Overhead Powerline Condition Assessment
Case StudiesIdentifying Overhead Powerline Condition
Overhead network assets require regular inspections and condition monitoring in order to maintain their safety and performance as they age.
This case study demonstrates the use of photographic records obtained via Gridvision’s aerial pole top inspections to identify areas for maintenance at a major Queensland coal mine.
Gridvision were engaged to conduct aerial pole top inspections for the purposes of condition monitoring on the aging overhead powerline network at the site. This is an additional service offering following our aerial LiDAR surveying.
Key Benefits:
Quality images which serve as a historic record
The quality high-resolution images captured during our aerial pole top inspections not only serve as a valuable condition assessment and defect identification tool, but also as a incredibly useful historic record of condition. Photographs from earlier or subsequent inspections can be compared to help determine if pole top conditions are stable or deteriorating.
Network-wide data acquisition
High resolution photographs of pole tops are captured at an average rate of 150 poles per hour, via rotary wing aircraft flying the route of the overhead network to capture images of poles from multiple angles.
Objective condition assessment by professionals
Multiple pole top images are assessed by professional linespersons to rate overall condition and flag any noted defects such as damaged insulators, loose hardware, cracked crossarms and more. The assessment criteria used is comprehensive and cross-checked by multiple operators, providing an overall objective and reliable condition assessment for each individual pole.
SERVICES PROVIDED
Aerial Surveying
Aerial Inspections
Why Choose Aerial Inspections?
Overhead powerline assets are prone to typical maintenance defects such as:
• Failing crossarms due to cracking or support failure
• Insulator failure due to tracking or physical damage
• Bird nests/wildlife
• Hardware defects, e.g. Corrosion to ties, loose bolts etc.
When overhead networks are large and/or in remote or hard-to-access areas, it can be difficult to identify these areas for maintenance in a timely manner, which can lead to risks to safety and reliability of supply.
That’s where aerial inspections come in, providing a fast and effective way to identify condition and areas for maintenance.
The Process
Gridvision’s aerial powerline inspection service utilises rotary wing aircraft fitted with location-data and high-resolution cameras to capture images of network assets and tie these to specific poles in the network.
A team of specialists then views and assesses each individual pole to rate condition and identify pole-top defects.
The result is geo-referenced, prioritised data that can be used by maintenance personnel to address risks to the overhead network.
OUTCOMES
The Results
Gridvision worked with the mine to assist with prioritising the identified power pole defects for repair.
A small number of critical defects were identified from the aerial inspection – including crossarm defects which may have gone unnoticed for some time due to their remote location.These have been since repaired, but could potentially have led to catastrophic failure if left unchecked.
The remainder of defects identified have been prioritised so that outages can be scheduled for their repair, and the mine now also has a valuable photographic record of pole conditions for future reference.
