Drone Services for Power Utilities
Drone Services provide a significant increase in safety, efficiency, and reliability for power utilities operations. Drones are capable of conducting routine inspections and providing essential data for optimal management of critical assets.
The importance of energy in our society cannot be understated. From manufacturing to transportation, technological innovation, and everything in between, all economic activity requires power.
The Energy industry relies on the ability of power utilities to supply clients with uninterrupted power, efficient load distribution, and minimal system downtime. Technological innovation has influenced the industry at a rapid pace, increasing delivery of critical success factors. Power producers and utilities with flexible business models and operations have seen the greatest success in this rapidly changing environment. Drone services are an innovation that has seen rapid uptake in the industry. The adoption of this emerging technology is due to the many applications and benefits of drones as a tool, and due to the enhanced efficiency and reduced risk provided by drone services.
Power utilities rely on inspections and maintenance programs to ensure the safe and effective operation of critical infrastructure. However, inspections of power corridors, transmission and distribution lines, and other important assets can take large amounts of time and money to carry out. Drone-based services are a safe and efficient solution to the inspection and management needs of power utility professionals.
At AltoMaxx, we work with clients across all phases of the power lifecycle to deliver drone-based solutions tailored to their needs. Our state-of-the-art solution uses the latest drone technology, proven data capture techniques, and Artificial Intelligence to provide efficient management and optimization of critical asset, infrastructure, and inspection data. Our experience in linear infrastructure, asset management, surveying, mapping, and modeling helps our clients deliver safe and efficient maintenance programs, avoid costly outages, and meet the demands of regulators and clients.
Drone Applications
Drone technology allows power utilities to inspect assets in difficult to reach and inaccessible areas. These enhanced inspections support safe and efficient maintenance programs, avoid costly outages, and meet the demands of regulators and clients.
AltoMaxx utilizes multiple technological capabilities when delivering drone services and inspections, including:
A key tool available to our clients is our capability in Artificial Intelligence. Computer vision is a field of artificial intelligence that trains computers to interpret and understand the visual world. Machines can accurately identify and locate objects then react to what they “see” using digital images from cameras, videos, and deep learning models.
For power utilities, this means less time decoding inspection data into meaningful information and more time maintaining systems.
From the development of a new facility, to maintenance of existing assets, to logging geospatial data - our experts understand what it takes to deliver fast, reliable, and efficient modelling services.
Technologies used in the delivery of our Survey, Mapping, and Modelling services include:
Mitigating risks associated with vegetation growth is a major challenge for power utilities. Repairing damage caused by vegetation can be expensive, while meeting regulatory standards and maintaining compliance programs present both significant risks to staff and extensive operational costs.
Drone services allow clients to quickly and efficiently map power transmission and distribution corridors, resulting in accurate 2D and 3D models of critical infrastructure and surrounding landscape.
These models measure the distance between vegetation and power lines, detecting when vegetation surpasses the minimum safe distance and requires maintenance.
Technologies used in the delivery of our Vegetation Inspections and Management services include:
While these inspections are a critical element of operational efficiency, they can be both hazardous and tedious. Drone services can help you detect hot spots instantly – providing inspectors with critical real-time data.
Technologies used in the delivery of our inspection services include:
AltoMaxx drones are equipped with advanced obstacle avoidance systems, powerful spotlights, and thermal imaging cameras. These payloads allow for reliable deployment of drones for internal inspections and defect detection.
Technologies used in the delivery of our Boiler and Stack Inspection services include:
How Can We Help?
We approach every project as a partnership. It’s our goal to develop solutions that directly meet the challenges of our clients operations. We achieve this by working alongside our clients to deliver tailored drone services that leverage the incredible potential of drone technology. Let’s talk.
AI/Utility Inspection
Understanding the physical condition of assets is critical to the efficient and effective delivery of your operations.
Drone services like asset inspections allow power utilities to inspect areas that are otherwise hard to reach. This enables safe and efficient maintenance programs, avoiding costly outages, and meeting the demands of regulators and clients.
Technologies used in the delivery of our inspection services include:
Survey,Mapping,aand Modelling
Understanding your site is critical to delivering your project. Drone Services provide an aerial advantage.
From the development of a new facility, to maintenance of existing assets, and logging geospatial data. Our experts understand what it takes to deliver fast, reliable, and efficient modelling services.
Technologies used in the delivery of our Survey, Mapping, and Modelling services include:
Vegetation Management
Vegetation growth along transmission right-of-way’s represent a significant hazard for operations, and often a root cause of power failures.
Mitigating these risks is a major challenge for power utilities. Repairs following an incident can be expensive, while compliance programs to maintain regulations present both operational risks to staff and costly terrestrial programs.
Drone services allow clients to quickly and efficiently map power line corridors, creating accurate 2D and 3D models.
These models measure the distance between vegetation and power lines, helping to maintain a safe clearance distance and maintenance.
Technologies used in the delivery of our Vegetation Management services include:
Boiler/Stack Inspection
Drones are compact and flexible, able to fly into boilers and stacks for a full scan without shutdowns or endangering inspection workers. The live footage helps identify risks for informed decision-making.
Our drones are equipped with advanced obstacle sensing systems, spotlights, and thermal cameras. Allowing for reliable deployment for internal inspections to detect defects.
Technologies used in the delivery of our Stack Inspection services include:
Solar Farm Inspection
Solar farm management costs power utilities an estimated $1 billion per year in labor costs. In order to avoid unnecessary and unexpected costs, routine inspections are important to ensure everything is in proper working order.
While these inspections are a critical element of operational efficiency, they can be both hazardous and tedious. Drone services can help you detect hot spots instantly – transforming a half-day job into minutes.
Technologies used in the delivery of our inspection services include:
