Transmission line design and analysis over a digital terrain model in PLS-CADD

PLS-CADD

Overhead power line design software 

BENEFITS

Optimize overhead line design, reduce costs

PLS-CADD helps teams design, analyze, and draft overhead power lines with integrated engineering workflows.
3D terrain model in PLS-CADD showing transmission line clearance analysis. Red vectors measure distance from conductors to a highlighted building obstruction, demonstrating structural clearance check capabilities.

  • Increased efficiency and reduced costs

    Streamline overhead line design and reduce drafting time with automated model building, optimized structure spotting, and material workflows. 

  • Ensure accurate and reliable designs

    Use an advanced 3D engineering model and advanced analysis to validate clearances, loads, and compliance with global standards. 

  • Integrated design and team collaboration

    Work in a unified platform that connects terrain modelling, analysis, structure spotting, and drafting to keep teams aligned and reduce rework. 

PRICING OPTIONS

Exclusive pricing options

PLS-CADD

Computer aided design and drafting overhead power lines

  • Integrate all aspects of line design into a single stand-alone program with a consistent interface.
  • Produce cost-effective designs in only a fraction of the time required by traditional methods.
  • Utilize a sophisticated three-dimensional engineering model that interrelates terrain, structures, and conductors.
  • Import terrain data from LiDAR, GPS, photogrammetry or total station surveying equipment.

  • Ask us about scalable licensing options and dedicated support.

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  • Free access for students and educators

    Access Bentley software, training, and resources free for academic use.

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More details

3D engineering model and terrain handling 

  • Centralized 3D model includes terrain, structures, and all wires
  • Supports automatic TIN triangulation and multiple terrain visualization modes (contours, color renderings, aerial overlays)
  • Accepts survey data from total stations, lidar, photogrammetry, and manual input
  • Supports cartesian and geographic coordinate systems
  • Imports lidar, photogrammetry, total station, and manual survey data
  • Enables interactive line routing and structure placement directly in plan, profile, 3D, or sheets views 

Engineering calculations and standards compliance 

  • Supports user-defined combinations of wind, ice, temperature, load and strength factors
  • Automates load calculations and strength checks per ASCE, NESC, IEC, CENELEC, and other worldwide standards
  • Performs sag-tension analysis for any weather case at initial, creep, and load cable conditions
  • Models conductor behavior at high temperatures, including ACSR compression effects
  • Calculates clearances to ground, wires, structures, nearby objects, and galloping ellipses
  • Analyzes thermal ratings (IEEE 738, CIGRE 207/601), stringing, and offset clipping charts
  • Integrates with SAPS finite element engine for advanced scenarios like broken conductors or unbalanced loads 

Structure modeling and spotting 

  • Offers simple wind & weight structure modeling or full finite element structure models via TOWER and PLS-POLE
  • Visualizes stress distribution with color-coded feedback
  • Supports single and multipole guyed or unguyed structures, frames, and lattice towers
  • Offers manual and automated structure spotting with cost- and constraint-based optimization
  • Allows real-time adjustments to tensions, conductors, and loading agendas 

Material management and cost estimation 

  • Includes a robust material subsystem for estimating costs and generating material lists
  • Supports direct entry or database integration (ODBC-compliant systems like Oracle, Access, DB2)
  • Enables creation of assemblies from parts and links them to structures
  • Generates reports for materials and staking, exportable to spreadsheets or asset management systems 

Drafting and visualization 

  • Fully automates plan and profile sheet generation with real-time updates
  • Supports direct plotting or export to DXF and PDF formats
  • Integrates planimetric drawings, aerial imagery, custom drawing borders, and logos
  • Offers control of layout settings: page size, scale, text, annotations, views, and phasing diagrams
  • Visualizes wire blowout under wind, insulator swing, and clearance envelopes in 3D 

Processor: Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen or better, 4.0 GHz or better recommended 

Operating System: Windows 10 or 11 (64 bit)   

Memory: 512 MB RAM minimum l 4 GB – 96 GB RAM recommended  

Disk Space: 100 MB minimum  

Display: Recommended 40” 4k or multiple smaller monitors to boost productivity  

USER STORIES

Real stories. Real results.

Exo prevents major power outage for Evergy

Using PLS’ digital twin technology, the team stabilized a critical grid tower, preventing a catastrophic and costly power outage for Evergy.

An image illustrating the flood conditions that EXO Grid addressed by retrofitting 44 transmission towers to withstand extreme weather and water loads.

Toth restores power 18 days ahead of schedule

The engineering firm used PLS to quickly develop a line replacement plan, restoring power to 1,500 people for Prairie Power Co-op.

The aftermath of an EF2 tornado, with 11 miles of a 69-kilovolt transmission line destroyed, which Toth redesigned for greater resiliency.

Osmose assesses aging infrastructure for New England Utility

Using PLS, Osmose gave a utility a clear path for upgrades by creating 3D models and simulating weather events on aging structures.

A top-down view of a transmission asset in New England, analyzed by Osmose with PLS software to determine if it could be rehabilitated instead of replaced.

Qualus helps utility reduce unnecessary pole replacements

Qualus cut engineering time by up to 75%, finding $2.5M in potential annual savings by using PLS-CADD for accurate pole analysis.

A digital engineering model of a power line, illustrating how Qualus used terrain alignment and span interaction data in PLS-CADD to challenge legacy workflows.

FAQS

Find answers

PLS-CADD is an all-in-one computer-aided design and drafting program used for the structural and geometric design of overhead electric transmission, distribution, and telecommunication lines. It integrates every aspect of the design process into a single environment, including terrain modeling, engineering analysis, structure spotting, and the automatic production of plan and profile drawings. 

Yes. It is the global industry standard, used in over 125 countries. The software is flexible enough to adapt to various international standards, including NESC, ASCE, IEC, CENELEC, and national norms for countries like the UK, Spain, and Portugal. 

Yes. PLS-CADD features powerful LiDAR tools for importing, filtering, and classifying millions of points. It can automatically identify ground points, wire positions, and structure locations from point clouds. The AMBER (Automatic Model Builder) feature further streamlines this by automatically building models from classified LiDAR data. 

The software may be installed on a network file server so that only a single version needs to be installed, upgraded and backed up. 

Yes, subscription-based license versions will run in these environments. 

We recommend three days of basic and two days of advanced training for users of PLS-CADD®. PLS-CADD is a large and comprehensive program covering the full gamut of terrain modeling, structural analysis, sag-tension and plan & profile sheet generation. Training will enable you to maximize your investment in the software.

Yes, technical support is provided by email or telephone for any user with an active subscription of the software. Our support team includes experienced line design professionals, and most questions are answered and resolved within 24 hours of the inquiry. 

RESOURCES

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