting care and pruning to enhance canopy initiatives.
Our adaptive research efforts also benefit from global perspectives, and many North American utilities have partnerships in other geographies, including frontline areas and island states. The ability for North American utilities to invest in other regions in Central and South America is possible with technological advancements so we can deploy tools efficiently with minimal use of manpower and assist in UVM in these more tropical areas.
Indeed, our advancements in UVM research will not be kept within utilities and ROWs but benefit other industries and natural areas that can use them. For example, we can share information about enhanced IVM, strategic herbicide usage and sound environmental stewardship.
Overall, as we embrace modern UVM management and a more and more dynamic future, it is apparent that we as managers, practitioners and researchers need to improve multidisciplinary collaboration and continue to build on our research, science and innovation efforts.
By continuing to advance UVM and IVM along with implementing newer technology, our industry can be the incubator for biodiversity gains in vegetation, land stewardship and healthier communities.
