Osmose & Neara partner to enhance utility data accuracy

Osmose has partnered with Neara, an AI-powered predictive modelling platform, to improve how utilities evaluate asset risk and strengthen power grids.

This partnership between Osmose and Neara aims to address challenges faced by utility networks, such as outdated and incomplete data. These challenges often result in misinformed decision-making and unnecessary costs. The collaboration focuses on improving data quality and utility networks for entities, including CenterPoint Energy.

The partnership will address longstanding data quality challenges that often limit effective decision-making by combining Osmose's deep expertise in field data collection, structural analysis, and restoration solutions with Neara's advanced AI modelling. The integration seeks to enhance the accuracy of asset data, ultimately aiding utilities in optimising restoration efforts and improving resiliency.

Mike Adams, CEO of Osmose, explained, "By integrating Neara's AI-driven modeling with our industry-leading field services, we're giving utilities a powerful tool to make smarter, more data-driven decisions. Accurate asset data is the foundation for a resilient grid, and this partnership provides the precision needed to maximise reliability and performance." This focus on accurate data collection aims to reinforce utility infrastructure and reduce unnecessary costs.

The partnership will see improvements in risk-based decision-making, with Osmose's structural analysis and degradation models providing insights into asset conditions. Neara's predictive analytics will enhance these insights, aiding utilities in assessing which assets need immediate action, reinforcement, or replacement.

Jack Curtis, Chief Commercial Officer at Neara, stated, "Restoration, reinforcement, and structure replacement all play key roles in strengthening distribution infrastructure. But the most effective decision-making starts with clean, accurate data. By integrating Osmose's field expertise into our platform, we're helping utilities like CenterPoint Energy improve resiliency while optimising costs." This integration could lead to significant cost savings and improve restoration efficiencies.

The collaboration also seeks to help companies move beyond traditional inspection routines and adopt a more proactive approach. The reported benefits include up to 70% cost savings by focusing on reinforcement, decreasing the need for asset replacements, and achieving up to 80% faster restoration times.

CenterPoint Energy already employs the partnership's solutions to enhance storm preparedness and ensure network reliability. Eric Easton, Vice President of Grid Transformation at CenterPoint Energy, remarked, "At CenterPoint Energy, we are focused every day on building the most resilient coastal grid in the nation and increasing the resiliency of the communities we are privileged to serve."

"As we work to leverage technology to deliver better outcomes for our customers, we're continuing to enhance our advanced modelling capabilities, which includes collaborating with cutting-edge technology providers like Neara and Osmose to leverage data from both site-specific field analysis and LiDAR-based modelling to optimise the accuracy of individual asset analysis as well as the efficiency of our whole system modelling."

The partnership with Osmose and Neara aims to help utilities embrace a more data-driven approach. The collaboration intends to ensure networks are more robust, safer, and reliable by continuously updating asset data through field inspections combined with AI-driven modelling.