2019 Vegetation Management Conference

Attendance

This conference is an industry-open event, with registration open to:

• Electric Utilities
• Consultants, and
• Equipment Vendors
• Research Facilities and Laboratories
• Academics

CEATI Vegetation Management Program Participants

This event is organized in coordination with the following Utility Participants.

6th Annual Vegetation Management Conference

We are pleased to announce a Call for Abstracts for the 6th Annual Vegetation Management Conference. Experts are invited to submit presentation abstracts on one of the themes described below.

IMPORTANT – Abstracts are due by 4:00pm ET on April 30, 2019. A notification of acceptance will be provided no later than May 31, 2019. Abstracts shall be evaluated based on their applicability to the subject matter and their technical merits. Proponents are encouraged to emphasize work conducted for their electric utility clients.  (Approx. 300 words)

 
Theme Descriptions and Subtopics:

1. Theme 1 Details/Subtopics: Program Management – Strategic vs Operational Planning
   • Program development at the strategic level must determine how to align corporate goals with long-term objective in safety, reliability, reduced costs, environmental stewardship, declining reactive workloads, and prioritization.
   • Data unrelated to a vegetation inventory is often utilized to plan strategically, such as for critical customers, customer consumption, customers/length of circuit, fuse locations, and environmental values.
   • The importance of communicating a program strategy to management, regulators, and customers is critical to long-term budget security and general acceptance. There is information that is considered enabling and other information that often fails to gain any traction in the area of public acceptance.

   Key Areas:

   • Long-term integrated vegetation management strategies; Successful multi-year work plans; Corporate public relation campaigns; Non-forestry contributing disciplines.

   Presentations on initiatives that have led to a better understanding of how to:

   • Secure management’s endorsement of a different strategic approach.
   • Consistently lower costs, improve reliability, increase customer satisfaction, and exceed environmental objectives.
   • Achieve public, stakeholder, or environmental NGO acceptance through outreach and the use of social media.
   • Implement a successful alternate or non-traditional vegetation management option.

   
    

   Theme 2 Details/Subtopics: Program Management – Contractor Procurement Strategies

   • The effective use of a contractor workforce is essential for meeting corporate and program objectives and customer satisfaction.
   • Procurement language and contract strategy can successfully increase value, reduce costs, improve the retention rates of skilled workers, and help alignment with client values.

   Key Areas:

   • Value vs cost contract awards; Long and short-term contract use; Consultant support.

   Presentations on initiatives that have led to a better understanding of:

   • The impact of work volume on the retention of a skilled work force.
   • Meeting or exceeding safety targets.
   • Improved customer satisfaction due to interaction requirements.
   • Contractor alignment with paperless work flows.

   
    
   Theme 3 Details/Subtopics: Technology – Data Collection and Prioritization

   • Data collection is critical to both strategic and operational plan development.
   • Both reactive and preventative maintenance depend on the best understanding of the vegetation condition on a continual basis. For instance, many utilities deploy several tactics to gain a thorough understanding of tree proximity to energized lines—primarily to comply with regulatory requirements.
   • When using technology to obtaining data, it is imperative that the data is exactly what is needed; however, this is may not always be the case.
   • Using tree/forest growth modeling to predict growth and plan subsequent management opportunities as an alternative to frequent data gathering events.
   • Inventory data is leveraged for preventative maintenance programs, condition-based management, and customer service targets through the use of prioritization and optimization computer modeling.
   • Data sharing through digital platforms—mobile software, global positioning, and smart phone applications—is becoming common practice.

   Key Areas:

   • Successful vegetation inventory collection programs; Traditional and new technology/methods for data gathering; Global positioning and geographical information systems (GIS); Computerized models for predictive management.

   Presentations on initiatives that have led to a better understanding of:

   • Operational application of technology such as LiDAR, satellite earth imagery, PhoDAR, hyperspectral imagery, aerial and orthographic photography, and video.
   • Computer models used for growth, prescription, and management optimization.
   • The development of a best management practice in defining the vegetation inventory.
   • Technologies and strategies that other industries, such as in forestry and agriculture, are utilizing for similar outcomes.

   
    
   Theme 4 Details/Subtopics: Technology – Mobile Data Use / Paperless Programs

   • Computerized work management systems have led to data being used to describe, prescribe, and report completed work during program implementation.
   • The effectiveness and timeliness of reporting is dependent on the ability to contribute to digitized work plans and paperless reporting.
   • There are various tools and advanced technologies used to collect, distribute, and report visual ground-level inspection data associated with existing and post-treatment conditions.
   • While the kind of data collected may vary between utility planners and inspectors, it is critical for end-users that all components used to transfer data are accurate and secure.

   Key Areas:

   • Smart phone applications; Mobile GIS; Paperless work flows; Line inspection technology.

   Presentations on initiatives that have led to a better understanding of:

   • Achieving paperless work flows between vegetation program managers and contractors for tracking completed work, customer interaction, environmental protection, and costs.
   • Advanced technology being used for quality assurance and visual inspection.
   • The variety of applications of smart phone and mobile GIS use.

    
   

   Theme 5 Details/Subtopics: Environmental Issues- Adaptation Strategies / Risk Mitigation

   • Utilities are expected to manage the electrical system in respect of weather extremes to ensure the reliability of the power grid.
   • The type and growth patterns of vegetation on power line rights of ways is impacted by the weather and preparing for extreme events must be as aspect of a vegetation management program strategy and preparedness plan.
   • Changing weather patterns have affected forest health.
   • Utilities must develop or depend on weather prediction systems and experts to assist in storm-related damage predictions.
   • The importance of communicating the restoration effort cannot be understated.
   • Utilities are dependent on the support of various services during a catastrophic event.
   • Regulators are focused on the prevention of outages and power system damage curtailment to ensure reliability and recovery.

   Key Areas:

   • Vegetation management as it relates to weather extremes; Weather and damage prediction modeling; Restoration planning; Regulatory role in program adaptation.

   Presentations on initiatives that have led to a better understanding of:

   • Evolving the vegetation management plan to accommodate known or expected impacts from changing weather and subsequent issues, such as fire and pest infestation.
   • How risk prevention and mitigation are embedded as key processes for planning and responding to changing weather patterns.
   • Strategies that achieve successful communication with the general public during outage events and responding to stakeholders after the event.
   • Capital and operations investment strategies for system storm-hardening.
   • Contractual arrangements and support systems used for a timely response and mobilization of crews.
   • Expected regulatory response given the fire events of 2018 in both Canada and the U.S.

    

    

   Theme 6 Details/Subtopics: Environmental Issues – Effective Herbicide Use

   • Herbicide use is often an essential tool for an integrated vegetation management (IVM) program to create stable and desirable shrub and herbaceous plant communities.
   • Herbicide, as a pesticide, has been widely criticized by NGO’s and other public interest groups for its potentially adverse impacts on the health of the natural world.
   • Recent findings have linked herbicide use as a means for maintaining herbaceous growth necessary for the survival of certain plants and the pollinators attracted to them.
   • Tree growth regulators have been used for decades for increased cycle times and lowering costs.
   • Utilities and contractors have implemented closed chain of custody programs for the effective use of herbicides and demonstrate environmental stewardship.

   Key Areas:

   • New herbicide formulations, Herbicide application tactics, Environmental stewardship

   Presentations on initiatives that have led to a better understanding of:

   • What herbicides are currently most widely used and the benefits in IVM.
   • The evolution of herbicide application techniques and “best in class” technology.
   • Utilization of the natural ecology and other tactics for obtaining desirable stable plant communities and lessening the overall impact to the environment.
   • Collaborative programs that have led to successful habitat restoration or remediation and overall improved environmental stewardship.
   • Best practice for achieving a closed chain of custody program.

Presenter Guidelines

Presentations should adhere to the Guidelines set forth by CEATI International.

Presentation Guidelines Include:

• Presentations must be submitted in Power Point format (PPT).
• Presentations will be distributed to attendees in secure electronic (PDF).
• Page numbers must be displayed in the lower right hand corner of each Power Point slide.
• Each Presenter will be allocated 30 minutes of presentation time.
• Presenters may be asked to participate, as Panelists, in an Open Discussion concerning the session topic as well as their specific presentation.
• Please note that all participants, including presenters, are required to register to attend.

Subsequent to submission, presenters may continue to revise presentations but must submit their revised files on flash drive or via email at a minimum of one (1) day in advance of their scheduled presentation time.

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The Audience

Accommodations

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa
9800 Hyatt Resort Dr, San Antonio,
TX 78251, USA
+1 210-647-1234

Preferred Rate: $127 – $156 USD or prevailing per diem rate (plus applicable taxes).
To receive the preferred rate, please mention the special convention rate for the CEATI Vegetation Management Conference 2019. Preferred rate only available only until October 18, 2019 and subject to availability.

Housing Warning!

Unauthorized Housing Companies Contacting Exhibitors & Attendees. It has come to our attention that unauthorized housing companies have been contacting CEATI International exhibitors and attendees via email and phone and in general, misrepresenting themselves as an official housing vendor for CEATI International. Room registrations should be made directly with the hotel as described above.

We highly caution you from engaging unauthorized companies because if/when issues arise, CEATI International management does not have the ability to provide assistance in solving them.

Professional Development Hours

Did you know that by attending a CEATI conference, you could be eligible to use your attendance towards Professional Development Hours? A Certificate of Attendance is available to all conference attendees – simply check with your local accreditation body for more details on how to apply it towards their requirements.