Wind turbine installation is a high-stakes balancing act.
On one side, you have strict project timelines and heavy financial penalties for delays. On the other, you have tall cranes and massive components that require specific weather windows to be installed safely.
For contractors, wind speed is the ultimate variable. When high winds bring operations to a halt, the financial clock keeps ticking. But are you liable for those delays, or was the weather truly beyond control?
Remote wind measuring devices—specifically LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and SoDAR (Sonic Detection and Ranging)—have emerged as essential tools for solving this dilemma. Beyond just monitoring safety, these devices provide the verifiable historical data contractors need to prove that a delay was necessary, unavoidable, and excusable.
Here is how remote sensing technology protects both your crew and your bottom line.
The Challenge: Safety vs. Schedules
Contractors face a unique dilemma. You must strictly adhere to safety protocols that forbid crane lifts during high winds. However, you are often contractually responsible for delays.
If you cannot prove exactly why a delay occurred, you risk triggering liquidated damages.
Traditional monitoring methods, such as basic handheld anemometers or data from a weather station 10 miles away, often lack the precision and location-specific data needed to defend against penalty claims. To protect your margins, you need comprehensive, site-specific proof.
Understanding the Tech: LiDAR and SoDAR
Both technologies replace the need for erecting expensive meteorological masts by sitting on the ground and sensing the wind above.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
LiDAR uses laser pulses to measure wind speed and direction. It analyzes the light scattered off particles in the air to calculate velocity with extreme precision.
- Best for: High-accuracy requirements and complex terrain.
- Key Advantage: Excellent vertical profiling (measuring wind at different heights simultaneously).
SoDAR (Sonic Detection and Ranging)
SoDAR operates on a similar principle but uses sound waves. It emits acoustic pulses and measures the Doppler shift of sound waves reflected by atmospheric turbulence.
- Best for: Cost-effective monitoring in standard environments.
- Key Advantage: Reliable performance 24/7 at a generally lower price point than LiDAR.
The below image shows how the online dashboard for the AQ510 SoDAR displays the historical windspeed over time for different heights, from 40m up to 200m.
Real-Time Monitoring: Making the “Go/No-Go” Call
The immediate benefit of these systems is operational safety. Unlike regional forecasts, on-site LiDAR and SoDAR measure wind conditions exactly where the crane is standing. Better yet, the information can be accessed from anywhere 24/7 through the online data dashboard.
1. Site-Specific Accuracy
Wind behaves differently at 100 meters up than it does at ground level. These devices measure wind profiles at the specific working heights of your cranes, eliminating guesswork.
2. Continuous Data Stream
These systems operate 24/7. This ensures project managers have up-to-the-minute information to make informed decisions about lifting windows, maximizing productivity during safe periods.
The Financial Shield: Historical Data
While real-time data protects your safety, historical data protects your wallet.
When a project runs over schedule due to weather, the burden of proof is on the contractor. LiDAR and SoDAR systems automatically log all wind measurements with timestamps, creating an unassailable record of site conditions.
Verifiable Documentation
If a client questions a three-day delay, you can produce a detailed report showing:
- Exact wind speeds at the specific height of the crane boom.
- The duration of the unsafe conditions.
- Trend analysis proving the wind was consistently above operational limits.
This transforms a subjective argument (“It felt too windy to lift”) into objective, scientific evidence.
Legal Protection
In contractual disputes, this data provides:
- Objective evidence that delays were strictly weather-related.
- Proof of due diligence in monitoring.
- Data integrity that withstands scrutiny in formal dispute resolution.
Real-World Scenario: The Cost of Proof
Consider a contractor installing turbines with a 120-meter crane. The contract allows for “excusable delays” due to weather but imposes penalties for other hold-ups. High winds pause the project for 72 hours.
- Without LiDAR/SoDAR: The contractor relies on a weather station five miles away. The client argues that wind speeds at the station were within limits for part of the day. The contractor struggles to prove otherwise and may face partial penalties.
- With LiDAR/SoDAR: The contractor generates a report showing that while ground wind was low, wind speeds at 120 meters consistently exceeded the 15 m/s safety limit for the entire 72-hour period.
The Result: The delay is deemed excusable. The contractor avoids thousands in penalties and maintains trust with the client.
Best Practices for Deployment
To get the most out of these systems, consider the following:
- Early Deployment: Install systems before the cranes arrive to establish baseline conditions.
- Positioning: Place devices close to the lift site to ensure data accurately reflects crane operating conditions.
- Reporting: Set up automated alerts for when wind exceeds safety limits and generate weekly reports for project stakeholders.
- Selection: Choose SoDAR for budget-conscious projects with standard terrain, or LiDAR for maximum precision in complex environments.
Conclusion
In the wind energy sector, precision is everything. LiDAR and SoDAR devices offer a dual-layer of protection: they provide the visibility needed to keep crews safe and the documentation needed to keep projects profitable.
By investing in advanced wind monitoring, contractors can move from defensive posturing to proactive management, ensuring that when the wind blows, their project margins don’t blow away with it.
Ready to secure your next project?
For more information about implementing LiDAR or SoDAR wind monitoring systems for your wind turbine installation projects, contact our team today to discuss your specific requirements.