Systems and methods for managing populations of utility poles
In an example implementation, a method includes receiving, at a processor, historical pole data records representing utility poles and having one or more pole attributes. Likewise, a method includes generating one or more pole subpopulations of historical pole data records having at least one common pole attribute. Further, the method includes performing a predictive algorithm on each pole subpopulation. Finally, the method includes determining, based on a predictive algorithm, the number of poles in the particular subpopulation that are likely to meet a rejection condition within a specified time frame. In another example implementation, a method includes receiving a sample pole data record representing a particular sample data pole and determining the likelihood of the particular sample utility pole meeting a rejection condition within a specified time frame.
1. A system for increasing a lifespan of a utility pole, the system comprising:
a probe for obtaining data from the utility pole, the probe being insertable into the utility pole and configured to measure, at an internal location of the utility pole, at least one of a hardness, thickness, moisture content, and temperature of the utility pole;
a database storing historical data corresponding to a plurality of historical utility poles, the historical data being indicative of, for each of the plurality of historical utility poles, one or more pole attributes and a repair/replacement history;
a computing system comprising at least one memory operatively coupled to at least one processor, the at least one memory being configured for storing data and instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing system to automatically:
receive, from the probe, measured pole data indicative of the at least one of the hardness, thickness, moisture content, and temperature of the utility pole;
receive, from a remote server, pole attribute data associated with the utility pole, the pole attribute data being indicative of one or more attributes of the utility pole;
update the pole attribute data to include the measured pole data;
perform a predictive analysis based on at least the pole attribute data and the historical data by:
generating, based on at least the historical data, a historical pole subpopulation comprising one or more historical utility poles of the plurality of historical utility poles, each of the one or more historical utility poles having a common attribute that is the same as an attribute of the one or more attributes of the utility pole;
generating, based on at least the historical data associated with the historical pole subpopulation, a weight factor for the common attribute, the weight factor being indicative of a determined impact of the common attribute in degradation of the historical pole subpopulation; and
generating a degradation model based on at least the historical data associated with the historical pole subpopulation, the pole attribute data, and the weight factor;
generate a lifetime maintenance schedule for increasing the lifetime of the utility pole by:
identifying, based at least in part on the degradation model, at least one maintenance date to perform at least one of a maintenance action, a repair action, and a restorative action; and
storing the lifetime maintenance schedule at the at least one memory; and
output display instructions for displaying the lifetime maintenance schedule.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pole attribute data comprises a plurality of pole attribute data records pertaining to a customer's deployed utility poles, wherein each data record is associated with a particular deployed utility pole and includes one or more pole attributes of the utility pole.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the common attribute includes one or more of:
pole age;
decay zone;
program inspection type;
wood species;
original treatment; and
previous supplemental treatment type.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein outputting the display instructions for displaying the lifetime maintenance schedule comprises transmitting the instructions to a mobile device, the instructions instructing the mobile device to provide a display indicative of the lifetime maintenance schedule.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein performing the predictive analysis further comprises:
determining an estimated strength of the utility pole based at least in part on the measured pole data; and
determining whether the estimated strength is below a predetermined strength threshold.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the computing system to:
receive user input corresponding to one or more parameters, the one or more parameters comprising at least one of: pole depreciation, cycle length, replacement cost, restoration cost, reject management, average inspection cost, average treatment cost, a percentage expense in replacement, an allowed rate of return, and the inspection type;
generate a plurality of maintenance/replacement programs for the utility pole, each of the plurality of maintenance/replacement programs being based at least in part on the historical data associated with the historical pole subpopulation, the pole attribute data, the weight factor, and a different maintenance/replacement schedule;
output additional display instructions for displaying the plurality of maintenance/replacement programs and, for each of the plurality of maintenance/replacement programs, a predicted financial outcome, a predicted risk outcome, and a predicted asset condition outcome.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein outputting the display instructions for displaying the lifetime maintenance schedule comprises:
a predicted cost for one or more repairs to the utility pole, a predicted cost for replacement of the utility pole, and a predicted increase in lifespan of the utility pole associated with the one or more repairs.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the computing system to:
determine, based on at least the historical data associated with the historical pole subpopulation and the pole attribute data, a likelihood of the utility pole meeting a rejection condition within a specified time frame.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the probe is configured to detect damage to the utility pole, the damage comprising at least one of structural weakness, rot, and a hole.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the utility pole is a first utility pole,
the pole attribute data is first pole attribute data,
the lifetime maintenance schedule is a first lifetime maintenance schedule,
the display instructions are first display instructions, and
the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the computing system to:
identify a second utility pole based on one or more similarities between the first pole attribute data and second pole attribute data indicative of one or more attributes of the second utility pole,
generate a second lifetime maintenance schedule for increasing the lifetime of a second utility pole by:
identifying, based at least in part on the degradation model that is associated with the first utility pole, at least one maintenance date to perform, for the second utility pole, at least one of a maintenance action, a repair action, and a restorative action;
store the second lifetime maintenance schedule at the at least one memory; and
output second display instructions for displaying the second lifetime maintenance schedule.