Hammers and Sensors and Drones, Oh My!
New Technologies for Grid Resilience
By Allison Young

Hammer Time! 

The health of utility poles is an important factor in energy resiliency. KIUC recently adopted a new technology called Thor’s Hammer, which was recommended by wildfire mitigation consultants.  

Thor’s Hammer was first invented by Groundline Engineering founder Ian Flatley in 2006. Ian was inspired by a similar device that used seismic waves to test the integrity of concrete. The device headquarters and manufacturing are based in New Zealand. 

Thor’s Hammer provides data on utility pole health using a special hammer connected to a geoscope with gyroscopic sensors and a sensor hub. The sensor hub is Bluetooth-enabled and quickly transmits data to the Thor’s Poletest app and interactive portal, which provide geospatial visualization and data insights on the pole’s condition. 

KIUC has approximately 17,000 wood poles across the island. Previously, KIUC tested approximately 2,000 poles a year, completing a full round of pole testing about every eight to nine years. The typical pole should have a 30-year lifespan. 

With the use of Thor’s Hammer, pole testing is more accurate, which leads to cost savings. The previously used testing methods of sounding or drilling have a lower accuracy rate, which can lead to poles being replaced unnecessarily. Thor’s Hammer also saves time on labor, allowing the tester to assess each pole in less than a minute.

Groundline sent personnel to Kauai in December 2023 to train KIUC transmission and distribution staff on how to use the equipment. KIUC signed up for a six-week pilot, testing 1,000 poles in six weeks. 

“KIUC has found the previous practice of drilling to assess pole strength and serviceability introduces an additional risk of rot and strength degradation at the evaluated drill holes near the base of the pole,” Transmission and Distribution Manager John Cox says. “Thor’s Poletest is a one-minute nondestructive test that can be repeated over typical inspection cycles with zero risk of shortening the serviceable life of the pole.”  

How’s the Weather? 

As part of KIUC’s wildfire mitigation efforts, the cooperative is seeking to expand the tools used to keep members safe, especially in leeward areas (west and south), which are most prone to red flag warnings from the National Weather Service. Recently, KIUC began a pilot program using innovative weather sensor technology. 

Using hardware and software from vendors such as WeatherFLow-Tempest and Lindsey FireSense LLC, KIUC can view high-spatial-resolution images to monitor the environment, weather and the power grid, transmitting data via cell transmission with satellite backup. Using this data, KIUC personnel can make informed decisions in real time and for the future.  

For example, if severe weather conditions have caused damage to electric infrastructure in a hard-to-reach area, technology can be used to detect vegetation contact, downed lines, pole top leakage events and flashover arcing. Based on the results of the pilot, KIUC can determine if additional investment in these technologies will enhance operational and emergency preparedness efforts.  

Preventing or minimizing damage to KIUC’s infrastructure leads to lower operational costs and more stable electricity rates. KIUC’s commitment to improving resilience against wildfire threats results in a more reliable, safe and cost-effective power supply for members. 

Reaching New Heights with Drone Inspections

KIUC recently contracted with an Oregon-based company, Wiggins Tech, to complete inspections of distribution circuits in sections of Wailua and Kapaa. 

Drones improve the inspection process because, for some locations, the height and voltage levels of the equipment and environmental conditions make it impossible for a lineworker to approach without deenergizing the lines.  

The use of drone inspection does not require deenergization, bucket trucks, foot patrols or climbing structures. Inspectors can assess crossarms, pole tops, hardware or any equipment not easily visible from the ground. Other potential uses include post-storm inspection, troubleshooting momentary outages and a general enhancement of the operations staff’s situational information-gathering ability. 

Images of the conditions are created during the inspection process so KIUC can monitor vegetation around lines and poles, which is a significant contributor to outages.  

“We found this is a highly efficient way to inspect portions of our infrastructure safely and quickly,” KIUC Engineering Manager Cameron Kruse says. “We’re now looking at how to integrate drone inspections into our overall prevention and maintenance program.”