French Innovators Enhance Underground Utility Management with Augmented Reality and Precise Positioning
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- Europe
Country
- France
Product
- Trimble Catalyst
- Trimble Mobile Manager
- Microsoft HoloLens
Tech Stack
- Augmented Reality
- GNSS Positioning
- Bluetooth
Implementation Scale
- Pilot projects
Impact Metrics
- Productivity Improvements
- Customer Satisfaction
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
- Networks & Connectivity - Bluetooth
- Sensors - GPS
Applicable Industries
- Utilities
Applicable Functions
- Field Services
- Maintenance
Use Cases
- Augmented Reality
- Predictive Maintenance
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
Enedis is a large corporate entity headquartered in Paris, France, responsible for managing 1.4 million kilometers of electric distribution lines across the country. The company plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and quality of electric power delivered to its customers. With a focus on innovation and efficiency, Enedis constantly seeks ways to enhance its operations and customer service. The company is particularly interested in leveraging advanced technologies to support its field technicians in providing high-quality service. Enedis's commitment to improving its operations is evident in its collaboration with French innovators to explore the use of augmented reality and precise positioning technologies to streamline the management of underground utilities.
The Challenge
Enedis, a major electric distribution company in France, manages a vast network of electric lines, including a significant portion underground. A critical challenge for Enedis is to minimize the response time required to address issues affecting the reliability and quality of electric power delivered to its customers. When a problem is reported, Enedis conducts an 'intervention' to locate and repair the affected lines. This process involves dispatching field technicians who rely on GIS-generated maps to approximate the locations of underground lines. However, the traditional method of using paper or tablet maps and injecting signals into lines to pinpoint issues is time-consuming and must be completed before excavation and repairs can begin. Enedis sought to leverage cutting-edge technology to improve efficiency and reduce the time required for these interventions.
The Solution
To address the challenge of efficiently locating and repairing underground electric lines, Enedis collaborated with XXII, a Paris-based startup specializing in augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. XXII developed a proof of concept (POC) application for Android devices that integrates with Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality goggles. The application provides real-time visualization of underground utilities by combining data from Enedis's GIS maps with precise positioning information. A key component of the solution is Trimble Catalyst, a technology that offers high-accuracy GNSS positioning on Android smartphones and tablets. By integrating Trimble Catalyst into their application, XXII was able to provide accurate geo-location for field technicians, enabling them to visualize underground lines in real-time. The integration process was straightforward, allowing XXII to use Trimble Mobile Manager to manage positioning and override the smartphone's GPS with high-accuracy positions from Catalyst. This approach streamlined the development effort and provided a simple workflow for users unfamiliar with GNSS positioning.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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