Using Augmented Reality to Prevent Damages to Critical Network Infrastructure 

Virtual reality is a computer-simulated experience that shows objects in three dimensions. This technology is often used in entertainment and training to simulate reality or a fictional world. From a locator and damage prevention standpoint, it allows you to create a hypothetical yet realistic environment where you can train and test the capabilities of field technicians.  

Irth Solutions’ Locate Assurance offering (through our partner) uses virtual reality in its Virtual Locate Training Simulator to train locate technicians. Using this “in-office” virtual reality simulator, locate technicians can experience what it’s like in the field, encounter tricky scenarios in a “safe-to-fail” space and learn situations to avoid. This training improves safety, promotes best practices and reduces damages. 

Augmented reality combines the real world or a photographic display of the actual world with computer-generated images to “augment” the visual view of reality.  

AR apps use the camera on your mobile device to capture the real world and then add virtual objects to the scene so that you can view 3D representations on your screen. This eliminates the need for special equipment such as AR headsets.

Although humans gather information through all five senses, vision provides the most information to give clarity. That’s why we often say: A picture is worth a thousand words.   

Our mental capacity or cognitive load limits the brain’s ability to absorb and process information.  

With AR, you’re seeing something real using your eyes and can absorb and process the information without straining your cognitive load. When you don’t have vision, your brain must work hard to figure out what an object is for you to visualize it.  

There are endless opportunities for businesses in energy, electric and gas utilities, and telecom to use augmented reality to protect critical infrastructure assets and identify risks. In damage prevention, AR aids in how we learn, perform work and make decisions:  

• Learning: AR can enhance learning experiences, teach new skills faster and help people retain knowledge. Users don’t have to read text, they can access Irth Solutions AR app to view the assets and perform work since the underground assets are viewable. Irth Solutions AR Locate Assurance enables locators to be more effective in the field. The better trained locate technicians are, the less likely errors will be made in the field that threaten safety, damage or disrupt essential services.   

• Efficiency: AR can change how we interact and perform work. Using AR, locate technicians can easily and quickly identify an underground asset. Augmented reality is a powerful tool that field workers can use to identify their asset quickly, get details of the asset and accurately perform the locate improving effectiveness and field efficiency. 

• Support decision-making: Visualizing something and seeing it in 3D improves decision-making. When field technicians can “see” what’s underground, they can ensure accurate marks, resulting in fewer damages. 

• Accuracy: Because the field technician uses a mobile device and UtiliSphere AR, the application provides phone-level accuracy for GPS to complete locates.  

• Safety: By accurately locating underground assets by using AR, fewer damages occur that could potentially harm workers or communities.  

UtiliSphere AR is simple and easy to use. Users in the field can click on Irth AR in the ticket detail page or AR icon from the GIS map and with couple of clicks can view the assets in real time. While working on a ticket, locators have access to all the ticket information and UtiliSphere AR. Locators can take a picture of the asset in AR view and attach it to the ticket. The locators also have ability to edit the picture using Irth’s drawing and sketching tool to draw, write, annotate or make any corrections for their internal GIS and operations teams.  

UtiliSphere AR features: 

• When working on a ticket, users can access augmented reality directly from the ticket, making it a powerful extension of the platform. 
• Admins have project-based and utilities-based access to restrict who can access UtiliSphere AR and what users can view.   
• The built-in measuring tool and map layer functionality give locators everything they need within the app.  
• Provides easy-to-use calibration functions to ensure proper alignment of assets.  
• Eliminates dependence on paper and 2D screens.  

Whether it is helping locators identify assets faster or providing visibility to excavators before they dig, Irth Solutions Augmented Reality offering focuses on safety and protecting high risk assets from damage saving time, resources and money.  

If you’re ready to see how augmented reality can improve your damage prevention efforts, contact us to schedule a demo of UtiliSphere AR.