Energy producers are under increasing pressure to reduce emissions, improve asset integrity, comply with regulatory expectations and demonstrate measurable progress against decarbonisation targets while continuing to operate large, geographically distributed and safety-critical infrastructure. Traditional inspection and monitoring approaches, largely reliant on manual fieldwork, periodic surveys and siloed data, struggle to scale to these demands. Traditional approaches are costly, slow to deploy and limited in their visibility of emerging risks and emission sources. This extended abstract explores how AI-driven visual analytics, combined with automated drone-based inspection workflows, can provide a scalable, operationally credible pathway for emissions reduction and energy network transformation. Drawing on Unleash live’s field deployments across utilities and energy generators (including renewables), this paper outlines how high-frequency visual data captured from automated drone-based field inspections, coupled with machine learning and integrated operational systems, can transform inspections from a scheduled, labour-intensive activity into a process that delivers continuous operational intelligence. The focus is on practical, in-field implementation rather than theoretical performance improvement, highlighting how visual analytics can detect anomalies, prioritise interventions (especially for critical risks), reduce unnecessary site visits/truck rolls and support responsible, auditable reporting aligned with regulatory, investor and community expectations. The paper positions field-based inspections and computer vision not as stand-alone technologies, but as an enabling layer that connects physical assets, multiple operational teams, decision-makers and asset owners. When deployed with organisational support, realistic expectations and strong integration into existing workflows, inspection automation and AI-based interpretation can support earlier detection of emissions-generating asset faults, reduce the operational emissions associated with traditional inspection methods, improve maintenance efficiency and accelerate the transition to more resilient, lower-emissions energy systems.
Blankenstein et al. (Thu,) studied this question.