Technology solutions

Our client, an energy provider in the Southeast, sought assistance from our geospatial services team for their Interactive Volt Var Control (IVVC) project.

This project involves integrating load tap changers, voltage regulators, and capacitor banks using controls, telecommunications, and IT systems. Performing these integrations conserves energy by flatting demand and reducing system losses while ultimately reducing costs. A careful analysis is required to integrate a circuit and locate where it should be placed. The analysis is run utilizing our client’s GIS. Critical data elements that must be checked to ensure compliance are the phase and size of a transformer, as well as the phase and wire size of tap lines.To verify that the data was useful for GIS analysis, our client utilized drone technology to conduct inspections. The drones were used to fly the primary backbone conductors of the project circuits and collect high resolution imagery of the equipment along the circuit. The client then had linemen inspectors review the aerial photography and compare it with location data in the GIS.

To complete the inspections, our geospatial services team created an ArcGIS Web Application (WebApp) within their ArcGIS Portal environment. The WebApp allows inspectors to review the drone imagery and mark locations of discrepancies between information in the photos and their GIS. “Comment” points are then used by a GIS technician to update their GIS. The inspectors have a tool that improves identification and reporting of asset maintenance needs and concerns. The inspector can locate and denote maintenance needs as they inspect. ArcGIS Desktop is then used to create a maintenance report that includes the photo, an overhead aerial of the site, and a street map that can be used to generate a work order.

We performed class location and consequence area assessments for a client’s transmission pipeline system to meet the requirements of natural gas regulations that became effective July 1, 2020.

Projects such as this are traditionally labor intensive. Our team utilized a multi-tiered approach that consisted of a custom technology solution, data gathering, and field evaluations to alleviate the labor burden and deliver more cost-effective results to the client. The approximate length of the pipeline system to be assessed was 420 miles ranging from Champaign, Illinois to Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The project lasted approximately three months.

Our team reviewed federal regulatory code related to HCA/MCA assessments and develop the necessary data sets and automation to generate assessment output.

We provided construction inspection services for multiple transmission and distribution projects for Florida Public Utility (FPU).

Projects require specialty resources such as a Chief Inspector, Certified Weld Inspectors, Coating Inspector, and Utility Inspector.

In addition to the specialty staff, our technology solution FieldView was used to collect and manage the as-built and inspection. FieldView allowed management teams to gauge the performance and progress of the project remotely.

FieldView, an Esri ArcGIS solution, is capable of collecting and managing inspection welding, coating, and utility inspections in real-time. Dashboards provided a direct view into key metrics about the about the project such as welds repaired and cutout, pipeline footage installed per day, and project percentage completion. The ability to access this data in real time provided value to the client because they have been able to reconcile invoices from contractors, easily track welder performance, and improve operational efficiency.