Over the last decade, there has been a revolution in commercial and personal electronics and the communication systems that tie them together. Technology is making the world smaller, and using technology to leverage data, resources, and other information will enable utilities to enhance their ability to provide safe, reliable, affordable power. This revolution is profoundly impacting many areas of the electric power industry, from transmission to distribution, to customers, and even the utility workforce. In fact, tools for workforce management present utilities with opportunities to improve worker safety and understanding while increasing system resiliency.
Vendors are developing applications to facilitate specific work flows to meet the needs of the utility industry. Typically, this is being done in a piecemeal, non-integrated fashion, resulting in a hodgepodge of technologies. The industry is in a position to get ahead of this development and achieve a standard approach. Integrated, advanced workforce management tools would support the transformation of the power system to become more flexible (through new methods of communication and control), more resilient (through the ability to more quickly predict, respond, and recover), and more connected (through improved monitoring and data analysis/management).
Building on lessons learned from other industries and from thought leaders in our own industry, the power industry is working to identify the actions required to take full advantage of advanced workforce management capabilities. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is contributing to the development of standards to automate work flows for electric utility workers, and developing the technology (such as augmented reality) to put some of those standards into action.
Simplifying with Standards
The widespread, successful use of advanced workforce management tools will depend on the development of, and adherence to, common standards. Standards enable users to “mix and match” the most appropriate technology to their particular needs, and enable vendors to develop products with the confidence that they will be able to communicate and share data with other applications. Standards provide consumers, regulators, and other stakeholders with a level of assurance that these tools will safely interact with the power system and contribute to the reliable generation, delivery, and use of electricity.
Currently, utilities are independently developing their own workforce management tools. A large number of the technology and process requirements underlying these tools are common from one utility to the next, but a fully integrated, standards-based approach is lacking. For example, during mutual assistance scenarios, utility crews often bring their own technologies to the field, introducing multiple communications platforms to an inherently complex situation. The use of standards and common interfaces would increase value and provide faster restoration times by reducing the amount of training and hardware required to establish secure communications and coordinate work management tasks across service territories.
Modern Technologies to the Rescue
Using the latest in commercial computing, standards, and communication technologies, the remote worker can be integrated into the back office and have access to data and work processes as if they were there. Tablets, smart phones, and wearable computers provide a multipurpose platform through which users can accomplish many tasks. For example, while the smart phone is a functioning phone, it can have any number of additional applications installed to perform various functions.
Compare that with what field or plant workers typically carry. They might have a radio, a ruggedized laptop, and various probes, sensors, and scopes to perform diagnostics. With modern technologies, these can all be combined into one rugged tablet or wearable computer that can interact with multiple back office systems through the use of standard messaging.
Working with utilities around the world to vet requirements, EPRI is developing technology and standards to automate work flows for the plan-design-build-operate cycle, equipment maintenance, and vegetation and outage management. EPRI is working with the Common Information Model (CIM) and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) communities to identify gaps between utility work management requirements and the emerging standards these groups are developing. By identifying requirements and working with technology developers, EPRI is accelerating the rate at which these technologies can be deployed.
EPRI is also developing technologies, such as augmented reality, to help increase worker efficiency and safety in the field. EPRI is coordinating an effort across its four research sectors to create a common platform for workforce management and visualization to facilitate cooperation during large weather events. It is also developing open-source software and coordinating with vendors to get these new technologies into the hands of utility work professionals. EPRI’s latest report, Assessing Augmented Reality for the Electricity Industry, provides a good example of EPRI’s role in this space.
We know that as utilities drive toward power system transformation, delivering safe, reliable, resilient, and high-quality electricity remains top-of-mind. The combination of advanced electronics and communications— with some standards to guide the way—will provide new opportunities to deliver on the utility mandate. For more information about EPRI’s augmented reality and workforce management R&D, visit smartgrid.epri.com or contact me directly at jsimmins@epri.com.
About the Author
Dr. John J. Simmins is a Technical Executive at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) where he manages the Information and Communication Technology for Distribution project set. His current research focuses on integrating back-office applications and integrating with devices and personnel in the field. Dr. Simmins also leads EPRI efforts in the use of augmented reality, social media, data analytics, and visualization to improve grid resiliency. Prior to joining EPRI, Dr. Simmins was with Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative where he managed engineering and operations applications. He received his B.S. and a Ph.D. in Ceramic Science from Alfred University.
