Various Inspection Methods

The effectiveness of the inspections was found to be directly related to:

• Availability and use of inspection tools

• Data recording and reporting system utilized

• Experience and training of inspectors

• Time allocated to perform inspection

• Utility philosophy on maintenance inspections

• Utility responsiveness to inspection findings

EPRI identified inexpensive, easily implemented ways, which would improve line inspection results.

Substantially more defects could be identified by:

• Taking more time at each structure

• Using well designed media for recording observations

• Utilizing well planned, systematic, orderly processes

• Viewing structures from more vantage points or angles

Omadatech's Systematic Transmission Visual Evaluation (Stve) software incorporates these EPRI findings.

This revolutionary inspection methodology results in:

• The identification of over 95% of defects

• A complete inventory of all Transmission Assets and the condition of each component

• The inspection of multiple points on each transmission structure

• The organization and processing of high-resolution images, each associated with an appropriate series of inspection questions

• A dynamic database including high-resolution images of every component on every structure regardless of condition, corresponding to the priority maintenance codes set by the utility's existing criteria