Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_SPEN0002 | |
| Title | Virtual World Asset Management | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Applied Mathematics) 20%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics) 20%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 60%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given SP Energy Networks |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 April 2015 | |
| End Date | 01 February 2018 | |
| Duration | 34 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £3,500,000 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | Scotland | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , SP Energy Networks (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SPEN0002 |
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| Objectives | Each discrete Work Package has Objectives: WP 1: VWAM Population To produce an accurate VWAM system in 2015 and a refresh in 2016 that is comprehensively linked to existing SPEN OHL assets. WP 2: VWAM Evaluation To quantify the baseline volumes, costs, accuracy of existing programmes in the pilot areas. To validate the accuracy of VWAM representation of the OHL network and identified issues e. g. vegetation intrusions. To quantify the difference in volumes required, cost, benefits achieved by the adoption of VWAM for several work programmes when compared to existing approach. WP 3: System Integration To map the optimal VWAM integration into SPENs corporate systems. Deliver the integrated solution. WP 4: BaU Adoption To deliver the necessary business changes, documentation etc. required to facilitate VWAM adoption as BaU prior to the end of the project. WP 5: Further VWAM Enhancements Identification and exploration with VWAM provider(s) of several further enhancements of VWAM that can deliver additional DNO / customer benefits. WP 6: Dissemination Dissemination of project activities, scope, deliverables to UK DNOs, customers and vendors at several points within the project in order to stimulate the uptake and development of VWAM systems. Each discrete Work Package has a Success Criteria: WP 1: VWAM Population The delivery of an accurate VWAM system that is directly linked to the unique identifiers of >95% of SPENs OHL assets within the pilot areas. WP 2: VWAM Evaluation Quantified comparisons of the BaU programmes with those based on VWAM. Including quantification of costs, volumes, compliance etc. WP 3: System Integrational fully integrated VWAM system, e. g. integrated into SPEN GIS and SAP corporate systems. Production of a mapped VWAM integration for other DNOs to utilise. WP 4: BaU Adoption The production and acceptance of revised work programme polices, the production of specifications required for the procurement of VWAM. WP 5: Further VWAM Enhancements The publication of a detailed wish list of further VWAM enhancements and the likely benefits they will deliver. WP 6: Dissemination The planned uptake of VWAM by UK DNOs and vendors, quantified wherever possible during dissemination activities. | |
| Abstract | The distribution Over Head Line (OHL) network is manually inspected on a cyclic basis as part of vegetation and Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity (ESQCR) management policies. Over the years these manual inspections have served the UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) well, however inherent to these inspections are a number of issues that it would be advantageous for DNOs to eradicate. Manual Inspection Issues: It goes without saying that Manual Inspections are inherently labour intensive, requiring every km of OHL network to be inspected on foot. As a result they may not provide DNOs with the most financially beneficial and timely solution and the frequency at which they are undertaken is limited. Whilst inspectors are fully trained and competent, there is always an underlying risk that the severity of certain asset conditions are missed or misinterpreted as a result of the inspector’s position and perspective relative to the OHL. As a result, for certain network issues manual inspections may not be the optimal solution for identifying and quantifying the severity issues such as vegetation intrusions to the OHL. With present inspection programmes there is a missed opportunity to gather further information about the OHL assets for the benefit other DNO work programmes, however as it stands this is prohibited due to the additional cost incurred by the lengthier manually capture of information. In summary, given time the quality of the data recorded from manual inspections is likely to improve marginally, however it is very unlikely their cost will decrease, restricting their frequency and scope. With recent developments in the affordability of remote sensing, big data processing and cloud based information delivery; there is now a real opportunity for UK DNOs to explore the use of Virtual World Asset Management (VWAM) for the delivery of inspection programmes. The expected benefits of VWAM being faster, more accurate and frequent inspections that provides the most pertinent information provided by manual inspections as well as additional advantageous information. This project aims to deliver a precise Virtual World representation of a DNO OHL network through the use of remote sensing technologies such as Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) that can be affordably refreshed and utilised in a VWAM system. In doing so reducing DNO requirements to complete cyclic manual inspections. At the same time providing additional and more quantified asset information that can be utilised for desktop scoping, planning, compliance reporting and addressing immediate risks, which in turn will have health and safety, financial and supply quality benefits for customers. This project builds upon SPEN’s previous Innovation Funding Initiative (IFI) ‘proof of concept’ project that helped to foster understanding into the viability of VWAM. However this project covered a small sample area of OHL network that was not of sufficient size or captured over enough vegetation growing seasons to truly evaluate the performance and benefits delivered from VWAM. With this NIA pilot project SPEN will provide detailed validation and quantification of the potential benefits delivered in several ED1 work programmes through the use of VWAM and provide guidance to DNOs for the its implementation into business as usual. This will be achieved through the following methodology: The creation, population and refresh of a Virtual World representation of the chosen SPEN OHL network using LiDAR surveys in the growing seasons of 2015 and 2016. The collection and analysis of baseline information to allow for a detail comparison between the traditional Vegetation Management and ESQCR programmes and a VWAM based programmes. A thorough evaluation/validation of the data presented in the VWAM system. A detailed financial evaluation of the benefits VWAM likely to introduce when adopted across multiple DNO programmes. The identification and delivery of the optimum integration of VWAM into DNO corporate systems, e. g. Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Identification of further wider business benefits that can be realised through the adoption of VWAM.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 17/12/18 | |
