Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the utility sector. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked remote inspection solutions.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Remote Inspection Startups impacting Utility Companies out of 264
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 2 093 000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 264 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 remote inspection startups that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 259 remote inspection solutions impacting utility companies, get in touch.
Skyqraft offers Electric Line Inspection
Surveillance of power lines is crucial since faults in transmission disrupt commercial and residential energy supply. However, it is difficult to assess all transmission units manually. This is why startups develop remote inspection solutions for electric grid networks. Combining autonomous monitoring with artificial intelligence (AI) enables real-time updates about the condition of power lines in a region.
Swedish startup Skyqraft develops an AI-powered remote inspection solution. The AI solution uses the remote feed of locations to detect errors in the transmission lines. The solution integrates with drones, which enable thermal inspections for predictive maintenance of the grid. The startup’s inspection tool further visualizes any faults on the grid through maps.
VAPAR provides a Water Utility Inspection Platform
Stormwater runoff and leaks in pipes reduce the efficiency of water pipelines. There are high costs associated with the repair and maintenance of water and wastewater pipes. The longer the delay in these operations, the greater the impact on cost and environmental conditions. Thus, startups engineer integrated platforms that provide remote inspection for leaks and recommend subsequent actions.
Australian startup VAPAR offers a remote water utility inspection platform. The platform provides data on the conditions of the pipelines and offers repair recommendations. The data-driven platform removes the need for manual assessments as well as prioritizes inspection for pipes that require immediate repairs or maintenance. The platform optimizes operation expenditure (OPEX) and reduces damage from leakages and spills.
Fulcrum engineers App-based Utility Inspection
Any disruption to a utility service often impacts the proper functioning of the other utilities in a region. The challenge is in coordinating the separate utilities in an integrated manner. For example, a disruption in power debars users from availing of other services tied to electricity, such as operating water pumps. Thus, it is essential to have an integrated view of the utilities of a region. This is why startups develop platforms that inspect different utilities and allow analysis through a single interface or application.
US-based startup Fulcrum offers remote inspection services for utility management. The startup’s app guides technicians during installations while following occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) standards and environmental regulations. It allows utilities to inspect the equipment, pipelines, and electricity grids to identify and remediate hazards. Moreover, it provides real-time geospatial insights into an emergency situation and monitors the workforce across large areas.
AiDash offers AI-based Vegetation Management
Vegetation-related accidents account for the high maintenance costs of utilities. These include inclement weather conditions, forest fires, or overgrowth across utility lines. Manually inspecting large areas to check for the presence of vegetation is time-consuming and leads to human error. Thus, startups develop autonomous inspection solutions to manage vegetation and minimize damage to property and lives.
US-based startup AiDash designs an AI-based vegetation management platform. The platform provides in-depth monitoring of transmission and power lines with the help of high-resolution satellite imagery. It features a web dashboard and a mobile app that enable field agents to proactively mitigate potential risks. It also monitors and surveys vegetation hazards, wildfire risks, and weather-related damage remotely. Additionally, the startup provides inspection services for other industries such as transportation and wastewater management.
Sky Revolutions develops Thermal Imaging Technology
Leaking gas pipelines have enormous potential to cause wide-scale destruction of life and property. In addition, these leaks pose a significant wastage of precious resources and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. These leaks are also difficult to detect manually since they only leave traces of smell behind. However, thermal imaging scanners detect the presence of these leaks. This is why startups develop remote thermal detection solutions to inspect gas pipelines for leaks.
British startup Sky Revolutions engineers unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for utility inspections. The startup’s UAS are fitted with thermal imaging systems that capture changes in temperature from above via high-definition scans of the topography. The drones detect leaks, temperature loss, defects, connection problems, or malfunctions, enabling predictive maintenance. Further, the startup provides survey data through 3D visualization, temperature profiling, and geo-referenced images, among other digital formats.
Discover more Utility Startups
Startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on electric and water utility inspections, imaging-based inspection, smartphone-based inspection as well as vegetation management. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing utility management, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more remote inspection technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download one of our free Industry Innovation Reports to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
