FUGRO HELPS POWERCO DELIVER NEW ZEALAND’S ENERGY FUTURE

Powerco Limited, the largest electricity distributor in New Zealand by geographical area, has awarded Fugro a significant digital inspection programme for its vegetation and network assets.

Much of Powerco’s overhead network, which was built over 50 years ago, is nearing the end of its useful life and has come under increasing pressure from regional network growth. Fugro will deploy its cloud-based Roames platform to deliver a complete and accurate, real-world, digital twin of the operator’s assets. The resulting data and analytics will be used by Powerco to improve its asset condition assessment and vegetation management process by cost-effectively identifying defective and potentially dangerous assets. 

The programme will include capturing high-resolution imagery of the pole tops from helicopter-mounted cameras. The dataset will be used to further train Fugro’s machine learning artificial intelligence in order to automate conditiion assessment and extend its capability.

Data collection is due to begin in mid-February 2019 and Jared Baronian, Fugro’s Manager Power Asia Pacific commented, “Fugro is excited to work with Powerco to help reduce risk and costs. The data and analytics will not only support vegetation management and inspection programmes today but will also providea Digital Foundation for tomorrow.”

Fugro monitors well over two million spans of network each year in Australia, Europe and the USA, through the Roames platform.

Caption: Data and analytics from Fugro’s Roames platform will help Powerco improve its network asset condition assessment and vegetation management process

For more information:

Robert Hoddenbach

r.hoddenbach@fugro.com

ABOUT FUGRO

Fugro is the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, collecting and analysing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Adopting an integrated approach that incorporates acquisition and analysis of Geo-data and related advice, Fugro provides solutions. With expertise in site characterisation and asset integrity, clients are supported in the safe, sustainable and efficient design, construction and operation of their assets throughout the full lifecycle.

Employing approximately 10,000 talented people in 65 countries, Fugro serves clients around the globe, predominantly in the energy and infrastructure industries, both offshore and onshore. In 2017, revenue amounted to EUR 1.5 billion. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

ABOUT POWERCO

Powerco is New Zealand’s largest electricity distributor in terms of network length (36,000km) and has the second largest number of electricity connections (336,000) covering 30% (35,000 sq km) of the North Island. The company also has the second largest gas distribution network (5,815km) and the second highest number of gas connections (107,000). It is one of only two dual-energy distributors in the country.