Modernizing Utility Infrastructure Inspections: Where AI Meets Asset Management
For utility companies, drone-based infrastructure inspection has become an increasingly valuable tool for maintaining transmission lines and towers. However, as one major Northeast utility discovered, the explosion of visual data from drone inspections can create unexpected challenges that require innovative solutions combining cloud storage, artificial intelligence, and modern application design.
The Data Dilemma
When a major Northeast utility investigated why their SharePoint storage was nearing capacity, they discovered an unexpected culprit: their drone inspection program had consumed 8.5 terabytes of their 10-terabyte allocation with images and videos of transmission line inspections.
While drone inspections significantly improved the ability to monitor infrastructure conditions, the sheer volume of visual data created new challenges. Multiple teams needed access to this information – from maintenance crews to permitting departments and vegetation management teams – but the existing system made it difficult to efficiently store, access, and analyze this valuable data.
Reimagining the Infrastructure Inspection Workflow
To address these challenges, the utility partnered with Microsoft to develop a comprehensive solution that would transform their drone inspection program through three key innovations:
- Optimized Data Storage: Moving inspection footage from SharePoint to Azure Blob storage dramatically reduced storage costs while maintaining accessibility.
- Enhanced User Experience: A custom Power Platform application improved data accessibility and workflow efficiency. Users can now access inspection data through an intuitive map interface, clicking on transmission lines to instantly view associated images and maintenance histories.
- AI-Powered Analysis: The integration of artificial intelligence automates the initial analysis of drone footage, identifying potential issues and flagging areas that require human review.
Breaking Down Silos Through Technology
One of the project's most significant benefits was its ability to break down information silos between departments. The solution created a single source of truth for infrastructure inspection data, allowing multiple stakeholders to access and utilize the information they need.
The utility discovered that at least five or six different groups regularly needed access to this inspection data. By modernizing their approach, they turned what was essentially a storage problem into an opportunity for greater collaboration and efficiency across the organization.
Measuring Success: The ROI of AI-Powered Inspections
The implementation of AI in the inspection process has delivered measurable benefits in two key areas:
- Productivity Gains: Traditional manual image analysis required 3-5 minutes per image. The AI-powered system can process images automatically, only flagging those that require human review.
- Error Reduction: AI analysis helps ensure consistent evaluation of infrastructure conditions, reducing the risk of overlooking potential issues.
Best Practices for Utilities Considering Similar Programs
For utilities looking to modernize their infrastructure inspection programs, several key lessons emerged from this project:
- Start with Data Management: Before implementing AI solutions, ensure you have a robust and cost-effective data management strategy in place.
- Focus on User Experience: Design solutions that make data easily accessible to all stakeholders who need it.
- Build Cross-Functional Teams: Success requires collaboration between IT teams and end users to ensure solutions meet real-world needs.
- Plan for Scale: Consider future data growth when designing storage and analysis solutions.
As utilities continue to expand their use of drone inspections, the combination of cloud storage, artificial intelligence, and modern application design offers a blueprint for managing and extracting value from growing volumes of visual inspection data. The key is taking a holistic approach that considers not just data storage, but how that data will be accessed, analyzed, and acted upon across the organization.
The future of utility infrastructure inspection isn't just about collecting more data – it's about transforming that data into actionable insights that improve reliability, safety, and efficiency across operations.
