Dynamic electric power line monitoring system

A method of automated measuring and alerting of a distance from an electrical power line to an object encroaching on the power line using a distance sensor configured in a device securely attached to the power line at a fixed location on the power line and comprising a wireless transmitter and a processor, the method comprising:

• measuring the distance of the encroaching object to the power line using the distance sensor from the fixed location;
• interpreting the measured distance of the encroaching object to the power line using the processor at the fixed location;
• and
• transmitting an alert based on the encroachment of the object to the power line using the transmitter from the fixed location.

A network of devices configured to securely attach to an electrical power line at corresponding fixed locations on the power line and measure a distance from the power line to objects encroaching on the power line, and for communicating with an intended recipient, each device of the network of devices comprising:

• a distance sensor configured to measure the distance from the power line to an encroaching object of the objects encroaching on the power line from a respective fixed location of the fixed locations;
• a wireless transceiver;
• an inductive power generator configured to generate electrical power inductively from the power line at the fixed location for use by the device;
• and
• a processor adapted to:
• interpret the measured distance of the power line to the encroaching object;
• transmit an alert related to the encroachment of the object to the power line through the transceiver;
• receive another such alert through the transceiver from another device in the network of devices;
• and
• retransmit the other alert from the other device through the transceiver, wherein the network of devices is configured to wirelessly communicate the alert from the device to the intended recipient.