Customer Case Study: Tennessee Valley Authority
Customer Case Study: Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority Utilizes Scope Computer Vision Technologies for Safer, More Efficient Utility Line Inspections
Tennessee Valley Authority Utilizes Scope Computer Vision Technologies for Safer, More Efficient Utility Line Inspections
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned electric utility that serves over 10 million people in 7 southeastern U.S. states.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned electric utility that serves over 10 million people in 7 southeastern U.S. states.
TVA is responsible for maintaining a vast network of power lines and equipment, which requires rigorous inspection to ensure reliable electricity delivery and safe operations. With aging infrastructure and the ongoing demand for upgrades and new builds, TVA needed a solution that would streamline their inspection process, reduce human error, and provide actionable insights for maintenance and repair.
TVA is responsible for maintaining a vast network of power lines and equipment, which requires rigorous inspection to ensure reliable electricity delivery and safe operations. With aging infrastructure and the ongoing demand for upgrades and new builds, TVA needed a solution that would streamline their inspection process, reduce human error, and provide actionable insights for maintenance and repair.
The Job To Be Done
Historically, TVA’s utility line inspection process was manual, labor-intensive, and susceptible to inaccuracies. Technicians would spend hours inspecting jacketed and 12 strand stringing lines to identify potential damage, wear, or other hazards that could disrupt service. This method was not only time-consuming but also created safety risks for personnel who had to navigate hazardous environments and energized corridors. Furthermore, human error often led to missed issues, resulting in costly downtime, unscheduled repairs, and safety concerns for TVA employees and the public.
Historically, TVA’s utility line inspection process was manual, labor-intensive, and susceptible to inaccuracies. Technicians would spend hours inspecting jacketed and 12 strand stringing lines to identify potential damage, wear, or other hazards that could disrupt service. This method was not only time-consuming but also created safety risks for personnel who had to navigate hazardous environments and energized corridors. Furthermore, human error often led to missed issues, resulting in costly downtime, unscheduled repairs, and safety concerns for TVA employees and the public.
Traditional visual inspections only check one side of a line at high speeds, leading to risky, split-second decisions about its safety. Accurately determining line health has been difficult, often requiring breaking the line to assess residual strength. Wagner-Smith Equipment emphasizes the importance of identifying and resolving stringing line defects.
With one of the most expansive rental fleets across the continental United States, the inspection of stringing lines is a daily, ongoing effort at Wagner-Smith Equipment Co. Even with standardized procedures in place, manual visual inspections of these lines are extremely labor intensive and require technicians to maintain constant focus on the line while it being paid out and back in.
TVA recognized the need for a more precise, technology-driven solution that would not only enhance the safety and efficiency of their inspections but also provide valuable data on the condition of stringing lines across their transmission and distribution networks. TVA turned to Scope Computer Vision Technologies to provide an innovative and effective approach to utility line inspections.
TVA recognized the need for a more precise, technology-driven solution that would not only enhance the safety and efficiency of their inspections but also provide valuable data on the condition of stringing lines across their transmission and distribution networks. TVA turned to Scope Computer Vision Technologies to provide an innovative and effective approach to utility line inspections.
Traditional visual inspections only check one side of a line at high speeds, leading to risky, split-second decisions about its safety. Accurately determining line health has been difficult, often requiring breaking the line to assess residual strength. Wagner-Smith Equipment emphasizes the importance of identifying and resolving stringing line defects.
With one of the most expansive rental fleets across the continental United States, the inspection of stringing lines is a daily, ongoing effort at Wagner-Smith Equipment Co. Even with standardized procedures in place, manual visual inspections of these lines are extremely labor intensive and require technicians to maintain constant focus on the line while it being paid out and back in.
TVA + Technology = Human In the Loop Solution
Scope Computer Vision Technologies deployed an advanced computer vision system that leverages artificial intelligence to automate and improve the accuracy of utility line inspections. Scope’s technology utilizes high-resolution imagery and machine learning algorithms to assess TVA’s stringing lines, which are used in both transmission and distribution projects. This system will exceed 100 million feet of stringing lines inspected by the end of 2024.
Scope Computer Vision Technologies deployed an advanced computer vision system that leverages artificial intelligence to automate and improve the accuracy of utility line inspections. Scope’s technology utilizes high-resolution imagery and machine learning algorithms to assess TVA’s stringing lines, which are used in both transmission and distribution projects. This system will exceed 100 million feet of stringing lines inspected by the end of 2024.
Traditional visual inspections only check one side of a line at high speeds, leading to risky, split-second decisions about its safety. Accurately determining line health has been difficult, often requiring breaking the line to assess residual strength. Wagner-Smith Equipment emphasizes the importance of identifying and resolving stringing line defects.
With one of the most expansive rental fleets across the continental United States, the inspection of stringing lines is a daily, ongoing effort at Wagner-Smith Equipment Co. Even with standardized procedures in place, manual visual inspections of these lines are extremely labor intensive and require technicians to maintain constant focus on the line while it being paid out and back in.
With Scope's solution in place, TVA can now conduct inspections remotely, analyzing visual data collected by drones and other inspection tools. This allows for safer inspections, as employees no longer need to access energized corridors directly. The Scope system also provides real-time insights into the condition of the infrastructure, helping TVA’s team make data-driven decisions regarding maintenance, upgrades, and repairs.
With Scope's solution in place, TVA can now conduct inspections remotely, analyzing visual data collected by drones and other inspection tools. This allows for safer inspections, as employees no longer need to access energized corridors directly. The Scope system also provides real-time insights into the condition of the infrastructure, helping TVA’s team make data-driven decisions regarding maintenance, upgrades, and repairs.
Traditional visual inspections only check one side of a line at high speeds, leading to risky, split-second decisions about its safety. Accurately determining line health has been difficult, often requiring breaking the line to assess residual strength. Wagner-Smith Equipment emphasizes the importance of identifying and resolving stringing line defects.
With one of the most expansive rental fleets across the continental United States, the inspection of stringing lines is a daily, ongoing effort at Wagner-Smith Equipment Co. Even with standardized procedures in place, manual visual inspections of these lines are extremely labor intensive and require technicians to maintain constant focus on the line while it being paid out and back in.
“Scope’s technology is being utilized by North America’s largest utility players. When we onboarded the technology, we immediately partnered with the Scope team to develop models for specific rope types TVA desired to continue leveraging. The ongoing support and constant improvement in the technology helps support our safety mission of augmenting humans where applicable.At TVA we are on an innovation mission to leverage technology to positively impact our grid transformation and Scope’s technology was a great fit.”
“Scope’s technology is being utilized by North America’s largest utility players. When we onboarded the technology, we immediately partnered with the Scope team to develop models for specific rope types TVA desired to continue leveraging. The ongoing support and constant improvement in the technology helps support our safety mission of augmenting humans where applicable.At TVA we are on an innovation mission to leverage technology to positively impact our grid transformation and Scope’s technology was a great fit.”
Cody Young
Supervisor - Transmission Lines & Helicopter Support
Cody Young
Supervisor - Transmission Lines & Helicopter Support
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
Scope envision
With Scope systems already deployed nationwide, a wealth of inspection data is being used to refine and train networks to accurately identify and predict potential issues. The possibilities for innovation in safer operations are boundless, including the ability to detect different types of splices and more nuanced degrees of damage, as well as leveraging tension data and line health to alert operators before critical thresholds are reached.
With Scope systems already deployed nationwide, a wealth of inspection data is being used to refine and train networks to accurately identify and predict potential issues. The possibilities for innovation in safer operations are boundless, including the ability to detect different types of splices and more nuanced degrees of damage, as well as leveraging tension data and line health to alert operators before critical thresholds are reached.
About TWA
The Tennessee Valley Authority provides electricity for 153 local power companies serving 10 million people in Tennessee and parts of six surrounding states, as well as directly to about 60 large industrial customers and federal installations.
About TWA
The Tennessee Valley Authority provides electricity for 153 local power companies serving 10 million people in Tennessee and parts of six surrounding states, as well as directly to about 60 large industrial customers and federal installations.
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