Thermal imaging is not what I’d call ‘the new kid on the block’. After all, cameras that capture infrared images and allow temperatures to be read from the pixels have been around for a while. What has changed first and foremost, is the way thermal data is collected. More and more organizations are relying on drones to collect thermal data that can be used to monitor their infrastructure while looking for overheating components, thinning insulation, and more. As a result, the quantity of thermal data collected has increased significantly. Now the question is how to effectively review and analyze all that data. Clearly,  thermal data management and analysis software needs to become more sophisticated to keep up.

With the right tools for thermal imaging, you can visualize energy losses, identify problematic wiring, and so much more. All these issues are critical when it comes to increasing our infrastructure’s reliability and reducing its downtime.  In this blog, I’ll explain how Percepto AIM’s thermal image analysis software has transformed the way we manage and analyze thermal data collected by our drones.

 

Thermal image analysis before and after Percepto AIM

Before we started using Percepto AIM to manage and analyze our visual data, it was a challenge to ensure reliability and minimize downtime. Our drone operators would collect a lot of data, and then our team would have to upload it, sift through it, and use 3rd party software to analyze it.  With so many steps, some of the data never got analyzed. AIM changed everything.

• Cloud-based software: Before AIM, data captured was analyzed in on-premise software that required individual licenses. This significantly limited who had access to the analyzed data, especially with IT and security protocols in place. Simply put, having a cloud-based software makes it easy for anyone to use thermal tools and get the insights they need to do their job properly.
• One central repository for all data: We were using multiple softwares to analyze our data. For example, you can’t analyze data captured by DJI drones on FLIR’s platform.  Now, all our data – whether from Percepto drones, DJI, or FLIR—is in one place. And it doesn’t need to be moved to other locations or tools for analysis, which is a big time saver. More critically, it provides a holistic picture of our infrastructure, as all the data is managed side by side.
• Advanced AI-powered analytics: Then, it was a matter of analyzing the data and making a report. To be honest, when we were manually analyzing data – a good chunk of it wasn’t being analyzed. Especially when it involved a power grid, which has TONS of data. Now, we can use Percepto AIM to analyze the data and have AIM automatically generate reports. The real game changer for us is Percepto AIM’s anomaly detection. The advanced algorithm compares the most recent thermal data collected to previous data, and detects any temperature differentials we define as critical.
• Intuitive software: Before, we had to slog through the data and manually tag any problem with the asset where it was found. Now, all that data is automatically uploaded and geotagged on a geospatial map of our site. AIM software makes it easy to find what you’re looking for, see how it’s changed over time by comparing it to past inspections, or get detailed information on exactly where and how severe the problem is.

Let’s take a closer look at the software itself.

 

Why you need an advanced thermal image analysis software

It wasn’t enough for me just to have thermal tools that solve data bottlenecks for my organization. They had to be advanced tools that would help us identify temperature changes so we could prevent outages. With AIM, it was clear we were getting high-quality thermal analysis, empowering us with the temperature-based insights we needed to boost reliability and reduce downtime.

To give you a taste, here are just a few of the advanced features you get with Percepto AIM:

Automated analytics – Percepto AIM software offers advanced data analytics by using machine learning algorithms to analyze large amounts of thermal data collected. It’s an end-to-end solution that provides real-time data visualization and actionable insights, enabling us to make data-driven decisions and improve operational efficiency. For example, AIM saves us huge amounts of time by generating reports and identifying anomalies like hot spots or detecting extreme temperatures on electrical equipment. Now, we can initiate proactive maintenance on things like loose connections, faulty components, or insulations issues–before they cause serious damage or outages.

 

Thermal tools – If you want to analyze the data further for yourself, Percepto AIM offers a wide range of thermal tools. Here are some highlights:

• Color palette: Select the palette you want to use for the displayed image, whether inferno, white hot, black hot, artic or other variations.
• Temperature range: Annotated measurements let you select the temperature range to display.
• Spot measurement: Place a pin in any spot on the image to see and label its temperature.
• Box measurement and comparison: Create a box and have AIM automatically calculate and display the differential for the lowest and highest temperatures, or compare it to the temperature for a spot outside the box.
• Emissivity and reflected temp: Set the reflected temperature and emissivity level to accurately represent temperatures based on the properties of materials.
• Annotate and share: Mark any issues directly on the image, then share with any stakeholder in your organization.

 

Ensuring infrastructure reliability

Percepto AIM’s unmatched data management and thermal image analysis software offers a powerful solution for enhancing preventive maintenance and ensuring the reliability of any infrastructure. By automating insight and report generation, AIM enables organizations to identify faults at their earliest stages – before they escalate into large-scale failures.

With Percepto AIM, organizations across sectors such as energy, mining and storage and processing are minimizing the occurrence of large-scale failures. It’s saving them millions, and preventing serious safety and environmental implications. And of course, by keeping their assets in top shape, companies can better guarantee the critical infrastructure reliability their customers depend on.

 

Percepto AIM is a must-have software solution – for thermal image analysis and more

Percepto AIM has changed the way my organization deals with thermal data, enabling improved data workflows AND high quality analytics. The new, more efficient processes give us actionable insights that translate directly into optimized preventative maintenance, improved reliability and heightened safety.

With the simplified inspection and monitoring process, we’re also benefiting from enhanced environmental monitoring, increased productivity and unparalleled efficiency. Percepto AIM is a multi-mission solution. We came for the thermal image analysis tools, and gained the bonus of anomaly detection, volumetric measurements, advanced data management, and much more.

Ask for a demo to see how Percepto AIM can reshape your organization’s visual and thermal inspections!

By Chris Duncan

It’s summertime, and heatwaves have blanketed sections of the US. This has led to an increased demand for electricity, challenging electric utility companies to keep the power running. To ensure they meet demand and avoid outages, electric utility companies must ensure the power is delivered without interruption. Drone power line inspections can help.

The key to preventing outages is simple: inspect critical electric infrastructure frequently and accurately. Drone power line inspections can provide you with the data necessary to keep power lines operational.  

Legacy methods for power line inspection: manual walk-through, piloted drones and helicopters

Power line inspections are commonly done either by in-person walk throughs, or with  piloted drones or helicopters equipped with a mounted camera. Performing a powerline inspection with either of these methods is beneficial but limited in frequency, cost and quality.

In the case of the piloted drone, inspections are restricted by pilot availability. Perhaps it involves rearranging onsite staff and taking someone away from their regular duties. This can impact the entire team. The other option is bringing in an outsider which is costly and requires scheduling someone in advance. This limits when the power line inspection can be done and can lead to less frequent inspections. What happens in an emergency?

Using a helicopter with a mounted camera is also impacted by pilot availability. In addition, someone needs to operate the camera. Now, two people need to be pulled away from their jobs onsite or two outsiders need to be brought in. Helicopter inspections can be dangerous as they have to fly close and slowly around power lines. In addition the cost of these inspections is extremely expensive

Data moves slowly from the gathering phase to the analysis phase when using either of the two options. Delays in analyzing the data can result in failures and ultimately downtime. 

What an autonomous drone offers power line inspections

A fully autonomous drone does not require rearranging staff or bringing in an outsider for an inspection to occur. In addition, autonomous drones are equipped with software that automatically uploads images and video of power lines to a management system in the cloud. Relevant information is analyzed by advanced AI algorithms that can detect the slightest changes, faults, etc. Notifications of issues are automatically sent to relevant stakeholders so they can quickly address any problems that need attention.

6 Benefits of autonomous drone power line inspection 

• Minimize outage time, improve reliability 

Infrequent and/or poor-quality inspections lead to small problems becoming major costly challenges. However, with a DIB on site, a utility company can conduct consistent, higher quality inspections, more often resulting in better data to produce actionable insights

Drone power line inspection software, which is part of the DIB, produces valuable data that enables insights. Therefore, faults are quickly detected. Crews can be directed to the exact area requiring repair and have a complete understanding of what needs to be done rather than deploying a team to investigate the problem..

Using a fully automated AI-powered drone for power line inspections leads to minimizing downtime of electric power and delivering reliable service to customers. 

• Get the power back up faster when outages do happen 

Sometimes mother nature roars, and power lines are impacted. During frantic times immediately following storms, a DIB is invaluable as it can help you restore power quickly.

An on-site DIB can go into the field right after a storm to inspect power lines and right of way. Because the drone is autonomous, there’s no need for an employee to get to the site to fly the drone or even send it on its mission.

An autonomous drone can quickly pinpoint the location of faults and provide maintenance crews with situational awareness. With these insights, repair crews can review the damage before traveling on site, saving time and improving safety.

• Keep employees safe

Even the most standard inspections can be dangerous. However, a fully autonomous power line inspection with an unmanned drone keeps employees out of harm’s way.

Due to live wires, unstable trees, etc., it can be dangerous to send out inspection crews and repair teams after a storm. Instead, let an on-site DIB be the first responder. Armed with drone power line inspection software, a DIB can safely get the data needed to guide repair.

In addition, a drone can scan for hazardous work environments. Site managers can identify safety hazards and ensure employee safety during both routine operations and emergencies.

• Operate remotely

There’s no need to be on site to accurately monitor site operations and track site trends. Missions can be managed from anywhere in the world with a DIB.

In fact, miles and miles of power lines can be operated from one remote location. Continuous visual data streams and AI-powered insights are delivered in real time to one centralized location via inspection software. Site managers gain unprecedented situational awareness.

With this information, relevant stakeholders can communicate with site managers, so maintenance/operations continue to function as expected.

• Reduce operational costs

Unlike other solutions, the fully autonomous DIB is unmanned. There’s no need to pull employees off other projects or increase their responsibilities. They can focus on essential tasks while a more efficient drone inspects power lines.

Drone power line inspection software is highly sophisticated, so even the smallest issues are detected. Utilities can engage in preventive maintenance and boost efficiency. By operating at higher efficiency, operational costs are reduced.

• Eliminate big data challenges 

For any utility utilizing piloted drones for power line inspections, there are several big data challenges involved including: 

• Finding and reviewing data is time consuming
• All stakeholders don’t have access to the data 
• Data analysis is time consuming 

Removing these challenges is key for companies to boost efficiency and get the insights needed to improve service reliability. An autonomous drone solution eliminates these challenges by delivering fully end-to-end drone inspections (read more about what that means in our blog here.)