Harnessing the Power of Digital Twins: Intelfuse's Transformative Project for Wheeling Power

In today's world, electricity reliability is more critical than ever. Wheeling Power, a subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP), has partnered with Intelfuse on an innovative project to enhance vegetation and asset management along a key section of their electricity distribution line. This initiative not only aims to identify supply reliability issues but also utilizes cutting-edge technology to offer comprehensive insights into network risks and costs.

Project Overview

The project, led by Wheeling Power’s Reliability Manager, brought together stakeholders from geospatial, vegetation, asset management, and strategy divisions. The goal was to create a detailed 3D digital twin of the network using data collected by AEP's existing LiDAR vendor, repurposed by Intelfuse to generate new, actionable insights.

Features and Benefits

1. Digital Twin Creation: Intelfuse developed a full 3D digital twin of Wheeling Power’s network, allowing for precise quantification and assessment of ground clearances, third-party attachments, and vegetation risks. This digital model enabled stakeholders to evaluate conditions without extensive field visits, saving time and resources.
2. Risk Assessment: The digital twin provided clear visualization of trees that could potentially fall onto power lines, both within the Right of Way and beyond. This capability is crucial for proactively addressing vegetation-related risks that could impact supply reliability.
3. Cost Analysis: By integrating historical supply interruption data, the project highlighted likely costs associated with different remedial options. This foresight allows Wheeling Power to better anticipate costs when seeking pricing for necessary work from the market.
4. Enhanced Understanding: The project offered stakeholders a valuable way to understand the risks present on the network. By combining asset and vegetation condition data, the digital twin provided a holistic view of factors impacting reliability.

Outcome and Impact

Intelfuse’s innovative approach to managing this project and creating the digital twin has provided Wheeling Power with a powerful tool to enhance supply reliability. The ability to digitally assess ground clearances, third-party attachments, and vegetation risks without field visits marks a significant advancement in utility asset management. Additionally, understanding the costs of various remedial options aids in strategic decision-making and resource allocation.

Conclusion

This project highlights the importance of digital transformation in the utility sector. By leveraging advanced technologies such as LiDAR and digital twins, Intelfuse is helping Wheeling Power become more proactive in infrastructure management. ??This initiative not only improves supply reliability but also sets a benchmark for possible future projects within the AEP family and beyond.