Field of the disclosure

The present disclosure relates to utility pole monitoring. In particular, it relates to a utility pole having mounted thereto a monitoring device, a utility pole monitoring device, a utility pole monitoring system, a low-power wide-area-network for monitoring utility poles, and a method of detecting a fault condition or event affecting a utility pole.

Background to the Disclosure

A utility pole is a structure, for example a post or column, that is used to support a utility line. Examples include a telegraph pole for supporting a telecommunication line and a power pole for supporting an electricity power line. Utility poles may also be used to support devices, such as antennas, transmission masts and street lights.

Many utility companies use wooden or metal utility poles to hold electricity or telephone lines high above the ground. Due to various reasons, utility poles may fail from time to time leading to damage and disconnection to utility services. Reasons for failure of utility poles may include strong winds, the striking of the utility pole by an object such as a vehicle, and excessive loads being applied to the utility line that supported by the utility poles - for example from falling trees that snag the utility line.

Failure of a utility pole and its associated utility line can cause a power or communication failure to many users. Such failures can take significant time to rectify, especially where multiple failures occur at the same time, as may be the case where storm damage is the cause. One of the factors that can increase the time to rectify the failures is the difficulty in identifying the location of the failure in a utility line. It is known to detect a break in a conductor by sending pulses through the conductor and detecting the timing of reflections. However, such a method can only detect the first break in a utility line, and also can be time consuming to perform.

Against this background, the present disclosure aims to provide an improved, or at least commercially relevant alternative, method of monitoring utility poles.

Summary of the Disclosure In a first aspect the present disclosure provides a utility pole having mounted thereto a monitoring device that comprises: a) a controller; b) one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more parameters associated with the utility pole; c) a power supply; and d) a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate electronic data to a remote resource connected via a public data transfer network.

In a second aspect the present disclosure provides a utility pole monitoring device comprising: a) a controller; b) one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more parameters associated with a utility pole; c) a power supply; and d) a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate electronic data to a remote resource connected via a public data transfer network.

In a third aspect the present disclosure provides a utility pole monitoring system comprising: a) a plurality of utility poles arranged into a utility pole network; b) a plurality of monitoring devices that each comprise: i) a controller; ii) one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more parameters associated with a utility pole; iii) a power supply; and iv) a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate electronic data over a public data transfer network; wherein at least some of the utility poles of the utility pole network each have one of the monitoring devices mounted thereto; and c) a remote resource configured to receive electronic data from the plurality of monitoring devices and analyse the electronic data to identify an event or fault condition of the utility pole network. In a fourth aspect the present disclosure provides a low-power wide-area-network (LPWAN) comprising: a) a public data transfer network; b) a plurality of utility poles, each utility pole comprising: i) a controller; ii) one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more parameters associated with the utility pole; iii) a power supply; and iv) a low-power communication module configured to wirelessly communicate electronic data over the public data transfer network; and c) a remote resource configured to receive electronic data, via the public data transfer network, from the monitoring devices of the plurality of utility poles and analyse the electronic data to identify an event or fault condition of one or more of the utility poles.

Embodiments according to any of the first to fourth aspects described above may comprise one or more of the following optional features:

• The one or more parameters that are monitored may comprise one or more of a tilt of the utility pole(s), an altitude of the monitoring device(s), a magnetic and or electric field of a utility line that is supported by the utility pole(s), and a location of the monitoring device(s).

• The one or more sensors may comprise one or more of a tilt sensor, an accelerometer, an altitude sensor, an electro-magnetic field sensor, and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) device, for example a GPS, GLONASS or BDS device. The tilt sensor may be, for example, a MEMS, electrolytic, or capacitive tilt sensor. The tilt sensor may be a bi-axial or multi-axial tilt sensor. The accelerometer may be, for example, a MEMS accelerometer device. The accelerometer may be a multi-axial accelerometer, preferably a 3-axis accelerometer. The altitude sensor may be, for example, a pressure altimeter or may be provided by a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) device, for example of the types noted above. In particular, a single GNSS device may provide both location data and altitude data (or change in altitude data) for the monitoring device. The electro-magnetic field sensor may detect one or more of an electric field, a magnetic field and RF radiation. A Hall effect sensor may be used, for example, to detect changes in a magnetic field of the utility line supported by the utility pole.

• The utility pole(s) may support a utility line comprising, for example, one or more of an electricity power line, a telecommunications line, a fibre-optic cable, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the utility pole(s) may support or comprise a device comprising, for example, one or more of an antenna, communication dish, transmission mast, or light. The utility pole may be a wooden utility pole, for example.

• The power supply may comprise a battery; optionally a rechargeable battery.

• The monitoring device(s) may further comprise a solar power cell configured to recharge a rechargeable battery of the monitoring device(s).

• The one or more sensors may be operatively connected to the controller by a wired or wireless connection. In some examples, the connection may be an I2C bus connection. The one or more sensors may, for example, be provided within the same housing as the controller, communication module and power supply. Alternatively, one or more of the sensors may be located outside the housing or in a secondary housing and operatively linked to the controller by wired or wireless connection. For example, the one or more sensors may be mounted at a first location on the utility pole(s) and the housing comprising at least the controller may be mounted at a second location on the utility pole(s) that may be spatially separated from the first location.

• The monitoring device(s) may comprise a housing configured for mounting to a utility pole. Preferably the monitoring device may be mounted near the upper end of the utility pole in order to enhance connection to the public data transfer network and to locate an electro-magnetic field sensor of the monitoring device (if present) sufficiently close to the utility line to be able to detect a magnetic field emanating from the utility line. The housing may be configured to provide a degree of protection against moisture and or dust ingress. In some examples the housing may have a ingress protection rating of IP54 or better, preferably IP55 or better, nrpfprably IP56 or better, preferably IP57 or IP67 or better. • The monitoring device(s) may further comprise a memory configured to store parameter data received from the one or more sensors. Optionally the memory may be configured to store data associated with the location of the monitoring device(s). The memory may function as a temporary store for one or more sets of readings of the parameter data pending transmission of the parameter data to the remote resource.

• The communication module may be a low-power communications unit. The communication module may comprise a modem; optionally a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) modem; optionally a NB-loT modem; optionally a CAT-M modem. In some examples, the communication module may be comprised by an integrated chipset or module. For example, in some examples the monitoring unit may comprise a Type 1 SC module comprising a chipset containing a NB-loT or CAT-M modem, for example a Murata Type 1 SC module containing an Altair 1250 chipset.

• The public data transfer network may comprise, for example, a cellular network, optionally a broadband cellular network, for example a 4G or 5G network.

• The communication module may be configured to wirelessly communicate electronic data over the public data transfer network using, for example, a User Datagram Protocol (UDP). The communication module may comprise a subscriber identification module (SIM), optionally an integrated SIM (iSIM).

• The remote resource may comprise a data storage and a data processor for storing and analysing the electronic data received from the monitoring device(s). The remote resource may comprise one or more physical or virtual servers. The remote resource may comprise or be operatively linked to a user interface, to provide results of analysis to a user via an interface, for example a graphical user interface. The results of analysis may be provided to a web portal or an API, for example a REST API, for further processing or dissemination.

In a fifth aspect the present disclosure provides a method of detecting a fault condition or pvpnt affecting a utility pole, the method comprising the steps of: a) mounting to the utility pole a monitoring device; b) using the monitoring device to sense one or more parameters associated with the utility pole; c) transmitting electronic data associated with the one or more parameters from the monitoring device to a remote resource over a public data transfer network; and d) using the electronic data to determine at the remote resource whether the fault condition or the event has occurred to the utility pole.

The monitoring device utilised as part of the fifth aspect may be a monitoring device as described above with respect to any of the first to fourth aspects. The one or more parameters that are sensed and the one or more sensors used to sense the parameters may also be as described above with respect to any of the first to fourth aspects.

The fault condition or event may comprise, for example, one or more of an excessive tilt of the utility pole, a change in altitude of the monitoring device, and a change in a magnetic and or electric field of a utility line that is supported by the utility pole.

For example, an excessive tilt event may be detected when the absolute tilt of the utility pole and or a change in tilt of the utility pole exceeds a threshold amount, for example when the utility pole lists or falls down.

For example, a change in altitude event may be detected when the absolute altitude of the monitoring device and or a change in altitude of the monitoring device exceeds a threshold amount, for example when the utility pole lists to a large degree or falls down.

For example, a change in magnetic and or electric field event may occur when electrical power through the utility line supported by the utility pole fails. In some embodiments, a change in magnetic and or electric field event may be used as a secondary indicator to act as a confirmation that a simultaneously-detected excessive tilt event and or a change in altitude event has occurred that is severe enough to cause failure of the utility line.

The fault condition or event may also comprise extended loss of contact between the monitoring device and the remote resource. For example, an extended loss of contact fault may be detected if the remote resource fails to receive a transmission of electronic data from the monitoring device over one or more reporting periods. Such a fault may be caused, for example, due to device component failure, vandalism, lightning strike, etc.

In some embodiments, the method may further comprise transmitting data associated with an identifier of the monitoring device and or a location of the monitoring device to the remote resource. In some embodiments, an identifier may be transmitted to the remote resource and the remote resource may determine a location of the monitoring device based on matching the identifier with location data stored in a database. For example, when installing each monitoring device a GPS-location fix for the monitoring device may be obtained and uploaded to and stored at the remote resource along with an identifier code for the monitoring device. In alternative embodiments, location data may be transmitted to the remote resource when reporting a fault condition or event. For example, GPS location data may be transmitted as part of the electronic data, or in response to a query from the remote resource issued by the remote resource on receiving the electronic data.

The monitoring device may be configured to sense the one more parameters intermittently, optionally at pre-configured intervals. The time interval between readings may be configurable.

The monitoring device may be configured to transmit the electronic data to the remote resource intermittently; optionally at pre-configured intervals. The interval between transmission may be configurable. The interval may be a time interval, for example every 15, 30, or 60 minutes. Alternatively, the interval may be based on a number of readings of the one or more parameters. For example, the monitoring device may be configured to take a reading of the one or more parameters intermittently, to store each set of readings and to transmit the sets of readings to the remote resource every X sets, where X may be from 2 to 10, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Additionally or alternatively, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the electronic data to the remote resource on detection of the fault condition or the event occurring. For example, when detecting a fault condition or event, the controller may be configured to immediately transmit the electronic data to the remote resource. The electronic data may comprise a timestamp of when the one or more parameters were sensed. The timestamp may be based on a GNSS clock or a clock of the public data transfer network.

As noted above with respect to the first to fourth aspects, the electronic data may be transmitted over a low-power wide-area-network (LPWAN); optionally using a NB-loT or CAT-M modem.

The monitoring device may be configured to have a low-power mode.

The monitoring device may be configured to wake up one or more of the sensors and or the communication module only when required to take a reading or make a transmission. For example, the controller may be configured to supply power to an accelerometer of the monitoring device intermittently and only when required to take a reading. For example, the controller may be configured to wake the communication module only when required to make a transmission of the electronic data. For example, exchange of information between the monitoring device and the remote resource may be configured to require the monitoring device to initiate the exchange.

The controller may be configured to wake up one or more of the sensors and or the communication module at time intervals, optionally at fixed and predetermined time intervals. Additionally or alternatively the controller may be configured to wake up one or more of the sensors and or the communication module on activation of a trigger, for example a tilt switch, pendulum switch, etc. In this way the controller may be enabled to ‘switch on’ the monitoring device out of its predetermined sequence if an event such as a listing utility pole is detected by the trigger.

The remote resource may additionally utilise electronic data received from one or more monitoring devices mounted to one or more additional utility poles to determine whether the fault condition or the event has occurred to the utility pole. In some examples the remote resource may additionally utilise electronic data received from a monitoring device mounted to a neighbouring or proximate utility pole to determine whether the fault condition or the event has occurred to the utility pole. For example, the determination may comprise an assessment of a change in relative tilt of the neighbouring or proximate utility poles towards or away from each other. Beneficially, the present disclosure provide means for monitoring utility poles and utility pole networks that may reduce the time required to identify the location of the failure in a utility line or of a utility pole. This may in turn reduce downtime of utility services in the event of service disconnection.

The present disclosure may also allow for the detection of the location of multiple failure points along a single utility line that occur in the same event (e.g. from storm damage).

Also beneficially, the present disclosure may permit the identification of a utility pole that is in the process of failing prior to the failure progressing to the point where the utility line has completely fallen. For example, the present disclosure may allow for the detection of wobbling or listing utility poles prior to breaking of the associated utility line or any damage being incurred by a supported device on the utility pole. Since it is typically less expensive to repair a wobbling or listing utility pole than a section of broken utility line, the present disclosure may also reduce overall maintenance costs.

Advantageously, the monitoring device of the present disclosure may contain its own internal power supply and communication module, optionally within a single housing. The monitoring device may be simple to mount to a utility pole without requiring any wired connection to be made to the pole or utility line.

Advantageously, the monitoring device may consume very low levels of power, enabling a long service time to be achieved with an internal battery power supply, optionally without the need to provide any requirement for recharging the battery.

Brief Description of the Drawings

One or more embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a utility pole comprising a monitoring device according to the present disclosure;

Figure 2 a schematic view of a plurality of utility poles each comprising a monitoring device according to the present disclosure; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a monitoring device according to the present disclosure; and

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate use of the monitoring device of Figure 3 to detect fault conditions and events affecting utility pole(s).

Detailed Description

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as is commonly understood by the reader skilled in the art to which the claimed subject matter belongs. It is to be understood that the foregoing summary of the disclosure and the following examples are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of any subject matter claimed.

The following description is directed to embodiments of the disclosure. The description of the embodiments is not meant to include all the possible embodiments of the disclosure that are claimed in the appended claims. Many modifications, improvements and equivalents which are not explicitly recited in the following embodiments may fall within the scope of the appended claims. Features described as part of one embodiment may be combined with features of one or more other embodiments unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

In this specification, the use of the singular includes the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, the use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise.

A monitoring device 1 according to the present disclosure is shown in Fig. 1 mounted to a utility pole 2. The utility pole 2 supports a utility line 3. A plurality of utility poles 2 may be provided as shown in Fig. 2 that together support the utility line 3. The plurality of utility poles 2 may form a utility pole network that may extend over significant distances. Some or all of the utility poles 2 of the utility pole network may be provided with a monitoring device 1 . In Fig. 2 both of the utility poles 2 have mounted to them a monitoring device 1 . Preferably, the monitoring device 1 is mounted near the upper end of the utility pole 2 in order to enhance connection of the monitoring device 1 to a public data transfer network and to optionally locate the monitoring device sufficiently close to the utility line 3 to be able to detect a magnetic field emanating from the utility line 3. Each utility pole may comprise or consist of a post or column, formed of wood, metal or composite material. Examples include telegraph poles for supporting telecommunication lines and power poles for supporting electricity power lines. In a non-illustrated embodiment, the utility pole may be a standalone pole without a supported line that may be used to support devices, such as antennas, transmission masts and street lights.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the monitoring device 1 . The monitoring device 1 comprises a controller 11 , one or more sensors 12-14 configured to monitor one or more parameters associated with a utility pole, a power supply 15, and a communication module 20 configured to wirelessly communicate electronic data to a remote resource connected via a public data transfer network. The monitoring device 1 may further comprise a memory 16 and a trigger 17, the function of which will be described below.

The one or more sensors 12-14 may comprise one or more of a tilt sensor, an accelerometer, an altitude sensor, an electro-magnetic field sensor, and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) device, for example a GPS, GLONASS or BDS device. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the sensors comprise an accelerometer 12, a GPS device 13 and a Hall effect sensor 14. The accelerometer 12 may be a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer.

The sensors 12-14 enable the controller 11 to take readings of one or more parameters affecting the utility pole 2, for example a tilt of the utility pole 2, an altitude of the monitoring device 1 , a magnetic and or electric field of the utility line 3 that is supported by the utility pole 2, and a location of the monitoring device 1 . The controller 11 may determine absolute values or variances in the values for tilt, altitude, EM field and location.

The controller 11 may comprise processing means configured to control the operations of the monitoring device 1 . The controller 11 may be interconnected by wired and or wireless means to the other components of the monitoring device 1 . One of more of the components of the monitoring device 1 may be integrated and or mounted on a common board. An integrated chipset may be provided comprising at least the controller 11 and the communication module 20. The accelerometer 12, GPS device 13 and optionally the Hall effect sensor 14 may be connected by an I2C bus. The communication module 20 may comprise a modem; optionally a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) modem; optionally a NB-loT modem; optionally a CAT-M modem. The modem may be configured to transmit and receive electronic data over a public data transfer network, optionally using UDP. The public data transfer network may comprise, for example, a cellular network, optionally a broadband cellular network, for example a 4G or 5G network.

The monitoring device 1 , for example the communication module 20, may comprise an integrated SIM (iSIM) which may be used to identify the monitoring device 1 to the public data transfer network and or the remote resource.

The power supply 15 may comprise a battery, for example a rechargeable battery, for example a lithium-polymer battery. The battery may have a capacity of greater than 1500mA, optionally greater than 2000mA, optionally greater than 3000mA.

The memory 16 may be configured to store parameter data received from the one or more sensors 12-14. The memory 16 may be configured to store data associated with the location of the monitoring device 1 . The memory 16 may function as a temporary store for the parameter data pending transmission of the parameter data to the remote resource.

The monitoring device 1 may comprise a housing 10 configured for mounting to the utility pole 2.

The remote resource may comprise a data storage and a data processor for storing and analysing the electronic data received from the monitoring device 1 . The remote resource may comprise one or more physical or virtual servers. The remote resource may comprise or be operatively linked to a user interface, to provide results of analysis to a user via an interface, for example a graphical user interface. The results of analysis may be provided to a web portal or an API, for example a REST API, for further processing or dissemination.

In use, a utility pole monitoring system may be established that comprises a plurality of utility poles 2 arranged into a utility pole network together with a plurality of the monitoring devices 1 that are each configured to wirelessly communicate electronic data over the public data transfer network to the remote resource. The remote resource may receive the electronic data and analyse it to identify an event or fault condition of the utility pole network.

A single monitoring device 1 may be mounted to each utility pole 2 of the utility pole network, although not all utility poles 2 need to be provided with one.

The utility poles 2, monitoring devices 1 , the public data transfer network and the remote resource may together function as a low-power wide-area-network (LPWAN). In particular, the monitoring devices 1 may be configured to minimise their power consumption. For example, the controller 11 may be configured to wake up one or more of the sensors 12-14 and or the communication module 20 at time intervals, optionally at fixed and predetermined time intervals. At other times the one of more sensors 12-14 and or the communication module 20 may be in a low-power or unpowered state. Additionally or alternatively the controller 11 may be configured to wake up one or more of the sensors 12- 14 and or the communication module 20 on activation of the trigger 17. The trigger 17 may be for example a tilt switch, pendulum switch, etc.

The following examples are provided to illustrate the fault conditions and events that the monitoring devices 1 may be used to detect.

Examples

Example 1

Fig. 4 illustrates an event where a single utility pole 2 has suffered excessive tilt, for example due to a vehicle strike, wind damage or failure of the material of the pole. (In this and the following figures the angle of tilt has been exaggerated simply for ease of viewing.)

The tilt of the utility pole 2 has caused the monitoring device 1 to be tilted accordingly and also to loose altitude compared to its prior position (shown in broken lines). The controller 11 receiving readings from the accelerometer 12 and or the GPS device 13 may detect the excessive tilt of the utility pole 2 as an excessive tilt that exceeds a threshold amount and or an excessive loss of altitude that exceeds a threshold amount. In addition, the controller 11 may receive a reading from the Hall effect sensor 14 indicating that the power in the utility line 3 has ceased. The controller 11 (or remote resource) may optionally use this data for confirming that a fault condition or event has occurred. The excessive tilt may be detected during a routine, scheduled reading of the sensors 12- 14 under the control of the controller 11 . Alternatively, the excessive tilt may activate the trigger 17 causing an immediate and non-scheduled set of readings from the sensors 12-14 to be taken.

The set of readings from the sensors 12-14 may then be transmitted by the communication module 20 to the remote resource over the public data transfer network. The remote resource may then analyse the readings (either in isolation or comparing them to historical data received from the same utility pole 2) to determine if a fault condition or event has occurred. If so, the remote resource may issue an alert that remedial action is required, for example via a web portal or API.

Example 2

Fig. 5 illustrates an event where two utility poles 2 have suffered excessive tilt, for example due to the utility line 3 spanning between them being snagged by a falling tree that pulls down on the utility line in the direction of arrow 5. As a result the utility poles 2 have tilted excessively towards each other.

The tilt of the utility poles 2 has caused the monitoring devices 1 to be tilted accordingly. The controller 11 receiving readings from the accelerometer 12 and or the GPS device 13 may detect the excessive tilt of the utility poles 2 as an excessive tilt that exceeds a threshold amount.

As in Example 1 , the excessive tilts may be detected during a routine, scheduled reading of the sensors 12-14 or due to activation of the triggers 17 causing an immediate and nonscheduled set of readings from the sensors 12-14 to be taken.

As in Example 1 , the set of readings from the sensors 12-14 of both monitoring devices 1 may then be transmitted by the respective communication modules 20 to the remote resource over the public data transfer network. The remote resource may then analyse the readings - in particularly taking account of the occurrence of excessive tilt in neighbouring or proximate utility poles 2 - to determine if a fault condition or event has occurred. If so, the remote resource may issue an alert that remedial action is required, for example via a web portal or API.

Fig. 6 illustrates a similar event to Example 2, but in this case the utility line 3 has broken between the two utility poles 2 causing excessive tilt of the utility poles 2 away from each other due to the weight of the remaining utility line 3 pulling the two utility poles apart. As in Example 2, the excessive tilts may be sensed and the readings, received by the remote resource, analysed to determine that remedial action is required. In this example, since the utility line 3 has broken, the Hall effect sensor 14 may provide confirmatory data to the remote resource that a loss of power has occurred.

One or more of the monitoring devices 1 may cease to operate through component malfunction or damage, e.g. storm damage or vandalism. The remote resource may be configured to identify prolonged loss of contact with a monitoring device 1 as a fault event requiring remedial action.