Architectural considerations for asset image data management

3-minute read

The following is an excerpt from our white paper Transforming utility operations with asset image analytics: Strategies and impacts. Click here to download the paper and learn more about how to integrate image analytics into your utility’s operational strategies.

Successfully deploying asset image analytics demands a robust architectural framework designed to handle vast volumes of data efficiently while also ensuring scalability, performance, and seamless integration with existing systems. Following are some key architectural considerations to keep in mind while developing an asset image analytics program.

Cloud-based infrastructure

Cloud platforms like AWS or Azure provide the scalable resources needed for the significant computational and data demands of processing high-resolution images from drones, satellites, and other sources. These platforms offer a series of key advantages, including but not limited to:

• Scalable resources: Cloud environments can dynamically allocate resources to meet the demands of large-scale image processing tasks.
• Advanced processing capabilities: Cloud platforms provide advanced GPU and CPU options that are ideal for the intensive computations required by computer vision and machine learning models.
• Integration ease: Cloud platforms offer extensive integration options with other cloud services and APIs, facilitating seamless data flows between different applications and systems.

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Data storage and management

Asset image analytics programs generate vast quantities of data from diverse sources such as drones, satellites, and LiDAR. The utility’s data storage and management system must support high ingestion rates and ensure rapid access and retrieval. Specific considerations include, but are not limited to:

• Scalable storage infrastructure: Opt for cloud-based storage solutions that can dynamically scale in response to varying data volumes and operational demands.
• Data segmentation and indexing: Implement data segmentation techniques to organize data into logical, manageable blocks, making it easier to process and retrieve.
• Hybrid storage solutions: Consider a hybrid storage approach that combines the elasticity of cloud storage with the speed and direct controllability of local data centers.

Advanced analytics capabilities

Advanced analytics forms the core of an effective program, enabling the transformation of raw image data into actionable insights that can enhance operational decision-making and efficiency. The architecture should include:

• Real-time processing engines: Utilize advanced processing frameworks like Apache Spark or Flink, which can handle streaming data and complex computations efficiently.
• Machine learning platforms: Integrate robust ML platforms that support model training, testing, and deployment within the same environment.
• AI-optimized hardware: Consider deploying AI-optimized hardware such as GPUs or TPUs that can significantly speed up the processing of machine learning models.
• Automated model training and retraining: Automate the training and retraining processes to ensure models remain accurate as new data is collected and conditions change.

Connection to reliability metrics

Connecting image analytics outputs with reliability metrics such as SAIDI, CAIFI, and SAIFI enhances the evaluation of asset management strategies’ impact on service reliability. Effective integration requires a thoughtful approach to system architecture that includes:

• Data synchronization and integration: Establish robust data pipelines that synchronize processed image data with operational data systems.
• Real-time processing and automated alerts: Leveraging real-time data processing to quickly identify and act on issues enhances operational responsiveness.
• Analytics and decision support tools: Advanced analytics tools that link image analytics outputs directly with reliability metrics enable utilities to understand the impact of asset conditions on service reliability.