Watch: Real-time remote asset inspection
With the growing demands of today’s utility sector, end-to-end asset monitoring powered by innovative technology has become a viable option for maintaining efficiency, safety and regulatory compliance. As the landscape grows more complex with changing environmental conditions such as increased storms and wildfires, having data at your fingertips is not just a convenience but a necessity. Condition-based monitoring, facilitated by advanced sensors, artificial intelligence and drone technology, is transforming the way utilities manage and maintain their infrastructure, bringing unprecedented control and insights directly to operators.
Unprecedented Control and Insights
Traditional asset monitoring methods involved periodic inspections, requiring significant manpower and time to not only complete the tasks, but to travel to them. These methods were often limited, due to the sheer volume of assets against finite resources, allowing potential issues to go unnoticed until they became critical problems. Near-real-time asset monitoring solutions bridge this gap, providing uninterrupted oversight of assets.
From the convenience of a workstation, operators can continuously monitor the health and status of infrastructure. Advanced drones and sensors collect high-resolution images and data, which are instantly analyzed and displayed. This immediate access to information allows for quick decision-making and proactive maintenance, preventing minor issues from escalating into major failures.
Efficiency, Cost Savings and Enhanced Compliance
End-to-end remote monitoring solutions significantly reduce the need for physical inspections, cutting labor costs and minimizing risks. Drones are particularly useful for inspecting hard-to-reach areas without exposing workers to hazardous conditions, enhancing safety and operational efficiency. For instance, one utility reduced inspection costs by 60% and increased field efficiencies, inspecting 13,000 structures and 17,000 line miles annually with a small team.
Having comprehensive and accurate data readily available helps utilities avoid significant fines and penalties. Regulatory bodies like NERC and FERC require detailed records of asset conditions and maintenance actions, as well as current FEMA requirements to document pre-existing conditions to apply for aid after a disaster. Automated monitoring systems generate precise, up-to-date data that simplifies compliance reporting and reduces the risk of non-compliance fines. Frequent and thorough inspections identify and address potential issues promptly, helping utilities stay ahead of audit justifications and internal documentation requirements.
Proactive Maintenance and Digital Transformation
Condition-based maintenance allows utilities to conduct proactive maintenance using up-to-date data to identify potential issues before they cause downstream problems. This approach extends the lifespan of assets and reduces the frequency and severity of outages.
A crucial aspect of proactive maintenance is the digital transformation of asset management. Asset monitoring solutions can automatically generate and store digital records of asset health, ensuring a comprehensive and accessible history of maintenance and inspections. For instance, one utility halved their substation inspection times, reducing them from eight hours to four hours per inspection, while keeping workers outside energized environments, enhancing safety. Digital records support regulatory compliance and provide valuable insights for future maintenance planning.
Enhanced Decision-Making and Security
Remote asset monitoring provides executives with data-backed insights crucial for making informed decisions amid evolving climate and cyber/physical security threats. Automated drone technology improves asset inspections and serves as a security solution. Drones can be used for random or scheduled patrols to deter potential threats and provide near-real-time insights into threats to both worker and asset safety.
For example, another utility used drones to inspect transmission assets, identifying key issues that could have posed fire hazards. Through aerial imagery, they discovered problems with a single asset and identified multiple other assets at risk. Addressing these issues proactively prevented potential fires and costly outages.
Comprehensive End-to-End Solutions
Effective condition-based monitoring lies in having an end-to-end solution that integrates hardware, software and support services. Automated drone docks enable fully autonomous drone operations, allowing drones to launch, land and recharge without manual intervention. Remote flight software provides operators with the capability to control and monitor drones from any location, ensuring comprehensive coverage of assets. Data management platforms store and analyze the vast amounts of data collected, turning raw information into actionable insights.
Workflow integration tools ensure that collected data is seamlessly incorporated into existing maintenance and operational workflows, enhancing decision-making and efficiency. Comprehensive support services, including customer and professional services, provide utilities with the expertise needed to navigate regulatory requirements and optimize their monitoring programs.
Conclusion
End-to-end asset monitoring is revolutionizing the utility sector. It empowers operators with instant access to critical data, enhances efficiency, assists with adhering to compliance requirements and ultimately leads to more reliable and safer utility operations. By leveraging advanced technologies such as drones, remote operation software, automated docks, data management platforms and comprehensive support services, utilities can stay ahead of potential issues, optimize their operations and ensure the reliability and safety of their infrastructure. Embrace this technological advancement and put data at the helm of your operations today. The future of utility management lies in end-to-end monitoring solutions, and these innovative solutions help position utilities to navigate the complexities of the modern energy landscape. Learn more here.
About the author
Christina Park is an energy sector expert with nearly 20 years of utility experience, with a focus on optimizing utility infrastructure through technology.
