Vegetation & Wildfire Risk Monitoring with LiDAR, Analytics, and RiskView
for Electric Utilities

LiDAR gives you a three-dimensional, measurable record of every tree and utility asset in your corridor. That means accurate encroachment detection with intrusion codes, modeled line sag and clearance analysis under varying load conditions, tree lean and failure risk assessment, and precise asset mapping — all from a single collection flight. It replaces ground-based surveys that miss canopy hazards and helicopter surveys that lack point density for individual tree analysis.

We assess wildfire risk as a function of ignition probability and consequence. Ignition probability reflects the likelihood of a fire starting, informed by asset failure potential and fuels characterized through our Fuel ID tool. Consequence assumes a fire has occurred and spread, using fire behavior modeling to simulate fire growth and overlay predicted fire perimeters with values at risk (e.g., infrastructure, customers, surrounding assets). These components are combined into a risk score at the span or structure level to support mitigation prioritization and real-time operational decision-making aligned with defined thresholds.

LiDAR point cloud data is processed to separate vegetation returns from conductor and structure returns. Trees within minimum approach distances are identified and assigned intrusion codes based on clearance violation severity — immediate, near-term, and future cycle. Each coded tree is geotagged, linked to imagery where available, and delivered in a work management format your field crews can act on directly.

Yes. We integrate with ESRI ArcGIS (Online and Pro) and share data via standard formats including geodatabase, shapefile, and GeoJSON. API-based data exchange is available for clients who want to push RiskView™ risk scores or vegetation analytics directly into their own operations systems. We work with your GIS and operations management teams at project start to agree on deliverable formats and integration points.

Forsite operates across Canada and the United States. Forestry teams are based in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Idaho, and Washington. Aerial patrol operations run from 12+ strategic bases across the continental US, with LiDAR acquisition capability deployed coast to coast. RiskView™ is a purpose-built situational awareness platform for utility operations — not a general-purpose analytics tool. It integrates precision fire behavior modeling with enhanced fuels (via Fuel ID) and high-resolution weather forecasting, alongside asset data, grounded in scientific frameworks and informed by subject matter expertise and local knowledge. Unlike standard dashboards, RiskView™ updates dynamically as conditions change and evaluates risk at specific asset locations, triggering alerts when defined thresholds are exceeded. This enables operators to identify where and when to act before an incident occurs, supporting proactive operational decision-making.

Cadence depends on vegetation growth rate, terrain, and your regulatory requirements. High-growth regions and high-risk corridors typically benefit from annual collection. Lower-risk segments can often be managed on 2–3 year cycles. Forsite's vegetation growth models — built from your own historical collection data — can help optimize cadence to balance cost against risk exposure over time.