eSmart Systems, Xcel Energy, & EDM International Announce the Successful Completion of Phase One of Xcel Energy’s Transmiss...
July 07 2020 - 9:15AM
Business Wire
eSmart Systems, Xcel Energy, and EDM International announce the
completion of the first phase of a strategic initiative to enhance
the aerial inspection of Xcel’s transmission system. The foundation
of this solution is Collaborative Intelligence, which combines
human intelligence with Grid Vision™, an AI-based analytics
solution from eSmart. The first phase, launched in December 2019,
was successful in deploying Collaborative Intelligence to inspect
and document 2,897 miles of Xcel Energy’s transmission assets and
finished ahead of schedule in March. The multi-year initiative will
be expanded into Phase Two to continue to update asset records,
reduce operational costs, decrease failure rates, and extend asset
life.
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Xcel Energy and eSmart Systems have
successfully launched Phase Two of Xcel's Transmission Grid Virtual
Inspection Project (Photo: Business Wire)
"Xcel Energy's work on unmanned aircraft systems with our
partners demonstrates that collaboration benefits customers, the
economy and the environment,” said Michael Lamb, senior vice
president, transmission for Xcel Energy. "Our company is an
industry leader in using UAS technologies for transmission line
inspections and our work with eSmart Systems and EDM will help
improve the safety and reliability of the energy grid."
Phase Two launched in May 2020
Phase Two builds on the success of Phase One, with an additional
5,000 miles of Xcel Energy's transmission system to be inspected by
the end of 2020. As in Phase One, transmission asset imagery will
be collected by Xcel Energy's Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and
manned helicopters. Phase Two will further improve the inspection
processes by enhancing the Collaborative Intelligence approach with
a deeper integration of eSmart’s Grid Vision™, an AI-based
analytics system, into their existing business processes. eSmart
and EDM are leveraging the Phase One image data to improve the
efficacy of Grid Vision™ by eSmart, making the asset component
identification and defect detection more efficient and
effective.
"eSmart Systems is pleased to partner with EDM to bring its
Collaborative Intelligence approach to help Xcel Energy use aerial
image data. We see this project as helping utilities to practically
bridge the gap in the transition from today’s largely manual
processes to the world that leverages digital technology such as AI
and UAS images for grid inspection and asset management," says Knut
H. H. Johansen, CEO and founder of eSmart Systems.
"Phase One was a tremendous success for the partnership of Xcel
Energy, EDM, and eSmart. We are now in the process of applying
those results to enhance our large-scale transmission inspection
capabilities. The problems we're solving for Xcel Energy, including
a full inventory of grid assets and updating their inventory
system, as well as accelerating the identification of defects, will
help utilities more efficiently and safely operate their critical
infrastructure," adds Steve Hambric, President of North America at
eSmart Systems.
Collaborative Intelligence
The Collaborative Intelligence approach combines human
intelligence from EDM’s T&D Subject Matter Experts with Grid
Vision™, an AI-based analytics system by eSmart. Together they
analyze aerial images captured by Unmanned Aircraft Systems and
manned helicopters. This project is seen as a key linchpin
transitioning from today’s manual grid inspection practices to a
process that uses the optimal combination of humans, AI, and aerial
images. These synergies result in more efficiently inspected grid
systems, reduced failure rates, and extended asset life.
About the Companies
eSmart Systems
eSmart Systems is a developer of disruptive intelligent
analytics targeting utility and energy markets. eSmart Systems,
headquartered in Norway, has 80 employees including sales
representatives in Denmark, UK, and in the US. The company was
established in 2013, has commercial revenues from large and
established utilities and transmission & distribution grid
operators. Key owners are Kongsberg Digital, Energy Impact
Partners, Equinor Energy Ventures, Nysnø Climate Investments,
Innogy Ventures, and several Norwegian utilities.
For more information, visit esmartsystems.com.
Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers
millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and
Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an
industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and
producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of
renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information,
visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
EDM International
EDM is an employee-owned alliance of engineers, scientists,
technologists, and businesspeople providing innovative services and
products to the utility industry since 1982. The company has become
a leader in utility engineering, operations, and asset management
by merging excellence in technical disciplines with a genuine
concern for client needs. EDM is headquartered in Fort Collins,
Colorado, and has offices in San Diego, California, and Billings,
Montana, and staff in other locations in North America.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005192/en/
Knut Johansen, CEO, eSmart Systems, + 47 909 81 318
knut.johansen@esmartsystems.com Steve Hambric, President North
America, eSmart Systems, +1 (404) 432-6891
steve.hambric@esmartsystems.com Maria Cervantes, Marketing &
Communications, eSmart Systems, +1 (512) 999-6645
maria.cervantes@esmartsystems.com
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