A novel ELISAm (Electric Line Ice Sag Accretion monitor) prototype, originally developed by RSE, has been replicated in two additional units for deployment on high voltage power lines. The primary objective of this system is to perform real-time monitoring of sag variations in conductors of overhead power lines, attributable to the formation of winter ice sleeves and the elongation that occurs during summer. Moreover, the ELISAm prototype has the capability to measure the dimensions of ice sleeves as they accumulate.

The measurement process for both sag variations and ice sleeve diameter entails an accurate procedure involving image acquisition and subsequent processing. This procedure employs imaging within the infrared spectrum, with specialized targets affixed to the power line conductors. Subsequent mathematical operations are applied to the acquired data, yielding precise measurements of sag variations and ice sleeve dimensions.

The two newly installed systems have the capacity to monitor both the conductors and the ground wires over significant spans. This deployment is part of a broader experiment that compares ice-phobic-treated ground wires with conventional ones. This experiment is set to continue in the forthcoming years, focusing on the analysis of data collected from the ELISAm systems in conjunction with other IoT sensors.