Californian utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is using software from Finland-based Sharper Shape to analyse lidar and RGB images remotely, allowing for intelligent, data-driven maintenance decisions without the need for field visits.

Sharper Shape specialises in transmission and distribution utility asset management and grid resiliency. PG&E has entered a five-year software agreement with for Sharper Shape’s Core (cloud optimised remote evaluation) software to assist with utility asset management.

This agreement builds on a partnership dating back to 2019. PG&E began leveraging Sharper Shape’s software in 2021 to enhance asset management and maintenance strategies.

The software lets PG&E analyse lidar and RGB images remotely, allowing for intelligent, data-driven maintenance decisions without the need for extensive field visits. Since 2019, Sharper Shape has been collecting and processing high-quality lidar and RGB imagery for PG&E, creating a digital twin of PG&E’s infrastructure. This digital twin, combined with Core’s AI algorithms, helps utilities predict and prevent equipment failures and create prioritised asset management plans.

PG&E (www.pge.com) is using Core’s data lake to scale access to remote sensing data and operationalise their application across various functions. Benefits of Core include:

• Fewer truck rolls: Reducing the need for field visits by optimising workflows related to pole loading calculations and the estimation and design of distribution assets.
• Compliance: Supporting adherence to internal standards and external regulations, including California’s GO95.
• Cataloguing historical network data: Integrating data collected over many years from multiple vendors and sources.
• Validating site accessibility: Supporting field operations and construction teams with remote data validation.
• Vegetation management and risk modelling: Leveraging data to predict and mitigate wildfire risks through segmentation and tree species identification.
• Data science: Providing critical data for the development of risk models aimed at enhancing wildfire prevention and response strategies.

“We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with PG&E through this long-term agreement,” said Kristy McDermott, vice president of Sharper Shape. “The innovative application of our Core platform demonstrates the immense value of combining advanced AI, remote sensing data and digital twin technology to create safer and more resilient utility infrastructure. Together with PG&E, we’re setting a new standard for asset intelligence and management.”

This collaboration reflects PG&E’s commitment to leveraging technologies to enhance safety, efficiency and sustainability while addressing the difficulties of climate change and evolving regulatory requirements.

Sharper Shape builds living digital twin (LDT) software to help power transmission and distribution utilities and other operators of linear infrastructure manage risk, improve safety and create operational efficiencies. Delivered on a cloud based, SaaS platform and supplemented by data collection and work package execution services, the technology includes AI and ML algorithms to produce LDTs that are easy to integrate into workflows and to update with live field data.

Sharper Shape (www.sharpershape.com) was founded in 2013 in Helsinki, Finland. It serves tier-one utilities around the world, with technology centres in Helsinki and Salt Lake City, Utah.