Utility inspection is a
check conducted on various infrastructure and housing systems to ensure it is
built and further maintained as per the prevailing relevant laws. It is important
as it helps to identify existing or/and potential hazards. The inspection
includes power transmission lines, bridges, oil & gas pipelines,
Importance of Regular
Inspections
There are more than 360000
miles of transmission lines in the U.S. bulk power system. Many of these lines
are inaccessible due to a lack of transportation and geographical locations.
The undetected faulty gas lines and power lines had led to a forest fire.
Companies face legal action and liabilities in such cases. Hence maintenance,
detection, and repairing of defected assets through regular inspections are of
utmost importance.
However, such inspections
at times are extremely risky and dangerous. There is a chance of fall from
high-rise towers or the risk of life while inspecting structurally weak
buildings. They also face certain limitations such as inaccessible terrain,
contact with high-voltage
Using Drones for Utility
Inspections
Due to the above, many
companies have started to use drones as the inspectors can survey the
structures or lines from a safe distance and can cover difficult terrains &
conditions with ease. Few examples of utility inspections carried out using
drones are:
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Drones improve the quality
of such inspection as it allows the inspectors to conduct frequent inspections
and to collect more data. Such timely interventions lead to better management
& maintenance of utilities & assets.
Artificial Intelligence in
Utility Inspection
Utility companies have huge
infrastructure networks and details of such assets are picked up by different
sensors. Thermal imagery, hyperspectral, color, light detection & ranging
are the sensors used. The data from some inputs need to be captured, cataloged,
and processed. This is a time-consuming task and almost impossible to process
manually. This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) shows its prowess.
Data Management using Artificial
Intelligence
The data sets collected
through utility inspection, asset and vegetation management, information from
sensors produce a huge pile of data. To come to insightful conclusions from
such large data sets is humanly impossible. AI provides a holistic approach to
data-set management and classification. AI can gather all data together which
makes it easier to analyze it. Prospective problems or errors can be identified
easily and the issues can be resolved immediately. Basis the past reports, it
is easier to identify potential threats. These records can be stored and
retrieved when needed easily for future research and management as well.
AI does away with human
limitations and errors and can handle and process data that is humanly
impossible. It is the best means of data-sets management & analyses. It is
a tool that enables efficient and prompt decision making but the expertise and
judgement of utility inspectors cannot be done away with.
Conclusion
Artificial Intelligence has
demonstrated impactful effects in the utility industry. It is an efficient tool
that provides complete information about the condition of the infrastructure,
power lines, and other utilities so that timely decisions can be zeroed in upon
by the decision-makers. It has proved to be a boon in the current pandemic
situation where a fewer on-site workforce has been mandated and the utility
inspectors can handle the inspection and reports from any safe off-site
location.
AI doesn’t replace the work
of human beings but enhances their work with its various tools and algorithms.
The future of utility inspections will be more advanced using Artificial
Intelligence and it will be a game-changer in the utility inspection process.
Aventior with its
Artificial Intelligence backed computer vision services helps in easy detection of power lines and to spot any
inconsistencies or glitches. The images captured by drones during the
inspection are processed using an AI algorithm. To know more about our
services, write to us at info@aventior.com