Drones, sensors and AI have radically changed the cost-efficient monitoring and predictive maintenance of critical overhead transmission and distribution infrastructure. This has dramatically improved safety, grid reliability and delivered significant O&M cost savings. CNIguard is taking this concept and delivering these advantages to the ultra-challenging underground distribution grid.

Many utilities are mandated to inspect their underground equipment vaults and structures every 3-5 years. This manual process requires dedicated personnel which contributes to resource scheduling challenges with ongoing capital projects and required operations and maintenance. The frequency of manual inspection is also insufficient to provide meaningful and timely data to substantially impact grid health and conditions. Automation and innovation is required.

CNIguard’s solution includes not only continuous electric and environmental monitoring but daily IR and visual imagery of underground assets. Combined with machine learning and visualization software emerging hot spots and critical conditions can be detected to notify utilities of conditions that require attention. Moving from reactionary break fix maintenance to data driven predictive maintenance improves reliability, safety and reduces costs.

CNIguard has successfully deployed this at major IOUs with documented success and is innovating to provide a more pervasive solution to further extend the benefits throughout the underground distribution system.