Sensing the Future

A wide range of applications can benefit from the development and implementation of sensor technologies including safety, workforce deployment, condition-based maintenance, asset management, increased asset utilization, and forensic analysis. Although a variety of sensors are being applied today, there is significant opportunity to increase the range of available sensors and their cost-effective application. A number of challenges exist, including development of the sensing element, power harvesting and storage, sensor mechanical design and packaging, communications, algorithms, data visualization, and alarming. One of the other major challenges is integrating sensor data with the utility information communication infrastructure and database. Three applications of technologies in demonstration were described in this article, but there are many more demonstration projects under way by EPRI and other organizations. It is vital that these demonstrations be performed and experience collected in multiple applications and environments. It is through these demonstrations that sensor designs are improved, enabling utilities to apply these technologies with confidence in the future. In addition, it is through these demonstrations that vital data are gathered for the development of algorithms and alarms.