Reflection – Mind Mapping

Challenge  Working for an electricity company with 8 million customers our engineering team  handles a number of critical projects to reduce distribution network risk and  improve performance. We are measured by the number of customer interruptions  and customer minutes lost per day, week and year. In a team of 12 we have 26  ongoing projects between us of varying lengths, budget and scope. All projects  are funded either by the innovation budget or by the capital budget but the  intention of every project is to improve the network performance and the service  supplied to customers.   We utilize LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to map and monitor  the electricity network from a light aircraft and construct work plans based on the  findings and measurements takes. It has recently been highlighted to us however  that we have not yet utilized the benefits of satellite imagery freely available to us  through the European Space Agency (ESA) initiative called Copernicus that can  be downloaded every two days approximately, depending on the orbit time of the  satellite. We have vast amounts of data stored in several applications. NetMap  contains network specific information and maps, PowerON contains live network  data and SAP contains all network specific data. As a team we want to develop  some ideas of how we can tap into the potential satellite imagery offers, to the  benefit of the network and our customers.    Selection   Mind-mapping helps organise the mass of information we have collected and draw  insights from it about the qualities of the innovations we need. These design  criteria are then used to generate ideas in the next stage. Mind-mapping is  intuitive, creative, visual and engaging. Through mind mapping we extract  meaning from data in a way that lets patterns and insights emerge, patterns and  insights we might otherwise have missed as we sorted through the data to  generate a report. Mind mapping builds a current mind about current reality and  thus decreases people’s allegiance to the solutions they had going into the  project. The challenges faced after gathering data in the ‘What is?’ stage are  processing all this information, using it to generate better ideas and aligning the  organisation around the ideas we choose to advance.     Application  To apply mind mapping we first had to determine which network assets can be  seen from satellites and which were simply too small to identify. We also had to  look at what could potentially affect network assets which could be seen from  space. At present the best resolution we can get from freely available satellite  imagery is from Sentinel-2. This is one of several families of satellites which have  been launched by the ESA and imagery can be viewed using SNAP which is a  software package available from the ESA.   We gathered our thoughts on a whiteboard drawing, first looking at assets and  then looking at anything that can affect assets. The idea that there are no wrong  answers was stressed to ensure the picture was broad and all possibilities were  considered. The map of potential assets that can be viewed from space included

ground-mounted transformers, pole transformers, primary substations, grid  substations, towers, poles, cable pits, link boxes and cables. While not all assets  are at present visible to satellites, the entire list was considered as technology is  advancing rapidly and some items may be revisited in the future. We then  compiled a map of anything that could affect the networks assets such as trees  that can fall on electricity cables, climbable trees, buildings in close proximity to  the network, machinery or storage items in close proximity, gas leaks, fire and  weather conditions including wind and floods.    Insight   Through the application of mind mapping and studying data and trends we were  able to narrow down our focus initially to specific areas where we are having  reoccurring issues on the electricity network and we believe satellite imagery can  bring strong benefits. Data analysis has shown that approximately 30% of faults  on the network are tree related and identifying where these high risk trees are  before they fall on, or interfere with the network has long been a challenge for the  team. Photosynthesising trees emit infrared light which is visible to satellites and  dead trees which are the most likely to fall in high winds are visible to imagery as  they are not photosynthesising. Closely following trees in second was faults  caused by wear and tear with 25%. We can potentially see several assets with  satellite imagery so there are options there to investigate further to determine the  potential and maximise benefits.    Approach  Revisiting the task again, i believe i would adopt an ever broader approach. We  are all aware of rising sea levels and the effects of global warming. There are  approximately 50,000 cable pits underground in London at varying heights above  sea level. A rise in sea levels of even 1 meter could cause catastrophic effects to  the electricity supply in London. Post storm movement of assets such as towers or  poles could potentially be monitored using satellite imagery. I believe that  revisiting the same challenge and including a more diverse group, not just  engineers, might tease out more potential ideas and ways which we can research  and investigate further. As David Kelley, founder of IDEO once said, “When I want  to do something analytical, I make a list, when I’m trying to do something creative,  I make a mind-map.”


Reflection – Mind Mapping Challenge Working for an electricity company with 8 million customers our engineering team handles a number of critical projects to reduce distribution network risk and improve performance . We are measured by the number of customer interruptions and customer minutes lost per day , week and year . In a team of 12 we have 26 ongoing projects between us of varying lengths , budget and scope . All projects are funded either by the innovation budget or by the capital budget but the intention of every project is to improve the network performance and the service supplied to customers . We utilize LiDAR ( Light Detection and Ranging ) technology to map and monitor the electricity network from a light aircraft and construct work plans based on the findings and measurements takes . It has recently been highlighted to us however that we have not yet utilized the benefits of satellite imagery freely available to us through the European Space Agency ( ESA ) initiative called Copernicus that can be downloaded every two days approximately , depending on the orbit time of the satellite . We have vast amounts of data stored in several applications . NetMap contains network specific information and maps , PowerON contains live network data and SAP contains all network specific data . As a team we want to develop some ideas of how we can tap into the potential satellite imagery offers , to the benefit of the network and our customers . Selection Mind - mapping helps organise the mass of information we have collected and draw insights from it about the qualities of the innovations we need . These design criteria are then used to generate ideas in the next stage . Mind - mapping is intuitive , creative , visual and engaging . Through mind mapping we extract meaning from data in a way that lets patterns and insights emerge , patterns and insights we might otherwise have missed as we sorted through the data to generate a report . Mind mapping builds a current mind about current reality and thus decreases people ’s allegiance to the solutions they had going into the project . The challenges faced after gathering data in the ‘ What is ? ’ stage are processing all this information , using it to generate better ideas and aligning the organisation around the ideas we choose to advance . Application To apply mind mapping we first had to determine which network assets can be seen from satellites and which were simply too small to identify . We also had to look at what could potentially affect network assets which could be seen from space . At present the best resolution we can get from freely available satellite imagery is from Sentinel-2 . This is one of several families of satellites which have been launched by the ESA and imagery can be viewed using SNAP which is a software package available from the ESA . We gathered our thoughts on a whiteboard drawing , first looking at assets and then looking at anything that can affect assets . The idea that there are no wrong answers was stressed to ensure the picture was broad and all possibilities were considered . The map of potential assets that can be viewed from space included ground - mounted transformers , pole transformers , primary substations , grid substations , towers , poles , cable pits , link boxes and cables . While not all assets are at present visible to satellites , the entire list was considered as technology is advancing rapidly and some items may be revisited in the future . We then compiled a map of anything that could affect the networks assets such as trees that can fall on electricity cables , climbable trees , buildings in close proximity to the network , machinery or storage items in close proximity , gas leaks , fire and weather conditions including wind and floods . Insight Through the application of mind mapping and studying data and trends we were able to narrow down our focus initially to specific areas where we are having reoccurring issues on the electricity network and we believe satellite imagery can bring strong benefits . Data analysis has shown that approximately 30 % of faults on the network are tree related and identifying where these high risk trees are before they fall on , or interfere with the network has long been a challenge for the team . Photosynthesising trees emit infrared light which is visible to satellites and dead trees which are the most likely to fall in high winds are visible to imagery as they are not photosynthesising . Closely following trees in second was faults caused by wear and tear with 25 % . We can potentially see several assets with satellite imagery so there are options there to investigate further to determine the potential and maximise benefits . Approach Revisiting the task again , i believe i would adopt an ever broader approach . We are all aware of rising sea levels and the effects of global warming . There are approximately 50,000 cable pits underground in London at varying heights above sea level . A rise in sea levels of even 1 meter could cause catastrophic effects to the electricity supply in London . Post storm movement of assets such as towers or poles could potentially be monitored using satellite imagery . I believe that revisiting the same challenge and including a more diverse group , not just engineers , might tease out more potential ideas and ways which we can research and investigate further . As David Kelley , founder of IDEO once said , “ When I want to do something analytical , I make a list , when I ’m trying to do something creative , I make a mind - map . ”