On-Demand Webinar, 1 hour with Q&A Session
Hosted by the Utility Analytics Institute, presented by Deloitte and Optelos
In this recorded webinar from October 22, 2024, we provide an update on ComEd’s progress in implementing their Advanced Image Analytics program, which is leveraging drone powerline inspection with computer vision AI image processing to build a more effective and proactive maintenance program. ComEd is empowering their workforce to more rapidly and effectively identify and repair asset defect conditions before they are service impacting.
Presented by project partners Deloitte and Optelos, this webinar covers the background of the project and the technical implementation details of the AI classifiers developed for the program, as well as an update on where ComEd is at implementing their Advanced Image Analytics program and driving user adoption of the platform and new use cases.
Optelos + Deloitte Presentation
Title: Catching Up on ComEd: Project updates on automating grid analytics through drone inspection and computer vision AI
Date Held: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Duration: 1 hour, including Q&A
Webinar Description:
ComEd launched the Advanced Image Analytics program in 2022 to build a more effective and proactive maintenance program. This human + machine approach leverages the latest visual data technologies and AI-powered analytics to create a more resilient and reliable grid by identifying asset defects more accurately and quickly. By utilizing drones for image capture combined with AI processing for automated defect detection, the program is projected to improve maintenance efficiencies and provide ComEd with deeper, near real-time insights into the state of health of all distribution assets.
This presentation covers the program elements and lessons learned, which includes asset inspection through drone data capture, automated image upload and assignment to the correct asset, AI processing of inspection imagery to automate defect detection, and additional use cases for the captured asset data to improve operational performance and customer service.
Session takeaways:
- Steps involved in starting a drone-based asset inspection program with computer vision AI analysis of asset inspection imagery.
- Steps and competencies required for developing, deploying and retraining AI classifier algorithms.
- Additional use cases and applications for your new drone-captured asset inspection image database.
- Integrations and database consolidations to improve data access and asset visibility.
Optelos is the foundational platform for the ComEd Advanced Image Analytics platform, with the ability to manage the asset inspection data workflow from drone flight scheduling through to ticketing and dispatch and asset status dashboards & reporting.
ComEd started the program in 2022 by first engaging Deloitte through an RFP process to provide data science expertise, image labeling resources, and project management support. Deloitte worked with internal ComEd data scientists and Optelos to drive the project forward and develop a unified database containing all relevant distribution asset imagery and data to improve asset visibility and insights.
The program’s full implementation also included building out drone data collection capabilities to automatically ingest autonomously gathered inspection imagery to effectively organize and store it for fast and reliable access. ComEd will continue to build out the AI analytics models via image labeling, manage the on-demand AI/ML analytics and processing operations, and ultimately deliver geo-located asset inspection results that enable real-time actionable insights, speeding trouble resolution and improving proactive maintenance.
“Optelos delivers a mature, flexible and advanced image storage and inspection platform that is well-designed to pair with artificial intelligence algorithms. ComEd has formed a valuable partnership with Optelos in helping maximize their platform for efficient utility operations.”
Joey Martinez, Principal Data Scientist, ComEd Advanced Image Analytics Project
ComEd’s Advanced Image Analytics Platform utilizes AI algorithms to automatically classify and identify defect conditions on distribution assets to deliver long term improvements to grid reliability and resiliency.
ComEd now has all elements of the Advanced Image Program in place and ready to deliver long term improvements to grid reliability and resiliency. The program can now serve as a foundation for multiple other applications and use cases. ComEd and Optelos are continuing to expand the capabilities of the Image Analytics Platform, creating additional exciting new use cases to further leverage their valuable inspection data and drive continued efficiencies across the organization.