Saarlouis plans electricity and gas grids in 3D

06.08.2025

Source: E & M powernews

Electricity and gas lines, sewers and house connections in Saarlouis are moving into the three-dimensional model. The municipal utilities are thus creating the basis for well-founded planning decisions.

Stadtwerke Saarlouis (Saarland) is taking its network documentation to a new level. In future, they will no longer only record electricity, gas, water and fiber optic networks in two dimensions, but in digital 3D format. Supplemented by data on buildings and the underground, the aim is to create a complete digital image of the city, as the utility announced on August 5. The so-called digital twin should increase planning reliability in the long term, reduce costs and better protect the critical infrastructure.

With around 134 employees, Stadtwerke Saarlouis supplies around 37,000 inhabitants of the district town. They manage an electricity network of 700 kilometers in medium and low voltage. In addition, there are 152 kilometers of gas network, 238 kilometers of water network and a 500-kilometer fiber optic network. The latter is currently being expanded further.

Stadtwerke notes that digital network data is increasingly being used to manage investments, expand the network and for simulations. "The better the data, the more informed the decisions," explains Silke Kockler-Schikofsky. According to the Head of Network Documentation and Planning Information at Stadtwerke, repair and damage reports also flow into the database. This means that critical sections of pipeline can be identified at an early stage and replaced in a targeted manner.

Aiming for a comprehensive data pool

The central goal is to create a comprehensive data pool together with the city administration that both sides can access. "This joint pool will make it possible to display the entire city, including the underground, as a 3D model," says Ralf Levacher, Technical Managing Director of Stadtwerke. This should be particularly useful for measures to protect the Kritis - for example, when simulating floods or planning new heating infrastructure.

According to the utility, the development of network documentation is closely linked to the digitalization of municipal infrastructure. From analog paper plans to the first digital twins in 2D, the development now extends to database-supported 3D mapping. Such a model not only enables network analyses and load flow calculations, but also targeted conversions or dismantling measures.

Exploiting different data sources

Stadtwerke Saarlouis relies on various sources to feed the digital twin with real data: They document civil engineering work such as house connections or pipe repairs by scanning cell phones using laser technology (LiDAR). This creates so-called point clouds that contain precise depth information. In addition, a camera vehicle from the company Cyclomedia drove through the city to collect surface data. This was combined with aerial photographs to create a 3D mesh model.

The company uses a digital terrain model from the State Office for Surveying, high-resolution aerial images and internal pipeline documentation with factual data from the electricity, gas, water and telecommunications sectors as further data sources.

The visualization is carried out using the "MapEdit" software and the associated 3D viewer from the provider Mensch und Maschine Deutschland GmbH. According to Kockler-Schikofsky, it is crucial to combine all information in a central data pool and make it usable for various applications.

The cost of the digital conversion is high, according to the municipal utilities without providing further details. However, they believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages: the new depth of data improves collaboration with planners, authorities and construction companies. The 3D model also helps to manage investments more efficiently and to identify any conflicts with existing lines or surfaces at an early stage in future expansion plans.

Author: Davina Spohn