AMPERE: exploiting Galileo for electrical asset mapping in emerging countries

Abstract

The AMPERE project aims at engineering and starting to commercialize a dedicated solution, to be used for electrical power network information gathering. AMPERE will support decision making actors (e.g., institutions and public/ private companies in charge to manage electrical network) to collect all needed info to plan electrical network maintenance and upgrade. In particular, the need for such a solution comes in emerging countries (worldwide) where, despite global electrification rates are significantly progressing, the access to electricity is still far from being achieved in a reliable way, and, there is lack of knowledge about already deployed infrastructure. The AMPERE data collection solution relies on drones equipped with GNSS/INS units, LIDAR, optical and thermal cameras. In such a context, Galileo is a key enabler - especially, considering its free-of-charge High Accuracy Service (HAS) and its highly precise E5 AltBOC code measurements- as a core component to map electric utilities, optimize decision making process about the network development and therefore increase time and cost efficiency, offering more convenient way to manage energy distribution. The project is also aimed at investigating the potential of cooperative multi-UAV solutions.