VAREN: Open Source LiDAR Analytics for Overhead Distribution Networks

VAREN (Vegetation and Asset Recognition for Electrical Network) is an open source library from Hydro-Québec's research centre that turns mobile LiDAR point clouds of overhead distribution networks into information utilities can act on directly. It packages four purpose-built algorithms: a point cloud classifier for power network assets, an overhead span extractor, a mathematical reconstruction method for heavily obstructed power lines, and a vegetation encroachment detector.

Together, these give utilities a reusable foundation for LiDAR-based grid analytics instead of building asset-mapping and vegetation-risk pipelines from scratch. In this session, Guillaume Houle and Mohamed Gaha will introduce VAREN and walk through how each of the four algorithms works, and Philippe Massicotte will demo the full pipeline end to end - from raw point cloud to actionable output.