• Three and a half-year program to inspect and digitalize Evergy’s  9,000+ mile transmission system.
  • The collaboration will bring a new wave of techniques to Evergy’s existing inspection program by utilizing eSmart Systems’ AI-powered image recognition solution, Grid Vision® that enables engineers to inspect assets with greater depth and accuracy.  

eSmart Systems has announced a multi-year partnership with Evergy, a regulated electric utility that serves more than 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, to inspect and digitalize their entire transmission system. The goal of the partnership is to create a digital inventory of all assets and improve the accuracy and consistency of inspections by utilizing virtual inspections and artificial intelligence. In addition to improving reliability and resiliency, this partnership will create a baseline of data that can support predictive maintenance in the future, as well as reduce the expense of inspections and other asset management related activities.

eSmart Systems will lead the program working with EDM International and GeoDigital. GeoDigital is providing large-scale data acquisition and high-resolution image processing and EDM International will provide inspection subject matter expertise. The program will utilize eSmart Systems’ advanced solution, Grid Vision, which includes best practice Collaborative-AI. The solution is designed to analyze photographic images of assets to identify defects, catalog asset inventory and identify risk issues that need to be addressed.

This partnership is expected to accelerate image analysis capabilities and improve inspection processes while empowering Evergy to make better-informed decisions in their end-to-end inspection process that significantly reduce costs for inspections, maintenance, and repairs.

eSmart Systems is a key player in our grid modernization efforts as we continue to focus on energy reliability and grid resilience through innovation and adoption of new technologies. This is a big step that will accelerate identification and repair of defects and help us take advantage of predictive maintenance in the future

Mo Awad
Director of Operations Analytics, Evergy

Our partnership with Evergy is an important landmark in maintaining a resilient grid for the future. The combination of knowledge and skills from bringing together experts from Evergy, our Grid Vision team, GeoDigital, and EDM International, will improve the visibility and awareness of critical infrastructure data including asset inventory and condition as well as decrease risks and operating expenses. We are looking forward to continuing the strong growth of this strategic partnership.

Steve Hambric
eSmart Systems President of North America

About Evergy

Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG), provides clean, safe and reliable energy to 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. The 2018 combination of KCP&L and Westar Energy to form Evergy created a leading energy company that provides value to shareholders and a stronger company for customers.

Evergy’s mission is to empower a better future. Today, half the power supplied to homes and businesses by Evergy comes from emission-free sources, creating more reliable energy with less impact to the environment. We will continue to innovate and adopt new technologies that give our customers better ways to manage their energy use.

About eSmart Systems

eSmart Systems is a leading provider of AI-powered solutions for the inspection and maintenance of critical infrastructure. With our software solution, Grid Vision®, we revolutionize how Power Utilities operate and maintain their transmission and distribution networks. eSmart Systems offers a data-driven and condition-based approach to infrastructure inspections that can be managed from one single platform. This platform also employs Collaborative AI, a method for combing the best qualities of Machine Learning and Subject Matter Experts to achieve the best near-term inspection outcome, while also automatically training the AI for long-term success. We support companies worldwide by ensuring reduced costs, safer inspections, and prolonged asset life. For more information, please visit esmartsystems.com.

About EDM International

EDM is an employee-owned alliance of engineers, scientists, technologists, and businesspeople providing innovative services and products to the utility industry since 1982. The company has become a leader in utility engineering, operations, and asset management by merging excellence in technical disciplines with a genuine concern for client needs. EDM is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has offices in San Diego, California, and Billings, Montana, and staff in other locations in North America. For more information, please visit edmlink.com

About GeoDigital

GeoDigital offers a distinct and fully compliant “Insight for Utilities” solution that delivers transmission aerial surveys, LiDAR & Imagery acquisition, FAC-003 vegetation analytics, web delivery with 3D right-of-way visualization, and a comprehensive vegetation and line inspection work management software. The WorkStudio Software Suite manages utility work, including engineering design, vegetation management, inspections, audits, and cycle-based maintenance planning. By combining Insight software with GeoDigital’s LiDAR and imagery data acquisition services, utilities can identify work required, cost-effectively allocate work to field personnel, track work as its being completed, and generate reports and analysis. For more information, please visit geodigital.com


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