Digital field inspection applications tailored to the needs of natural gas utilities have become more readily available at a reasonable cost with the promise to increase the efficiency, accuracy and consistency of data collection over paper forms. Dashboards and auto-generated reports make management oversight simpler and enable managers to conduct them more frequently. The result is a cost effective tool that increases safety, and makes compliance with regulatory requirements and preparing for audits much easier.
Including visual data (HD pictures, video clips, infrared scans, etc.) as part of a field inspection process has become a growing expectation among compliance managers and regulators as having this capability enhances the quality assurance and auditing process. In many cases a field mobility application would require the ability to store and transmit multiple pieces of visual data per inspection record in order to be effective. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that the chosen solution and field mobility application has the capability to do so with speed, clarity and ease of use.
Let’s look at a few examples of how visual data types are being deployed by utilities. Representatives from Central Hudson Gas and Electric, and National Grid share their experiences collecting field data and incorporating visual data.
Asset Inspection and Tracking at Central Hudson
Central Hudson conducted a pilot to gather accurate information on gas service regulators in their territory. Bill Brandt, Director, Field Operations-Customer Service at Central Hudson shares his insights on the program. The program’s objectives were to gather data via a customized App on each regulator located in the pilot district, including regulator type, model and serial number as well as its location. The field technician was also responsible to assess the regulator for any abnormal operating condition. Bill says that gathering multiple pictures was an important part of the program. “We wanted visual detail of the equipment and its location captured by pictures of meter set and regulator, serial and model number, and the address of the building or house.”
The App technology used by Central Hudson was able to handle the need to upload and transmit the multiple pictures per record required. They are now pausing to assess how they can cost effectively scale the process to employ it for their entire territory in the future.
Periodic Inspections at Central Hudson
Bill also describes how pictures are used during their periodic corrosion and leak inspection program for meter sets and piping located inside customer buildings. Central Hudson utilizes contractor field inspectors and company service techs to assess interior piping. Visual inspections for corrosion are compared to an industry standard visual comparator for various grades of corrosion ranging from little or none to severe corrosion to enable consistency in grading. Pictures for multiple segments per record are required when some corrosion was identified.
Bill envisions a role for AI to be utilized to assess captured visual data and make judgements on whether remediation would be required in a future inspection tool.
Damage Investigation and Prevention at National Grid
Bob Terjesen, Manager, Damage Prevention for National Grid, explains that visual data, including pictures and video, are important for National Grid’s damage investigation process. Damages occurring from excavators digging too close to gas lines are not only costly, but can result in serious injuries and significant property loss.
Bob and National Grid worked closely with state regulators to determine the type of evidence would be required to effectively determine fault for damages in order to fine offenders and recover costs through the judicial process. “Multiple use of well thought out pictures framing important pieces of evidence are key”, says Bob. These include pictures of the offender’s vehicles marked with the company’s name and the presence of heavy machinery on site. National Grid also employs a “Hit Kit” comprised of marked cones and a 3-foot marked ruler that is readable from a distance to stage a picture that conclusively shows that the excavation is within the tolerance zone (too close) to the location marks for utility lines.
Bob notes that pipe locating is another process that benefits from pictures and video. More utilities require locators to visually capture a record of the marked location of underground utility assets. In some cases where excavation of long spans are planned, a 2-3 minute video may be required. A mobility application that is required to capture this amount of data must also have the capacity to transmit it from the field.
Key Capabilities Required for Robust Visual Data Capture in the Field
When considering a field mobility application and compliance solution, there are several capabilities utilities should look for to ensure they will be able to capture the full extent of visual data (photos, video, high resolution imagery, etc.) when performing asset inspections and surveys. Primary functionality of a comprehensive solution incorporating visual data capture would include:
- Ability to assign, dispatch and download work packages to the mobile application
- Efficient caching/replicating data once to the field device for all functions to use offline
- Capability to record multiple GPS tagged visual data files while in the field within a single app
- Ability to temporarily store multiple files offline
- Ability to upload and transmit multiple image files and file types to the back-office
- Capacity to interface with GIS and EAM, Work, Content and Asset Management
- Solution compatibility with iOS, Android and/or Windows mobile devices
A digital field inspection application can significantly increase the effectiveness of a utility’s inspection program and, with the appropriate training, should be easy to use. Solutions that enable the capture of high-definition visual data enhance the process and oversight functions. This capability is a must have for today’s utility compliance managers.
UDC offers a Gas Compliance solution and digital office to field collection application with the capability to add multiple visual data files per record. In addition, our solution offers spatially enabled dashboards and auto-generated reports that make management oversight simpler. Preparing for regulatory audits are easier and more complete. This enterprise grade solution built on ArcGIS works seamlessly to enhance your utility’s investment in its Esri-based system. We invite you to learn more about Digital Utility – Compliance Manager and contact us.