Point clouds, laser scanners and SLAM technologies: the digitalization of inspection procedures using LiDAR reduces complexity and enhances efficiency. This innovation optimizes the management of hydroelectric and thermoelectric assets, increasing the accuracy of measurements, reducing analysis times and ensuring greater safety. The project involves the use of advanced devices and processing software to transform data into detailed 3D models.
The process of monitoring corporate assets in hydroelectric power plants has always been a complex and time-consuming task. Traditional methods involved largely manual operations based on research and analysis of stored CAD material which is often not up to date. This significantly slowed down planning and maintenance activities, requiring on-site checks in order to update measurements. In the absence of digitalized data, it was often necessary to turn to external companies specialized in 3D surveying.
This reliance on other companies often resulted in procedures which were both lengthy and costly, and in a fragmented management of information. Suffice it to think of what this method meant when tracking data on more than 25 dams, 30 HV substations, 30 machine rooms, 30 kilometres of penstocks and over 400 kilometres of other pipelines and channelling. Moreover, the gathering of data was 231201 by the difficulty of access to certain sites like penstocks, dams and tunnels, with a need for specialized personnel and with work that was often hazardous.
The process was thus not always efficient. A further problem was the lack of any centralized integration of information. The data collected was not, in fact, automatically updated in a shared system, which made collaboration between different teams and remote consultation with personnel difficult. Such a situation led not only to a slowing-down in the planning of new work but also to an increase in maintenance costs and the risk of unexpected repair work being needed.
The introduction of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology has thus constituted a real revolution in the management of the monitoring of hydroelectric assets. The technology is based on the use of laser impulses to map surrounding areas with extremely high precision, making it possible to overcome the limitations of traditional methods, to reduce inspection times and improve data reliability. Impulses are sent by the LiDAR device towards the object selected and then reflected back. The time taken by the impulse makes it possible to accurately calculate the distance and to generate, in great detail, a three-dimensional point cloud representing the surface targeted.
The project, developed together with the Innovation team, began with a scouting phase to identify the most suitable technologies, assessing three different start-ups before taking the decision to partner with Spektra, part of the Trimble group, a leader in advanced surveying and measurement. Four LiDAR devices were purchased, along with two static laser scanners and two SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) systems, ideal for the coverage of large areas and usable on drones to reach remoter locations. The first type offers greater accuracy and is particularly suitable for measurements over long distances while the second has a lower degree of accuracy but is able to cover broader areas and can be mounted on drones so as to be able to reach less accessible areas.
In addition to the hardware, the project includes Realworks software, which transforms the scans into detailed 3D models. In order to guarantee optimal usage of the new technologies, 15 colleagues underwent a training programme involving practical sessions at the Lovero HEP facility and in-depth software sessions at Spektra. The experimentation phase, from March to July 2024, saw the systems used for measurements in diverse strategic areas, making it possible to trial the functioning in different contexts and to resolve any operational issues.
The decision to bring the process in-house and to provide our working groups with their own equipment has enabled us to cut operating costs and increase the level of autonomy and control of the management of assets.
For us at A2A, the LiDAR project has marked an exemplary change in the management of HEP assets, bringing with it numerous advantages in terms of efficiency, safety and cost reduction. In fact, the integration of LiDAR has not only improved the quality and speed of monitoring and measurement but has also allowed us to create a shared digital model that facilitates internal collaboration, optimizing maintenance and future planning. With this project, A2A has taken a significant step towards a smarter and more digital management of its assets, reducing the environmental impact and enhancing the sustainability of operations.
The long-term objective is that of consolidating LiDAR as a key technology for the full digitalization of assets, accelerating development of the Digital Twin project, which will make possible the real-time monitoring of the status of infrastructures, preventive maintenance and optimization of the management of operations.
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