Landscape considerations in route studies
Integrating overhead lines into the environment

Overhead power lines are part of the everyday landscape for many people. The visual impact of a high-voltage or extra-high-voltage line is significant, given its linearity and the size of the pylons. Particular attention must therefore be paid to integrating them into the landscape. There are two main ways of integrating a line, which must be perceived as a technical, contemporary object, representative of our modern civilization:

• take advantage of relief and vegetation to greatly reduce the visual impact of the line; this is known as absorption, and is particularly sought after in a landscape whose symbolism is opposed to that of the line (natural landscape or landscape marked by history);

• promote a more global approach...