Duration: 1 hour
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Summary
Effective vegetation management is essential for maintaining power grid reliability, but many utilities are hindered by outdated methods and a dwindling pool of experienced staff. The City of Westerville faced these challenges with a traditional approach reliant on manual inspections, paper maps, and anecdotal reports, compounded by the imminent retirement of key personnel.
In this educational webinar, we will explore Westerville’s innovative shift towards a data-driven vegetation management strategy. Discover how they transformed their approach by integrating satellite data and artificial intelligence to address key challenges such as reactive vegetation management, oversight of high-risk vegetation, and fragmented work processes.
Key Learning Points:
- Transitioning to Modern Methods: Understand how Westerville moved from manual and visual inspection techniques to a more sophisticated, data-centric approach.
- Comprehensive Risk Management: Discover how satellite data and AI enhance risk management through detailed vegetation classification, encroachment risk analysis, health assessments, species identification, and hazard tree detection.
- Addressing Knowledge Gaps: Learn how AI helps bridge the gap left by retiring staff and loss of institutional knowledge.
- Streamlining Workflows: Explore how ESRI integration facilitates the seamless delivery of actionable insights, enabling timely decision-making and efficient operations.
This webinar is designed for utility professionals and managers seeking practical insights into modernizing vegetation management practices. Gain valuable knowledge not just on overcoming common vegetation-related challenges, but also on maximizing the value of existing applications within your organization with additional, valuable insights.
Speaker
Joseph DeLong
Utility Forester
City of Westerville - Electric Division
Joe DeLong is a seasoned professional in the field of vegetation management. As an ISA Certified Arborist and ISA Utility Specialist, Joe has dedicated over a decade to the industry, beginning his journey in 2010. His career trajectory has seen him evolve from a grounds person to a skilled tree climber. Joe is currently serving as a Utility Forester for the City of Westerville Electric Division, Joe manages a team of Utility Arborists and oversees vegetation contractors. Throughout his career, Joe has been driven by a passion for safety, efficiency, and enjoyment in the workplace. He believes in making the challenging tasks of vegetation management as safe, streamlined, and enjoyable as possible for himself and his team. Joe's commitment to excellence has earned him recognition as a leader in the field, and his insights are sought after by peers and professionals alike. Whether he's strategizing on risk mitigation, implementing cutting-edge techniques, or fostering a positive work environment, Joe consistently strives for excellence in every aspect of his career. With his wealth of knowledge and unwavering dedication, Joe continues to leave a lasting impact on the vegetation management industry.
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