With experience spanning thousands of kilometers of linear transmission and distribution infrastructure projects across Canada, McElhanney brings together highly skilled professionals in geomatics, engineering, Geospatial, remote sensing, and environmental services. Our multidisciplinary teams provide the expertise and practical experience needed to support electrical transmission and distribution projects from planning through construction and beyond.
Electrical Transmission & Distribution Services
GIS & Remote Sensing
- Right-of-way management, including vegetation management programs and geophysical modelling
- Hydrological modelling
- Thermal wildfire detection, and thermal rating and line profile analysis
- Route optimization and analysis
- Stakeholder engagement and ArcGIS StoryMaps
- Drone (UAV), aerial photography, and video data acquisition
- Terrain modelling, LiDAR mapping, and fly-through visualization
- Building information modelling (BIM), digital twins, and mobile laser scanning
Geomatics
- Project planning, routing analysis, and coordinate system network surveys
- Centreline, legal right-of-way, and regulatory cadastral surveys and permitting
- Individual Ownership Plans (IOP) and Individual Ownership Sketches (IOS)
- Crossing and profile drawings, alignment sheets, and construction plans
- Construction and as-built surveys, including ground-based and LiDAR
- Hydrographic and bathymetric surveying
- Facility as-builts and construction survey support
- Grillage, bolt cage, and conductor sag setting layouts
Environmental
- Wildlife sweeps and environmental field assessments
- Wetland assessments and Water Act / Code of Practice documentation
- Preliminary environmental assessments and project constraint identification
- Environmental and post-construction restriction monitoring
Engineering
- Project traffic assessments and traffic accommodation strategies
- Highway intersection upgrades and improvements
- Facility pad site modelling and civil grading plans
- Rail, bridge, and culvert crossing assessments
- Rock drill design and assessment
- Geotechnical engineering services
- Structural engineering for facilities
North Coast Transmission Line, Prince George to Terrace, B.C.
Client: BC Hydro | Services Provided: Surveying and Geomatics Services
Project Summary
McElhanney successfully supported the North Coast Transmission Line project by establishing primary survey control, completing modified centerline staking, re-establishing cadastral boundaries, and preparing BCER application submissions along the corridor between Prince George and Terrace, British Columbia.
This large-scale, linear infrastructure project required effective coordination of multiple survey crews, along with strong data management and progress tracking systems to maintain project momentum. Our field teams worked collaboratively while continuously staging and advancing along the alignment, demonstrating a high level of organization and communication.
Despite encountering challenging terrain, variable weather conditions, and complex land access requirements, our team consistently adapted to evolving site conditions and maintained steady progress. Through proactive planning and coordinated execution, McElhanney delivered reliable survey support that contributed to the successful advancement of this critical infrastructure project.
Benefit to the Client
McElhanney provided accurate survey control, boundary re-establishment, and regulatory support that helped keep the North Coast Transmission Line project on schedule. Through effective coordination, proactive planning, and adaptability to challenging conditions, we delivered reliable survey data that supported efficient project execution and informed decision-making.
EPCOR CETR 72KV / 240KV and Fort Road Substation, Edmonton, Alberta
Client: EPCOR Utilities Inc. | Services Provided: Integrated Multidisciplinary Consulting Services
Project Summary
McElhanney provided full multidisciplinary consulting services for EPCOR Utilities Inc.’s Fort Road Substation, a key component of the City of Edmonton Transmission Reinforcement (CETR) program. The greenfield development included new 72 kV and 240 kV transmission infrastructure, four power transformers, extensive substation yard facilities, and foundations for a prefabricated control building. McElhanney supported the project from planning and design through construction.
Our integrated team delivered project management, surveying, geotechnical, civil, structural, and landscape architecture services, alongside permitting, procurement support, and construction administration. Services included site investigations, grading and drainage design, transformer and equipment foundations, surveying, tender development, field reviews, and as-built documentation. McElhanney also developed long-term standard design packages to support future EPCOR substation projects.
Benefit to the Client
By providing end-to-end multidisciplinary expertise through a single project team, McElhanney streamlined project delivery, reduced coordination requirements, and supported efficient decision-making throughout design and construction. Our integrated approach helped EPCOR successfully advance a critical transmission reinforcement project while establishing standardized design solutions that can be leveraged across future substation developments.
ATCO Electric CAAR Program Support
Client: ATCO Electric | Services Provided: Geomatics Services for Utility Infrastructure
Project Summary
McElhanney has provided specialized geomatics support to ATCO Electric’s Climate Adaptation and Asset Reliability (CAAR) program, delivering accurate spatial data to inform infrastructure planning and development. During the pre-design phase, our team completed topographic surveys, established survey control, and collected geospatial data using UAV photogrammetry, LiDAR, and GNSS technologies to support asset assessment and identify potential site constraints and climate-related risks.
In the pre-construction phase, McElhanney delivered legal surveys, construction survey planning, and field verification services to confirm design alignment and ensure reliable project information. Working closely with ATCO Electric, we provided consistent, high-quality survey data that supported engineering, planning, and project delivery objectives across the CAAR program.
Benefit to the Client
McElhanney’s dependable geomatics services provided ATCO Electric with accurate, timely survey data that reduced project uncertainty and informed decision-making throughout planning and pre-construction. By supporting climate adaptation and asset reliability objectives with advanced geospatial technologies and coordinated project delivery, we helped improve efficiency, enhance project coordination, and support the development of resilient electrical infrastructure.
Local Expertise
Supporting the Infrastructure That Powers Our Communities
Behind every successful project is a team that understands the technical details, the local context, and the challenges that can arise along the way. McElhanney is one of the largest and longest-tenured Geomatics & Engineering firms in Western Canada, bringing together experienced professionals with decades of experience supporting transmission and distribution projects.
Our people bring deep technical expertise and practical, field-based experience to every project. They understand the realities of working across Western Canada and bring that knowledge to help clients navigate complex projects, solve challenges, and make informed decisions from planning through construction and operations.
We believe strong projects are built through collaboration. Our teams work closely with owners, contractors, regulators, and communities, bringing the right expertise to the table at the right time. It’s this combination of technical knowledge, local experience, and a collaborative approach that helps us deliver practical solutions for the infrastructure that powers our communities.
Peter Lund, PEng. ALS
Alberta & Saskatchewan
587-435-8923
plund@mcelhanney.com
Marcell Iseli, BTech, DiplEng
British Columbia
604-424-4816
miseli@mcelhanney.com
