Systems and methods for managing populations of utility poles

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for increasing a lifespan of a utility pole, the system comprising:
 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;   one or more processors;   memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
 receive, from a utility pole probe, measured pole data corresponding to an internal location of the utility pole, the measured pole data being indicative of at least one of a hardness, thickness, moisture content, or temperature of the utility pole; 
 receive, from a 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; 
 storing the lifetime maintenance schedule at the 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 server is remote from the one or more processors. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises the database. 
     
     
         5 . 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; or   previous supplemental treatment type.   
     
     
         6 . 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. 
     
     
         7 . 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.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the 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, or 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.   
     
     
         9 . 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.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the 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.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the utility pole probe is configured to detect damage to the utility pole, the damage comprising at least one of structural weakness, rot, or a hole. 
     
     
         12 . 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 one or more processors, further cause the 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, or a restorative action; 
 
 store the second lifetime maintenance schedule at the memory; and 
 output second display instructions for displaying the second lifetime maintenance schedule. 
   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to:
 receive, from a utility pole probe, measured pole data corresponding to an internal location of the utility pole, the measured pole data being indicative of at least one of a hardness, thickness, moisture content, or temperature of the utility pole;   
       receive historical data from a database, the historical data (i) corresponding to a plurality of historical utility poles and (ii) being indicative of, for each of the plurality of historical utility poles, one or more pole attributes and a repair/replacement history;
 receive, from a 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, or a restorative action; 
 storing the lifetime maintenance schedule at memory associated with the computing device; and 
 output display instructions for displaying the lifetime maintenance schedule. 
 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , 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. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the common attribute includes one or more of:
 pole age;   decay zone;   program inspection type;   wood species;   original treatment; or   previous supplemental treatment type.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , 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.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device 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, or 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.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , 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.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device 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.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , 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 one or more processors, further cause the computing device 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, or a restorative action; 
 
 store the second lifetime maintenance schedule at the memory associated with the computing device; and 
 output second display instructions for displaying the second lifetime maintenance schedule.