Utilities – Drones
The use of drones in the Utilities industry is enhancing safety and efficiency. Traditional methods of powerline inspection can pose great risks for technicians, who must work at heights with many hazards. But with drones, there is now a significantly reduced need to put humans at risk when surveying and repairing the towers and wires of power lines.
Drones have also become a vital tool in the inspection of solar panels. They have the power to collect data many times faster, decreasing the need for long and hazardous manhours and minimising risk. Drone-based inspection provides timesaving and efficiency benefits, allowing operators to detect more potential flaws in the solar panels.
The broad application of drones in the power and utilities sector have introduced more efficient ways of working. As the use cases for drones continue to grow, so will the technological advancements that play such a key role in improving the safety and efficiency of power plants.
Utilities – Satellites
Utilities companies are now using satellite technologies more than ever, to improve safety, efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Companies are relying on satellites for remote imaging and sensing to monitor and maintain their assets.
Satellite technology plays a key role in monitoring underground utilities such as gas, electric, water and wastewater lines. Engineers use images and data to map lines and supporting structures. GPS also helps contractors locate hidden underground facilities before digging and construction. And with machine learning and artificial intelligence, integrating satellites and analytics yields greater sensitivity and introduces new predictive capabilities to head off problems and respond more quickly to adverse events.
Satellite technology can also help in planning and managing wind, solar and other renewable energy sources. Images and sensors collect data about solar irradiance, wind speed, precipitation and other useful factors for site selection, engineering, construction, and facility operations.