- Company: Trinity Public Utilities District (PUD)
- Location: Northern California
- Solution: AiDASH Intelligent Vegetation Management System™ (IVMS™)
Trinity PUD — A Prevention-First Approach to Vegetation Management and Wildfire Risk
Located in a wildfire-prone region of Northern California, Trinity Public Utilities District (PUD) serves a rugged and heavily forested service area with dynamic terrain and evolving climate challenges. As a community-focused public utility, Trinity PUD balances grid reliability and vegetation risk mitigation within the constraints of a modest budget and a lean workforce. Their operational environment requires both innovation and adaptability to maintain service continuity and community safety year-round.
Problem
For years, Trinity PUD operated on a three-year vegetation management cycle, augmented with aerial patrols and manual workflows. However, prolonged drought and heightened wildfire risk forced a strategic shift—redirecting focus to high-risk “snag” tree removals while delaying traditional cycle trims. Despite removing over 30,000 trees, backlog persisted, and the need for a more modern, trackable system grew.
Compounding the challenge was the district’s reliance on paper-based planning, which made it difficult to share and scale vegetation management plans internally. While Trinity had tested AI-powered satellite imagery years prior, early experiences were hindered by shapefile alignment issues and unmet expectations around system-wide visibility.
As leadership began to assess the sustainability of their approach—especially with future succession planning in mind—it became clear that a digital, prevention-first vegetation management system was needed to improve accountability, consistency, and operational foresight.
“With AiDASH, we’re building a more resilient, trackable vegetation program. It's not just about trimming—it’s about ensuring continuity for whoever leads this after me.”
Dave Delange
Assistant Superintendent, Trinity Public Utilities DistrictSolution
In 2023, Trinity PUD implemented the AiDASH Intelligent Vegetation Management System™ (IVMS), beginning with the hazard tree module and work planning capabilities. With support from AiDASH utility specialists, the utility restructured its workflows and began digitizing its vegetation management cycle.
Key implementation features included:
- Mobile-enabled work tracking with offline maps and real-time task syncing.
- System segmentation for dynamic field planning across variable terrain.
- Hazard tree identification and workflow management integrated into day-to-day operations.
- Digital shift from static maps and paper plans to an AI-informed platform.
Result
The deployment of IVMS has helped Trinity PUD:
- Transition to a digitally trackable, field-validated vegetation management program.
- Prioritize hazard tree removal while maintaining control over the broader system.
- Begin systematically reducing the work backlog using data-informed plans.
- Prepare for future staffing transitions by codifying institutional knowledge into a digital system.
- Lay the groundwork for integration of additional data sources, including drone imagery and shapefile corrections.
The result is a more agile, transparent approach to vegetation management—where risk can be measured, action tracked, and reliability reinforced with each decision.
About AiDASH
AiDASH is making critical infrastructure industries climate-resilient and secure. Using our satellite-first platform for grid inspection and monitoring, our AI applications enable electric and gas utilities and landowners to transform how they manage and maintain assets. Our customers deliver ROI in their first year of deployment with reduced costs, improved reliability, and advancements in sustainability goals. AiDASH exists to safeguard critical infrastructure and secure the future of humanAIty™.
Learn more at www.aidash.com.
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