“Through a combination of vehicle, drone, and in-person imagery capture, we are updating the records of our entire overhead distribution system. With more than 45,000 miles of overhead lines in New York, this is the largest combined acquisition of data on company-owned equipment,” said Shawn Ras, senior manager of Data Projects for Avangrid, owner of NYSEG and Rochester Gas & Electric. “We will use imagery recognition models to compare the images against our internal systems, allowing us to recommend equipment replacement and upgrades.”
The project, which started in September 2024 and is projected to continue until the end of this year, will use vehicles, drones, and authorized personnel to conduct the survey. The first stage, which is nearly complete, includes vehicles outfitted to take photos of overhead electric equipment. With the help of artificial intelligence tools, the companies will be able to assess more than 45,000 miles of line and detect utility equipment that is not up to their safety or durability standards.
When equipment issues are detected, the next stage will employ drones and personnel on the ground to review and take the necessary steps to upgrade and repair the detected equipment, according to the release.
The project is a survey of overhead electric distribution equipment and does not require power interruptions. The focus of the survey “is strictly utility equipment and not private property,” the release stated. All authorized personnel working on the project will have identification and badges, and vehicles marked with the company logo.
The imagery capture will become the basis of an internal AI model to assess equipment health, enabling NYSEG and RG&E to provide more reliable power delivery in the future, according to the release, which stated, “This will be a part of the Companies’ ongoing efforts to invest in the upkeep and safety of the grid and to provide safe and reliable electric service.”
©2025 the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
