Using Satellite Data to Reduce Outage Restoration Time
New research suggests that utilities could potentially reduce outage response times by leveraging satellite data. In fact, NASA recently concluded a study that attempted to quantify this potential reduction in response times. The study used a massive flood event that occurred in Southeast Asia in 2011 as the model. It revealed that using satellite data could have reduced the “average time per emergency response” for first responders by 9 minutes.
How Satellite Data Can Help Restoration Efforts
In general, satellite data can help augment the decision-making process because it is available in near real time and provides a bird’s-eye view of things like flooded roads, downed trees, and even water depth. The space-based observations allow decision-makers to keep a close eye on natural disasters, and can be modeled algorithmically in combination with population, terrain and infrastructure data from the local area to provide a more holistic view of the situation.
Satellite data can also enable predictive information, such as predicting the worst-hit areas in order to help prioritize crew deployment decisions. It can also theoretically help estimate supply and resource needs, refine restoration time estimates, and identify optimal navigational routes, among other things.
Now, I’m not saying that you should run out and implement a satellite data analysis function. Conversely, this technology is improving, but its ability to specifically help guide the utility decision-making process has not been perfected. All I’m saying is that this emerging technology could be a viable option in the near future.
There are already some commercial providers of satellite data and imagery, such as DigitalGlobe (launched in 2017), and Planet (launched 2010) which has deployed approximately 150 small satellites across the globe to collect data and imagery. I addition, there are companies – such as Intterra – that specialize in analyzing third-party satellite data to support first responders. But there aren’t any solutions currently that are catered to the utility industry.
In the final analysis, I definitely believe that there will be a time when satellite data will be an important tool in every utility toolbox, but that time has not yet come.
