Plex-Earth empowers engineering companies across the globe, and our customer Excellec S.A is in turn empowering their customers - with electricity!
However, their ongoing journey to success in South Africa is not without its challenges…
Excellec S.A is a leading company in constructing medium and low voltage electrical distribution networks for villages, and sometimes urban peripheries, in South Africa.
Let that sink in for a moment. They’re the ones bringing electricity, meaning that when they arrive there isn’t any. No refrigeration or air conditioning, not even a fan and equipment can only be charged by powerbanks!
Operating in such a harsh environment presented numerous difficulties for the company, making their achievements even more commendable, yet Excellec S.A’s only concern is doing the job right:
“For this we obviously need studies (Calculation Notes, georeferenced plans and slips) before realizations. It is in this area, that is to say études, that we use our fabulous Plex-Earth application” Seydou Cisse, Excellec S.A, Senegal
In this mini-case study, we highlight how our geospatial solution drastically enhanced his company’s workflow, saving time and money, while improving the precision of designing and installing electrical networks.
In Seydou’s own words, Plex-Earth allowed them to:
1. “To have georeferenced plans of the village and the Medium Voltage route using the images that Plex Earth imports to us via image providers (Google Earth, Google Maps Maxar, Airbus and others) and thanks to Autocad we draw the outlines on the images to have the details and a base plan thus making it possible to represent the Low voltage and medium voltage networks.”
2. “To have X, Y and Z topographic surveys by importing the land that covers the Medium Voltage line to be able to make the mechanical calculations of the line.”
“Thus, we save time and energy because everything I have just mentioned should be done in the field with a Topographer or surveyor to survey the perimeters of the house and the MV line and can take a lot of time.”
Seydou Cisse, Excellec S.A, Senegal
Let’s break that down in terms of the features in Plex-Earth:
1. Georeferenced Plans: Plex-Earth integrates with AutoCAD, easily creating a perfectly-aligned and georeferenced background image for you, using renowned providers of satellite and aerial imagery Google Maps, Maxar, Airbus, Hexagon, Nearmap, Bing Maps or Airbus. You can even select an area and order your own custom drone flights!
Exellec S.A can draw outlines on these imported images, see the intricate details and create a comprehensive base plan directly onto an accurate representation of the real world, with the crucial feature of not having to frequently visit areas without electricity!
This streamlined process allows their engineers to accurately represent both low voltage and medium voltage networks, providing a clear visualization of the entire project area.
If the project area is for long transmission-line routes it’s still no problem, as Plex-Earth can seamlessly stitch multiple images together, maintaining geospatial accuracy – for miles!
2. Topographic Surveys: Traditionally, obtaining X, Y, and Z topographic data required on-site visits by topographers or surveyors. Given the challenging environments involved, this posed significant challenges and consumed a lot of time and resources for Excellec S.A. However Plex-Earth's abilities have transformed this process as the application enables the direct importing of 3D terrain data, which can be viewed and understood at a glance.
By avoiding (or effectively automating) these previously time-consuming field surveys, Excellec S.A saves valuable resources, performing all calculations for the lines easily and efficiently, which translates into faster project completion. This streamlined workflow was a game-changer for Excellec S.A, helping them overcome the logistical and resource-related hurdles they faced.
3. Precision and Accuracy: The integration of Plex-Earth into the study process has elevated the precision and accuracy of electrical network designs for Excellec S.A. With precise georeferenced plans and topographic data readily available, engineers can make informed decisions based on real-world context, while avoiding human error.
This level of accuracy ensures that networks are meticulously planned, optimized, and aligned with project requirements. By delivering precise and reliable networks, Plex-Earth empowers Excellec S.A to meet the specific needs of the customers they serve, literally empowering entire communities.
Designing onto the real-world as the background
At Plexscape we’re dedicated to transforming the engineering landscape with our geospatial solution, Plex-Earth. In receiving such a strong endorsement and case study from Excellec S.A, we feel as energized as their customers!
Excellec S.A's success is a testament to their resilience in overcoming the unique challenges they face in their location and industry, and we’re proud to be part of that!
Join Seydou Cisse and others around the globe, as Plex-Earth empowers engineering companies with the visual data they need, as a direct part of their CAD workflow.