1. Randy Rhodes EPRI Technical Executive CIM Users Group November 9, 2017
UAS Data Exchange Standards for Distribution Project Scoping for 2018Q1 Launch
Randy Rhodes EPRI Technical Executive
CIM Users Group November 9, 2017

2. Drones Are Taking Off
Roughly 4.1 million drones are registered in the U.S as of mid-2017 (around 5 million worldwide).
Around 51,000 individuals have been licensed under Part 107 as of Q
Source:

3. Utility Drone Applications Require Complete Systems
Source:

4. Payload Diversity is Expanding
High-resolution imagery
LiDAR sensors
Multispectral sensors
Electromagnetic sensors
Thermal imagery
Chemical composition analysis
Methane detectors
New sensors are emerging quickly. Examples are taken from a Gartner Cool Vendors in Semiconductors
Consumer Physics' SCiO optical scanner enables users to determine the chemical composition
of surrounding objects. The chemical analysis of a scanned object can be displayed on an
Apple iPhone or communicated to the cloud for further analytics.
Elemental Sensor has developed an immersible sensor that can sense up to 15 liquid
chemicals. It is customizable and warns users when the main sensing element needs to be
replaced.
And, don’t forget: critical physical payloads (e.g. EpiPens)
Source:

5. EPRI UAS Work to Date (16 Utilities Involved)
Title
Date
Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Power Line Inspection Phase 1: Field Demonstrations and Vendor Profiles
Apr 2015
Utilizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) as a Solar PV O&M Tool
Aug 2015
UAS for Transmission Line Inspection Phase 2 –
Demonstrations of Local Structure Inspection of Energized Lines
July 2016
Comparison of Transmission Line Inspection Methods: UAS, Helicopter, and Walking
Nov 2016
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Functional Specification for Local Structure Inspection Including Electrical Effects Test Results
Feb 2017

6. Goal: Fully Automated Inspections + Actionable Reports

7. Other Ongoing EPRI Work
Projects for 2018 involving UAS
Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight – utility and industry BVLOS demos; quantify performance improvements; develop functional specifications and an implementation guide (Transmission)
Automation Project – demos for autonomous flight and structure inspections; image analysis to identify abnormalities; and identification of opportunities for improvement (Transmission)
Storm Response Project - feasibility of use cases; actual vendor UAV performance
Related, contributing projects for distribution
Outage Data Initiative – standardizing outage data, conformance testing
GIS Data Improvement – algorithmic approaches for addressing utility GIS data quality challenges
Above-ground Facilities Identification with machine learning
Underground Facilities Identification with ground-penetrating radar and data analysis

8. UAS Data Exchange Standards for Distribution
Conceptual Goal: Develop Exchangeable UAS Mission Plans and Data for Utilities
Preliminary Scoping:
Survey utilities’ UAS data management experience in 2017 (hurricanes, fires)
Document a UAS standards roadmap in the strategic context of electric utilities
Collaboration with OGC
Survey past EPRI project participants
Expand existing use cases with UML
Explore CIM extensions for UAS-generated data and message exchanges
Expected focus: Maintenance and Construction

9. UAS Data Exchange Standards for Distribution
Project Expansion:
Standards Development and Interoperability Demonstrations
Arrange vendor participation for an interop test between GIS, EAM, ADMS or other systems and UAS
Define typical assets and flight missions
Develop methods of extracting POI data and feeder extents from GIS
Create flight plans using a standard format
Derive message payloads
Extend CIM test harness to evaluate message compliance
Host interop with vendors to demonstrate use of data model and developed standard.

10. UAS Data Exchange Standards for Distribution
Proposed Deliverables
Typical flight plans .based on voltage class and construction of distribution lines
Scripts to extract needed GIS data
CIM profile and messages
Test reports
Coordinated submissions with OGC and other standards development organizations
Other Potential Learning
Grid network awareness with energized line sensing (Poynting vector)
Drone airspace integration (Gryphon Sensors)
Drone navigation (RFID, beacon systems, and precision coordinate systems)

11. EPRI UAS Data Exchange Initiative Summary
Objectives and Scope
Develop a strategic standards roadmap that will accelerate advanced UAS applications for electric distribution.
Provide a standard method of extracting, processing, and storing geospatial data for distribution line patrols and point-of-interest inspections.
Establish a common data model and standard message sets for managing UAS-related utility distribution network data.
Demonstrate UAS flight plans using standards-based flight plans.
Demonstrate advanced UAS use cases with standards-based interoperability testing across multiple GIS and UAS platforms.
Value
Minimizes integration challenges and lowers capital and operational costs for UAS users
Paves the way for advanced feeder patrols, automated asset recognition, and exchange of data with service providers.
Public benefit to utility integration with other sectors utilizing UAS for infrastructure applications.
Want to learn more?
Contacts
Technical: Randy Rhodes,
West: Christine Hertzog,
East: Chris Kotting,

12. Randy Rhodes Technical Executive
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