Part 1: Are Mining Operators neglecting one of the most critical assets? For mining operations, that rely on a connection to the electric grid for power supply, the transmission line used for this interconnection is one of the most critical assets that sometimes gets less attention than it deserves. Many…

A recent vote by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) to revise and update rules for electric utility Wildfire Mitigation Plans is highlighting how the risk of catastrophic wildfires has become top of mind for powerline operators. As the past several years have shown the impact of the wildfires is…

Aeriosense Technologies recently completed a project for a major electric utility in British Columbia — Fortis BC. As part of this pilot project over 100km’s of transmission lines and Right of Way across 5 transmission circuits were inspected in B.C.’s central Kootenay region. …

One of the often overlooked benefits of using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for inspections is historical imagery. UAVs capture consistent high quality imagery from a variety of vantage points for every structure inspected while conventional inspection methods typically only take detailed photos of specific components which have failed or have…

In July 2020, BC Hydro’s Distribution Engineering was planning an upgrade project on one of their 25kV distribution lines. This line is a bit unusual as it crosses one of the arms of the Fraser River to Westham Island. …

Drone technology has evolved quickly over the past seven years. Just before that, however the technology experienced a so-called “Trough of Disillusionment,” a stage within a new technology’s “hype curve.” Many industries, including electric utilities, found that some of the promises and expectations of UAV technology were inflated, and that…

I often get asked “what’s the difference between helicopter versus drone inspections” when it comes to transmission line inspections? Before we breakdown the benefits of autonomous drone inspections, I would like to add that helicopters are crucial for the electric power industry and do have their place in inspecting and…

In 2020, Innergex partnered with Aeriosense to perform a detailed inspection of 42 km of its transmission line that connects the East Toba hydroelectric plant in the Toba Valley to the BC Hydro power grid near Saltery Bay. With an annual energy output of 454,000 MWh, it is one of…

Aeriosense is proud of its software that allows drones to autonomously inspect and photograph the power corridors and infrastructure of electric utilities. Still, for a big project, even an intelligent drone is not enough. …