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UK Power Networks (UKPN) has created digital maps of its assets using artificial intelligence software from Google Cloud in what the companies claim is a world first.
Over the coming months, the image recognition software will be used to scan thousands of maps, some of them more than a century old, of more than 180,000km of cables across UKPN’s region and automatically remaster them into a digital format.
UKPN said the software is able to recognise hand-drawn images and classify the objects they depict to create fully-interactive digital maps showing each electricity substation, cable or overhead line on its network.
The distribution network operator said utilities have previously had to manually scan old maps of underground infrastructure to produce electronic versions. It said the new software has made the process much quicker and cheaper, cutting 20,000 hours’ of scanning work down to just 15 minutes.
UKPN said the digital maps will allow it to provide better, faster services to the more than 15,000 customers each year who apply for new or upgraded connections when, for example, they need to install renewable generation or electric vehicle charging stations.
The company is also making the maps freely available to the rest of the industry, enabling organisations such as battery operators, energy aggregators or local authorities to plan where to install new equipment or bid for flexibility contracts. They will also help people to avoid hitting power lines and stay safe when carrying out excavations.
Alex Mahon, UKPN’s head of analytics, said: “We’ve been collaborating with Google throughout the past year to trial this, and we’ve been getting increasingly excited throughout.
“Not only will it help keep people safe and help more low carbon technologies connect, but it has huge implications for utility sectors across the world who may wish to do the same.
“This innovation could save millions of pounds for customers and help enable net zero: that’s the power of digital innovation.”
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