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2011 Program Improvements

At Power Line Systems we continually improve our software. Below we list some of the more significant enhancements made during the year 2011. Click here for improvements made in 2010 or here for the most recent enhancements.

• PLS-CADD
• PLS-POLE
• TOWER

PLS-CADD^™

• Version 12 released
• New Structure Groups feature that allows application of load cases to a specific set of structures. Structures can be inserted in a group manually (ex: choose grade B or grade C construction) or using rules based on height (ex: NESC 60' exemption), station (ex: different wind zones throughout line), line angle, dead ends sets...
• Can now measure distances to DXF and Shapefile lines and surfaces with distance between entities command and also create survey points along edges or surfaces defined by these entities.
• Prohibited zone and extra cost zone constraints can now be polygonal (ex: lake, road or river edge) with a user specified required clearance to structures and their guys. Polygonal zones can be created from DXF and Shapefile polylines & polygons or defined manually using the mouse.
• Can color TIN according to slope of ground and can also use slope to generate automatic spotting constraints.
• P&P sheet plan view structure numbers can now be dragged around with mouse.
• Lines can now have their own notes and annotation (including new revision cloud line type).
• Shapefile export now available for all reports that previously supported KML.
• Clearance between sections commands now support "Straight line wire" (CSA) mode.
• Improved ECW/JP2/TIF support while also adding support for JPG images which can be automatically linked to the closest structure based on their embedded GPS coordinates.
• Can now check radial clearances between surface of blown out wire envelope and terrain.
• Added four loading methods to implement AS/NZS 7000:2010 with synoptic or downdraft wind applied either to face or via fluid dynamics.
• Version 11 released with
  • NERC FAC-008 inspired LiDAR modeling improvements
    • Direct LAS file import
    • Batch structure stretch to fit all structures to surveyed attachment points with one command
    • Batch graphical sag to fit all spans to surveyed wire points with one command
    • Batch IEEE 738/Cigre 207 Thermal Calculator of all spans or sections in your line with one command
  • New Terrain/Alignment/PI Label and Ahead Span Color settings which gives you control of name, color and line style of your alignment segments
  • New Entity/Info mode that graphically snaps to ground TIN, structure joints, structure members, structure surface, wires, DXF/SHP file, etc. in order to measure distances or access menu applicable to those entities.
  • Added File/New/Project Estimator command that allows rapid development of project cost estimates.
  • Fundamental restructuring of the material system to:
    • Add an explicit labor column
    • Add state for each material item: New, Existing, Retired, Transfer
    • Automate conductor specific parts
    • Increase the number of user defined columns and the capabilities of these columns (adds factors, lists, etc.)
    • And many other improvements...

PLS-POLE^™

• Version 12 released
• You may now select ASCE 48-11 as the strength check for steel poles
• The FRP option can now model Duratel FRP poles
• Increased the maximum number of load cases to 1000
• Geometry/Guys has three new methods for specifying an anchor relative to another guy making it easy to model split-guys and other more complex situations
• Added four loading methods to implement AS/NZS 7000:2010 with synoptic or downdraft wind applied either to face or via fluid dynamics.

TOWER^™

• Version 12 released
• Now automate the design, check and optimization of redundant members according to ASCE-10, CSA S37-01, ANSI/EIA 222-G, EN50341 and AS3995.
• Automated Climbing Load Check with criteria as per ASCE-10, EN50341-1:2001, AS3995 1994 and AS/NZS 7000:2010
• Added an Included Angle Check (IAC)
• Improved and expanded the control over the compression capacity of tension-only members
• Geometry/Joints, Geometry/Secondary Joints, Geometry/Groups/Table Edit and Geometry/Sections/Table Edit now provide real time graphical feedback as you edit them.
• Increased the maximum number of load cases to 1000
• Geometry/Guys has three new methods for specifying an anchor relative to another guy making it easy to model split-guys and other more complex situations
• Added four loading methods to implement AS/NZS 7000:2010 with synoptic or downdraft wind applied either to face or via fluid dynamics.