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commercial satellite – ## Guarding the Grid from Space: How Satellites and Geospatial Analytics Are the New Line of Defense for Utilities
Under the dual pressures of continued global energy demand and aging infrastructure, utilities and local energy distribution companies are facing a quiet battle: how to ensure the safe and stable operation of thousands of miles of transmission lines, pipeline networks, and energy facilities, and prevent catastrophic events such as power outages, wildfires, equipment damage, and gas leaks. Traditional inspection methods – sending ground crews or helicopters to conduct inspections – are not only costly and inefficient, but also difficult to achieve large-scale, high-frequency coverage. Today, a change led by space technology is quietly taking place. By combining high-resolution satellite imagery, artificial intelligence and geospatial analytics, energy companies are gaining an unprecedented “God’s eye view” that transforms accident prevention from reactive to proactive.
### Space surveillance: a game changer
Technological advances, particularly the maturation of artificial intelligence and the explosion of commercial high-resolution satellite constellations, are giving utilities new monitoring and analytics capabilities. Space imaging companies such as Airbus, Vantor (formerly Maxar) and Planet Labs operate vast constellations of low-orbiting satellites capable of capturing images of the Earth’s surface in stunning detail of up to 30 centimeters (about the size of a dinner plate). These satellites carry remote sensing technology that collects multispectral and hyperspectral data and later transmits the massive amounts of data to cloud-based computing systems.
In the cloud, algorithms powered by artificial intelligence get to work. They detect various changes and activities on the surface by recognizing unique spectral features. Whether it’s new vegetation growth, building construction, land excavation, soil leveling, or newly constructed access roads, any changes that could encroach on utility line corridors or pose a risk to cable ducts have nothing to hide. The combination of cloud computing and AI analysis makes it possible to perform pixel-level and weekly comparisons of massive image data. Satellite monitoring is not only more comprehensive, but also significantly more cost-effective than inspections by airplane, drone, or dispatching small teams of humans. What’s more, the system can be set up to automatically send out detailed alerts when specific issues are detected, such as tree-topping risks or methane leaks.
### Precise identification of transmission line risks
Take the example of Southern Company, which serves an area of thousands of miles in the US states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. The company owns the right-of-way for transmission lines, but not the land along them. As a result, it must continually inspect these corridors and be on the lookout for encroachments such as landowners building new foundations and expanding parking lots into the corridors. Any such encroachment could pose a serious threat to the power lines during a storm or heat wave.
In the past, these corridors were inspected only once every few years, making it expensive and slow to detect early signs of construction by hand or airplane. Now, using high-resolution satellite imagery and AI algorithms, changes in soil leveling, new roof contour lines, or unauthorized excavation are immediately recognized. Early detection means Southern can intervene while the structure is still mobile, saving tens of thousands of dollars and avoiding potential safety hazards.
### Vegetation management: reading the story of trees
One of the most prevalent threats to energy infrastructure comes from vegetation. Trees, shrubs and weeds must be trimmed regularly to prevent them from encroaching on power lines. A single fallen branch or a grass fire can cause a line outage and threaten the security of the entire power grid.
Traditionally, utilities have relied on manually sampling transmission corridors and extrapolating the condition of the entire area. High-resolution satellite imagery provides greater accuracy, with resolution as fine as 30 centimeters, enough to identify individual trees, branches and potential vegetation threats. ai algorithms not only identify tree species, but can also measure tree heights to within 5% accuracy, and can even reveal signs of tree stress, such as chlorosis or drought damage. The technology has been used by utilities to pinpoint trees that need to be trimmed or removed that could jeopardize their lines based on their height and health. In the first analysis in the fall of 2022, the system identified more than 200,000 trees and vegetation clusters in hazardous areas, and subsequently prioritized management areas through heat maps.
### From “multiple incidents per day” to “one or two incidents per day”: a leap in efficiency
Responding to infrastructure damage is an ongoing task for many utility companies. From accidental digging to downed utility poles, any incident can require a repair team to be dispatched, sometimes more than once a day. With the help of satellite imagery and geospatial analysis, one company has managed to reduce such incidents to just one or two per day.
Satellite imagery allows companies to closely monitor their infrastructure and analyze changes several times a week, including marking new building construction, equipment staging, geologic hazards, seasonal changes, and vegetation growth that could threaten services. Another significant advantage is that satellites can monitor hard-to-reach areas such as remote transmission lines, backyards, and out-of-rights zones. Identifying problems through remote imaging saves significant time and resources. Each time a repair truck is dispatched it can cost up to $1,000 or more, and these costs have a direct impact on a company’s profit and loss. With geospatial analysis, utilities are able to proactively address issues before they impact service.
### Insight into the invisible: detecting methane gas leaks
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new “Superfund” rule puts more pressure on oil and gas operators to quickly detect and repair methane leaks. However, many leaks occur in remote areas that are difficult to monitor and where ground systems and sensor networks do not provide adequate coverage.
Today, by analyzing high-resolution shortwave infrared imagery provided only by the top commercial satellite data providers, geospatial analytics are able to detect methane leaks flowing at flow rates as low as 1 kilogram per hour, with a resolution of up to 3.7 meters. This method provides enough detail to pinpoint leaks within a few meters, making traceability easier. Monitoring operators can send methane alerts to utilities multiple times per month, allowing them to complete repairs before third-party watchdogs or regulators discover the problem.commercial satellite
### Looking Ahead: The Continuing Evolution of the Eye in Space
High-resolution satellite imagery and AI geospatial analytics provide utilities with new tools to proactively manage their assets. Satellites provide a “God’s eye view” that enables continuous monitoring of power line corridors and energy facilities, while AI empowers the analysis of every pixel. As the technology evolves, hyperspectral sensors will provide even more insightful data from orbit that can feed directly into GIS platforms and emergency response workflows.
Commercial satellites are quickly becoming the first line of defense in protecting oil and gas operators, pipeline companies, utility companies and even the environment. This monitoring revolution, which began in space, is redefining the paradigm of infrastructure maintenance, extending the boundaries of security and stability to unprecedented heights and breadths.