CSTARR
The project aimed to transform outdated paper-based guides into digital tools, enabling better collaboration among utility companies and more effective inspection processes for electrical, mechanical, and structural components. This initiative resulted in a successful iOS application, validated by industry leaders, and recognized by the American Nuclear Society.
Before
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After
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Product Overview
A crowd sourced digital assistant that helps nuclear power plants document aging equipment.
A crowd sourced digital assistant that helps nuclear power plants document aging equipment.
Customers and end-users
Line engineers and maintenance managers overseeing mechanical, civil, and structural infrastructure at Nuclear Power Plants
Line engineers and maintenance managers overseeing mechanical, civil, and structural infrastructure at Nuclear Power Plants
Problem(s)
- Plant operations staff were using digital cameras and PDFs to inspect aging assets.
- Excerpts from the PDF show the anatomy of a cable and examples of cables in compromising situations but don't enable commenting, record keeping, or quick referencing between the two.
- The problem is implied but not explicitly stated in an accessible manner with standard visualization practices, decreasing comprehension in mission critical contexts.
https://www.epri.com/research/products/000000000001001391
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Goals
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Digital Transformation Location based field notes can be contextually described with time stamps and tags to the information in the documents rather than making the worker flip through the pdfs. This information is contained in a smaller surface area than the 9 by 11 printed paper that can itself degrade and make holding a camera at the same time very difficult. Another improvement is using the digital camera on the phone rather than carrying a physical digital camera. Collaboration between utilities Internal data can be uploaded to a shared secure server if a utility so choses. This is helpful when similar degradation scenarios arise but one of the employees may not have made the inference. |
What I Contributed
- Digitally designed the initial concept for an Augmented Reality and Machine Learning-enabled mobile platform for nuclear power plant inspections, with use cases validated by international industry leaders across multiple user groups in the United States.
- Collaborated with a team of over 50 multidisciplinary engineers to refine technical approaches and develop an innovative Image Classification Project, enabling crowdsourcing of reference materials for electrical, mechanical, and structural components.
- Worked under the guidance of a Nuclear Expert to manage the design of a concept that received immediate stakeholder approval.
- Authored detailed statements of work and project proposals, coordinating with vendors and engineering teams to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
- Presented the concept to executive leadership, gaining both internal and external recognition, and successfully managed project timelines to meet key milestones.
Outcomes
- The app is available in the iOS store
- The project gained acceptance for presentation at the American Nuclear Society.
Milestones
- Presented the concept at multiple Round Tables at conferences
- Led the coordination with the software developer
- Provided oversight for the conceptual design of the application
- Presented the concept at multiple Round Tables at conferences
- Led the coordination with the software developer
- Provided oversight for the conceptual design of the application