Sense technology can detect and grid failures and anomalies with bushfires.

Australia is the most fire-prone country with an average of 45,000–60,000 bushfires every year. Bushfire risk is categorised by ignition events which can be caused by events such as weather and vegetation meeting power lines.

After either occur, bushfires may grow undetected until noticed, reported and responsive action taken.

Sense technology can recognise what’s happening out on the grid, including disruptions to energy installations, livestock, tourism, jobs and many more.

It can detect a range of grid failures and anomalies associated with wildfires. Extreme weather and vegetation contacts create recognisable signatures in power lines that Sense-enabled meters can detect.

Preventative steps to avoid ignition events include regular monitoring and maintenance, especially in high bushfire prone areas. Sense grid edge AI technology has been used in the US and has become an option for Australian DNSPs to validate and deploy the technology in bushfire risk areas.

Sense grid edge intelligence is based on AI that recognises the unique electrical signatures of Consumer Energy Resources (CERs) and appliances behind each meter and signatures of grid related events and anomalies in front of each meter.

Sense can also detect infrastructure anomalies that are not obvious when inspected visually from the ground, such as worn insulation arcs or water tracks on pole arms of distribution transformers, which can cause spark arcs and ignition events.

During the testing and validation stage, Sense monitors can be installed alongside