Three-dimensional reconstruction of power transmission lines using UAV oblique photography and LiDAR point clouds

With the increasing demand for electricity driven by social development, the safety and stability of power transmission lines face significant challenges. This study aims to achieve high-precision three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of power transmission lines by integrating UAV optical imagery with LiDAR point cloud data to enhance the efficiency of power system operation and maintenance. Using a UAV platform equipped with the Zenmuse P1 camera and L2 sensor system, this research conducts a case study on a power transmission line in Yushan Town, Kunshan, Jiangsu Province. Key steps include UAV imagery and point cloud data acquisition, preprocessing, multi-view image bundle adjustment, and dense image matching, which enable the creation of a realistic 3D model of the transmission line and its auxiliary facilities. The results demonstrate that the spatial accuracy of the 3D point cloud and orthophoto products is high, with a point cloud density of 41 points/m² meeting the requirements of various scales. The aerial triangulation reconstruction accuracy is high, with a reprojection RMS error of 0.196 pixels and a geographic registration root mean square error of 0.019 m. This study significantly contributes to improving the inspection efficiency of power facilities, reducing maintenance costs, and enhancing the safety of power systems, providing a practical case for future advancements in 3D reconstruction technology for power transmission lines.