In October 2024, Sharper Shape, a leading innovator in utility asset management, announced the launch of its latest offering, Asset Insights, at its technology centre in Salt Lake City, Utah. This new digital twin software is designed to revolutionise the utilities inspection sector by streamlining inspection and maintenance processes, thereby enhancing asset visibility and management within the electric utilities industry.
Asset Insights is an integral component of Sharper Shape's Sharper CORE platform. It utilises advanced machine learning to accurately identify components and detect potential defects, thus improving efficiency and bolstering risk management for utility firms and inspection partners. The cloud-based platform aims to rejuvenate the traditional inspection process by integrating AI and data analytics, reducing the need for extensive manual fieldwork, which has historically relied on outdated schematics and cumbersome physical inspections.
Glenn Colvin, the Vice President of Product at Sharper Shape, highlighted the challenges currently faced by utility operators, citing aging infrastructure and increasingly severe weather patterns as significant hurdles. The additional strain of manual inspections and subsequent reporting has compounded these challenges. Colvin noted that Asset Insights addresses these issues by automating defect detection with remarkable precision—achieving over 95% accuracy at analysing up to 1,000 images in a single instance. This level of automation not only streamlines inspection reporting but also ensures adherence to regulatory mandates by maintaining a documented chain of inspection evidence.
Among the solution's standout features is the Automated Defect Detection system, capable of recognising over 40 different distribution and transmission components, with constant updates that expand its capabilities. The system can identify common issues such as cracked insulators, rust, and transformer leaks, providing a detailed overview of infrastructure conditions to facilitate proactive maintenance planning.
Soaring Eagle Technologies, a well-established provider of drone services and a longstanding client of Sharper Shape, has already realised substantial benefits from the Asset Insights capabilities. CEO William Paden emphasised the vast scale of the U.S. utility landscape, with its 5 million miles of powerlines and over 180 million power poles. While drone operations have dramatically improved maintenance and inspection processes, the integration of AI through Asset Insights amplifies these capabilities, ensuring more precise and reliable outcomes. The cloud-based platform means teams can access real-time data directly via their mobile devices, enhancing operational efficiency.
Founded in Helsinki, Finland, in 2013, Sharper Shape has positioned itself at the forefront of technology innovation for tier-one utilities globally. With technology centres in Finland and Salt Lake City, the company is committed to leveraging its Living Digital Twin (LDT) technology to mitigate risks, improve safety, and advance operational efficiencies. Through its robust Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, complemented by comprehensive data collection and work package execution services, Sharper Shape continues to expand its library of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms for integrating live field data seamlessly into user workflows.
Through its vision of a safer world, Sharper Shape empowers asset operators with the tools needed to manage infrastructure risks effectively, ensuring a reliable power supply in an ever-demanding environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services