Top use cases for utility asset image analytics in 2024

3-minute read

By implementing AI-driven inspections using visual data from drones, satellites, LiDAR, and even cell phone cameras, utilities can enhance strategic decision-making capabilities and operational readiness across a wide range of essential use cases.

Use case #1: Construction inspection

When building new assets, utilities must execute regular inspections to ensure that construction proceeds on schedule and meets design specifications.

By using drone imagery to monitor construction, surveyors and design engineers can ensure their projects adhere to design specifications and timelines. More frequent inspections and accurate visual data contribute to a comprehensive view of project progress and support compliance with regulatory standards.

Outcomes of leveraging asset image analytics for construction inspections

• More timely inspections
• More accurate inspections
• Reduced reliability risk
• Enhanced compliance with regulations and standards from state utility commissions, FERC, NERC, etc.

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Use case #2: Emergency response

In emergency conditions, asset damage can lead to service outages and dangerous situations such as downed power lines. Drone and satellite images can help utilities assess lines more quickly before and after emergencies, improving critical decisions and reducing the time to restoring power to communities.

In non-emergency conditions, asset image analytics can help utilities identify and address assets that could be at high risk for damage during storms or other severe weather—such as leaning utility poles—enabling predictive maintenance that can help prevent failures.
 

Outcomes of tapping into asset image analytics for emergency response

• Predictive maintenance to understand urgency of asset replacement
• Improved safety during storms and reenergization
• Improved reliability after emergency conditions

Use case #3: Circuit inspection

In the effort to ensure that circuits are intact and free of defects, utilities must inspect miles upon miles of power lines. These vast inspection areas are challenging to patrol, and close manual inspection of the assets requires hazardous, time-consuming work because inspectors are limited in the views they can get from ground level. Fly-over inspections by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft are more expensive and come with their own limitations in the fidelity of images they can capture.

Drones are an effective solution because of their lower cost, ease of deployment, and ability to capture high-quality images of structures. Employing drones for circuit inspections aids in the early detection of potential defects in splice locations or conductor diameters. Regular aerial inspections increase the overall reliability and safety of the grid, while also reducing the time and cost associated with manual inspections.
 

Outcomes of powering circuit inspections with asset image analytics

• Ability to conduct more frequent inspections
• Improved safety and reliability
• Cost savings due to better utilization of engineering hours
• Decrease in hours required for inspection activities
• Increase in length of circuits reviewed per inspection

Use case #4: Asset digital mapping

Making data-driven decisions regarding maintenance of utility assets can be challenging if

• Assets are either missing or not correctly positioned on the digital map, or
• As-is built data is incomplete, not digitized, and/or inaccurate.

Image analytics can help utilities ensure that digital maps accurately represent all assets, which is crucial for both regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.
 

Outcomes of leveraging image analytics to ensure accurate digital asset maps

• Enhanced cost effectiveness due to quicker response time to issues, minimized downtime, and decreased cost to fix
• Improved asset data quality
• Decrease in deviation of tracked assets to reality
• Support for downstream automation activities
• Decreased manual labor required for asset tracking