Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is developing an artificial intelligence system for processing geophysical survey data into digital twin and augmented reality in order to identify existing utilities and other subsurface obstacles before installing underground power distribution lines. The system would autonomously process data from multiple types of geophysical sensors to detect and classify anomalies underground and create a digital representation of the subsurface for geographic information systems. Analysis, visualization, and reporting typically takes weeks or months after data acquisition, but the proposed system could produce results within minutes, providing near real-time subsurface mapping and utility identification which will lead to cost savings and speed up the task of burying power lines.