How can we digitalize telecommunications tower inspections to reduce execution time, improve data reliability, enhance safety, and increase operational efficiency?

 

Challenge Overview

We are seeking an innovative solution to transform and optimize the telecommunications tower inspection process at AXIA Energia, which is currently performed manually, resulting in operational inefficiencies, elevated costs, and safety risks for field personnel.

The proposed solution should digitalize the inspection process by leveraging drone-based image capture, Digital Twin technology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve inspection quality, asset visibility, and decision-making.

The solution must be capable of generating a Digital Twin of telecommunications towers through photogrammetry, automatically identifying structural defects and anomalies, and creating a comprehensive inventory of antennas, radios, cables, and other tower-mounted equipment.

Additionally, the platform must integrate with existing AXIA Energia corporate systems, enabling seamless management, monitoring, and governance of telecommunications infrastructure assets.

Solution Requirements

• Drone-Based Inspection: Drones must be equipped to perform aerial surveys of telecommunications towers and capture images required to generate a Digital Twin through photogrammetry.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): The solution must incorporate AI algorithms capable of analyzing images and videos to detect defects and anomalies, including paint deterioration, corrosion, cracks, damaged or loose cables, antenna support issues, deficiencies in fall protection systems, lightning protection systems (LPS), and other structural abnormalities.
• Automated Asset Inventory: The AI system must automatically identify all equipment mounted on the tower and generate inventory data, including at least:
  • Equipment azimuth
  • Elevation
  • Mechanical tilt
  • X, Y, and Z dimensions
  • Height above ground level
  • Occupied and available tower space
• Systems Integration: The solution must integrate with existing AXIA Energia systems, including asset management and monitoring platforms, allowing generated data to support operational and strategic decision-making.
• User Interface (UI): The platform must provide an intuitive, user-friendly interface that allows operators to review inspection results, generate reports, and monitor tower conditions.
• Security and Compliance: The solution must comply with all relevant regulations and safety standards related to drone operation, data collection, storage, and cybersecurity.

Business Impact

• Reduced Operational Costs: Automating tower inspections and reducing manual intervention lowers travel expenses, labor costs, and human-error-related rework.
• Improved Operational Efficiency: AI-powered analysis enables rapid detection of structural issues, allowing preventive maintenance and reducing unplanned outages.
• Enhanced Decision-Making: Integration between field-collected data and corporate systems provides a more accurate understanding of infrastructure conditions, supporting maintenance and replacement decisions.
• Improved Safety: Drone-based inspections reduce the need for personnel to climb towers, minimizing occupational risks associated with working at height.
• Enhanced Asset Management: The Digital Twin, integrated with asset management systems, provides detailed and near real-time visibility into tower conditions, equipment status, available capacity, and infrastructure utilization, supporting engineering and expansion projects.

Expected Benefits

• Efficiency and Agility: Automated drone inspections significantly reduce inspection time and increase tower coverage capacity.
• Accuracy and Reliability: Artificial Intelligence delivers more consistent and precise analyses, improving confidence in inspection results.
• Improved Visibility and Control: Automated inventory generation and integration with corporate systems provide comprehensive infrastructure oversight.
• Scalability: The solution can be deployed across different locations and infrastructure types using the same automated methodology.
• Sustainability: Reduced travel requirements contribute to lower carbon emissions and more sustainable operations.
• Innovation and Competitiveness: Adoption of Digital Twin, drone, and AI technologies strengthens AXIA Energia’s position as an innovation leader in the telecommunications and energy sectors.

Submission Deadline

The proposal submission form will remain available until February 2, 2025.

Questions

For questions or additional information, please send an email and include the title of this Challenge in the subject line to innovationgrid@axia.com.br.

 

 

Telecommunications Tower Inspection | Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Operational Efficiency | Safety and Compliance | Structural Defect Detection