Hitachi Revolutionizes Vegetation Management with Artificial Intelligence in Brazil

The Hitachi Vegetation Manager (HVM) Promises a New Era in Vegetation Management for the Brazilian Energy Sector, Utilizing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and Satellite Analytics.

With the constant challenge of large-scale vegetation management, a cycle that involves data collection, analysis, planning, execution, and subsequent repetition, Hitachi LTD brings to Brazil the Hitachi Vegetation Manager (HVM). This revolutionary innovation is a comprehensive resource planning solution that uses artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of vegetation management activities and organizational planning efforts.

The Power of HVM in the Energy Sector

The transmission lines spread across Brazil reach about 175,000 kilometers, and according to data from the National Electric System Operator (ONS), they are expected to surpass 200,000 km by 2026. Energy companies managing these networks need to perform regular maintenance on these lines, as vegetation and fires are responsible for nearly 25% of interruptions in transmission lines over the last five years.

The Evolution of Vegetation Management with HVM

The HVM is a sophisticated tool that aggregates data from multiple sources such as satellites, drones, and field teams, to generate optimized cutting plans, thereby improving maintenance of vegetation areas. By providing energy companies with a broader view, they can prevent unexpected interruptions and anticipate risks indicated in specific locations by the solution.

Vegetation management typically represents the largest operational and maintenance expense for most utility companies. To overcome these challenges, HVM employs a combination of satellite images and other visual sources, such as photographs, videos, drones, and field teams.

Space Technology in the Service of Vegetation Management

With satellite technology, energy companies can cover and monitor their entire territory, automatically comply with regulations, and gain a broader understanding at scale. This reduces the need for ground and aerial trips to the line locations, significantly decreasing costs and carbon emissions.

The images captured by HVM, which have a predetermined width around the transmission lines, include data about fires, vegetation growth status and forecasts, weather conditions, and even potential tower invasions. With “pan-sharpening” techniques, satellite images can be enhanced to a resolution of 15 cm, providing a clear and detailed view of the terrain.

By combining satellite analysis with climate, ecosystem, and customer business information, HVM provides instant visibility across the network and offers better insights for organizations to optimize decision-making.

The Hitachi Vegetation Manager is a comprehensive and connected solution that offers a web application to manage vegetation inventories and planning efforts; two native mobile applications for ground or aerial patrol and field planning; direct integration with Maxar’s next-generation satellites; and a comprehensive visualization compatible with drones, LiDAR, and other multimedia applications.

HVM: An Integrated System for Vegetation Management

This system, composed of three integrated subsystems – Cut Planner, Field Planner, and Field Patrol – aims to maximize efficiency, minimize costs, and provide more effective and sustainable vegetation management for energy companies in Brazil. The technology, which captures satellite images and field information to analyze data using artificial intelligence, is set to transform the way the energy sector deals with vegetation management.