Categories:  Swept Path Analysis – Construction Vehicles
Client:   Vattenfall
Project Date:  2013
Contact:  Peter Mansell
Location:  Llanbadarn Fynydd, Powys, Wales

KTC were appointed by Vattenfall to undertake swept path analysis of the construction and maintenance vehicles that would be required to a proposed new wind farm site in Mid- Wales. Llanbardarn Fynydd is located off the A483 to the south of Newtown.

For the analysis to be undertaken, a 45m Blade Delivery Vehicle had to be created in AutoTRACK. Once designed, this Blade Delivery Vehicle was then ‘driven’ along narrow welsh lanes.

The swept path analysis was used to indicate which bends and junctions along each of the strategic routes would require widening/upgrading before the Blade Delivery Vehicle would be able to physically pass through them. The swept path analysis was also used to indicate where extra land would be required that was outside of the original planning application boundary.

Swept Path Analysis formed the starting point for junction and access design at locations where the vehicles would leave the public highway and travel onto specially constructed tracks at the wind farm site. Swept paths were also used to design suitable passing place locations for the other construction vehicles that were likely to be using the site.