Who Uses GridAurex
Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs)
Large transmission networks requiring enterprise-scale inspection processing, EAM integration, and NERC compliance documentation.
Transmission-Only Companies
Organizations focused exclusively on transmission asset management with specialized inspection requirements.
Drone Service Providers
Inspection contractors serving multiple utility clients who need efficient processing and deliverable generation.
Rural Electric Cooperatives
Cost-effective inspection processing for smaller networks with limited in-house resources.
Proven Results
Inspection Cycle Time
↓ 45% faster
From 6 months to 3.3 months for full system patrol (pilot deployment: 2,400 miles of 345kV)
Defect Detection
90-95% accuracy
F1 score across 8 defect categories, validated on 50,000+ images
Flight Cost Reduction
↓ 30-40%
Optimized flight planning, reduced re-flights, automated route generation
Review Time
↓ 70%
AI pre-screens images, reviewers focus only on flagged findings
Who Uses GridAurex
Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs)
Large transmission networks requiring enterprise-scale inspection processing, EAM integration, and NERC compliance documentation.
Transmission-Only Companies
Organizations focused exclusively on transmission asset management with specialized inspection requirements.
Drone Service Providers
Inspection contractors serving multiple utility clients who need efficient processing and deliverable generation.
Rural Electric Cooperatives
Cost-effective inspection processing for smaller networks with limited in-house resources.
Outcomes
What it does
- Anomaly detection from drone/helo feeds (corrosion, vegetation encroachment, hot spots)
- Route-based review queues with priority scoring by severity and location
- Work order export to EAM/CMMS with GPS coordinates and evidence packs
- GIS-based asset mapping for targeted inspections
- Integration with NDAA-compliant and commercial drone platforms (Skydio, DJI, senseFly)
How it works
Drone/Helicopter Footage
Capture transmission line imagery using drone or helicopter platforms with RGB, thermal, and LiDAR sensors
Edge/Batch Detection
AI models process footage on-site (edge) for immediate results or batch-upload to cloud for high-volume analysis
Priority Queue
Detected anomalies scored by severity, asset criticality, and safety risk — critical findings surface first
Reviewer Console
Inspectors validate AI findings, add context, and confirm defect classifications with side-by-side imagery
EAM/CMMS Work Orders
Confirmed defects automatically generate work orders in Maximo, SAP, or Oracle with photos, GPS, and recommended actions
Field Crew Dispatch
Maintenance crews receive prioritized work orders with precise asset locations and defect documentation
Drone/Helicopter Footage
Capture transmission line imagery using drone or helicopter platforms with RGB, thermal, and LiDAR sensors
Edge/Batch Detection
AI models process footage on-site (edge) for immediate results or batch-upload to cloud for high-volume analysis
Priority Queue
Detected anomalies scored by severity, asset criticality, and safety risk — critical findings surface first
Reviewer Console
Inspectors validate AI findings, add context, and confirm defect classifications with side-by-side imagery
EAM/CMMS Work Orders
Confirmed defects automatically generate work orders in Maximo, SAP, or Oracle with photos, GPS, and recommended actions
Field Crew Dispatch
Maintenance crews receive prioritized work orders with precise asset locations and defect documentation
What you get
- Anomaly detection model trained on historical footage
- Reviewer console with priority queues and export to EAM
- Integration with NDAA-compliant and commercial drone platforms
- GIS-based asset mapping and work order generation
- Evidence packs for field crews with GPS and severity tags
Deployments & integrations
- Edge (field tablets/rugged laptops)
- Batch processing for historical footage
- GIS integration for route planning
Drone Platform Compatibility
NDAA-Compliant Platforms
Recommended for U.S. utilities and federal critical infrastructure
- Skydio X10 / S2+ (U.S. manufactured)
- Inspired Flight IF800 Tomcat
- Teledyne FLIR SIRAS
- Autel EVO series
Additional Supported Platforms
- DJI Matrice 350 RTK, M30T, Mavic 3 Thermal
- senseFly eBee X (corridor mapping)
Integration Capabilities
- Direct video/image import (MP4, MOV, JPG, DNG, TIFF)
- GPS metadata preservation (EXIF, XMP)
- Flight log integration for asset correlation
- API support for flight planning software (DJI FlightHub, Skydio Cloud)
Detectable Defect Categories
| Category | Defects Detected | Accuracy (F1) |
|---|---|---|
| Insulators | Cracked/chipped porcelain, contamination, flashover damage, missing units | 94-97% |
| Conductors | Broken strands, splice damage, bird-caging, corona rings | 91-95% |
| Hardware | Missing/loose bolts, damaged clamps, deformed components | 93-96% |
| Structures | Tower corrosion, foundation issues, bent members, woodpecker damage | 92-95% |
| Vegetation | Encroachment risk, grow-in potential, MVCD violations | 95-98% |
| Thermal | Hot spots (>10°C differential), corona discharge | 90-94% |
| Foreign Objects | Bird nests, kites, debris, unauthorized attachments | 96-98% |
*Accuracy measured as F1 score under standard inspection conditions (clear weather, midday lighting, 30-50m altitude)
Detection Accuracy
Performance Metrics
| Metric | Value | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Detection Rate | 90-95% | Percentage of true defects correctly identified |
| False Positive Rate | <8% | Percentage of non-defects flagged for review |
| Precision | 92%+ | Confirmed defects / flagged items |
| Recall | 90%+ | Detected defects / total defects |
Test Conditions
- •Camera: 4K RGB (20MP minimum), 640×512 thermal sensor
- •Altitude: 30-60 meters from asset
- •Lighting: Standard daylight (no direct sun reflection)
- •Weather: Clear to partly cloudy, <15 mph wind
Validation
- Validated against 50,000+ manually inspected images
- Third-party verification by independent testing laboratory
- Continuous improvement from inspector feedback loop
EAM/CMMS Integration
Supported Systems
| System | Integration Method | Features |
|---|---|---|
| IBM Maximo | REST API, MIF | Work orders, asset hierarchy, photo attachments |
| SAP PM | RFC/BAPI, IDoc | PM notifications, equipment master, documents |
| Oracle EAM | Web Services | Work requests, asset registry, inspection history |
| IFS Applications | REST API | Work orders, asset attributes |
| ServiceNow | REST API | Incident creation, CMDB updates |
Integration Capabilities
- Automatic work order creation from priority findings
- Asset ID mapping to utility GIS/asset registry
- Photo and thermal image attachment
- Defect severity and recommended action
- GPS coordinates for field navigation
Custom Integration
- •REST API available for custom EAM systems
- •CSV/XML export for manual import workflows
- •Webhook notifications for real-time alerts
Sensor Support
Visual Imaging
- •Minimum resolution: 4K (3840×2160) or 20MP still
- •Format: MP4, MOV, JPG, DNG, TIFF, RAW
- •Zoom: Optical preferred (20x+), digital accepted
Thermal Imaging
- •Sensor resolution: 640×512 minimum
- •Radiometric data: Required for temperature analysis
- •NETD: <50mK recommended
- •Temperature differential detection: >5°C from ambient
LiDAR
- •Point cloud formats: LAS, LAZ, E57
- •Vegetation clearance measurement to ±0.1m
- •Conductor sag analysis
- •3D tower modeling
- •NERC FAC-003 clearance reporting
Supported Payloads
- DJI Zenmuse H30T, H20T, L2
- Teledyne FLIR Vue TZ20
- Phoenix LiDAR Recon-XT
- YellowScan Voyager
Who Uses GridAurex
Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs)
Large transmission networks requiring enterprise-scale inspection processing, EAM integration, and NERC compliance documentation.
Transmission-Only Companies
Organizations focused exclusively on transmission asset management with specialized inspection requirements.
Drone Service Providers
Inspection contractors serving multiple utility clients who need efficient processing and deliverable generation.
Rural Electric Cooperatives
Cost-effective inspection processing for smaller networks with limited in-house resources.
Use Cases
Routine Patrol Inspections
Annual transmission line inspections per NERC FAC-003 requirements. Process drone/helicopter footage, identify defects, generate work orders, document compliance.
Storm Damage Assessment
Rapid post-event assessment of transmission infrastructure. Priority scoring surfaces critical damage for immediate dispatch.
Vegetation Management
MVCD clearance verification, encroachment tracking, and grow-in prediction for proactive management.
Thermal Surveys
Detect hot spots in conductors, connections, and equipment before failure. Identify overloaded circuits and failing components.
Condition-Based Maintenance
Track asset deterioration over time with historical comparison. Transition from time-based to condition-based maintenance programs.
Why GridAurex
Edge-First Architecture
Unlike cloud-only platforms, GridAurex processes footage on-site using edge devices. Field teams get results immediately — no waiting for cloud uploads, no bandwidth constraints in remote areas.
Hybrid Drone + Helicopter Support
Purpose-built for real utility operations that combine drone close-up inspection with helicopter corridor surveys. Single platform for both data types.
GIS-Native Design
Asset mapping built in from day one. Every defect is geolocated and linked to your asset registry. No post-processing required for GIS integration.
Priority Intelligence
AI-driven priority scoring surfaces critical defects first. Review queues organized by route, severity, and asset criticality — not just detection confidence.
Utility-Scale Integration
Native connectors for IBM Maximo, SAP PM, and Oracle EAM. Work orders generated automatically with all required fields populated.
Security & governance
- TLS 1.3 encryption for all data in transit
- AES-256 encryption for data at rest
- Role-based access control (field tech, supervisor, compliance officer, admin)
- Audit logging for compliance documentation and chain-of-custody
- Supports NERC FAC-003 vegetation management documentation
- NERC CIP-compatible architecture — integrates with utility compliance programs
- Data handling practices aligned with utility security requirements
Note: NERC CIP compliance is achieved by registered entities (utilities), not software vendors. GridAurex provides security controls and documentation that support your compliance efforts.
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