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Utilities still running spreadsheets and decades-old SCADA setups face a brutal reality check in 2026. Power demands spike 165% by 2030 from EVs and AI data centers, but legacy systems can't handle real-time renewables or storm chaos.
LiDAR tech flips this script. Delivering 3D grid models that predict failures, and slashing outage costs by 40%, it is a must for survival amid rising cyber threats and regulatory hammers.
Cling tighter and watch competitors with digital twins dominate bids while you chase outages manually.
A substation floods during a hurricane, and your 20-year-old software spits out yesterday's data because it can't sync with weather APIs.
That's daily life for around 50% of utilities hit by ransomware last year on unpatchable operational infrastructure. Maintenance devours majority of IT budgets, leaving zero for AI analytics that could reroute power in seconds.
Smart meter rollouts flop because legacy backends choke on the data flood, delaying net-zero grids and inviting SEC fines for sloppy compliance.
LiDAR drones scan transmission lines in hours, not weeks, capturing millions of points to build digital twins that simulate wind loads or ice buildup before they snap.
Field crews get AR overlays on tablets, spotting corroded poles from 100 feet away. You don't need to spend another $500K on manual surveys.
In storm response, this means deploying linemen to real risks, not guesses, cutting SAIDI metrics by 30% and unlocking federal resiliency grants. Early adopters in water utilities already bank 25% market growth as funders demand data-backed bids.
Legacy operational technology (OT) systems, such as those based on Windows XP-era platforms, often lack modern zero-trust security architectures, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Data silos mean CISOs can't spot anomalies across OT/IT. Modern LiDAR platforms run cloud-native, auto-patching against breaches while feeding AI for predictive alerts.
LiDAR modernization reclaims budgets fast. Frees up your capital for distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids while transforming break-even operations into profitable ones through faster storm restorations.
Start small. Pilot LiDAR on 10% of your assets for high-ROI proofs like substation hardening. Integrate via low-code platforms to bridge old GIS without rip-and-replace chaos.
Train crews on mobile viewers for instant buy-in, then scale to full digital twins feeding AI powered platforms like KYRO AI for autonomous switching.
Emad Al-Turk pioneered this at Waggoner Engineering with early LiDAR bets that fueled explosive growth. Hear the full resilience-tech playbook on this episode - From Boots to Boardroom.
Utilities still running spreadsheets and decades-old SCADA setups face a brutal reality check in 2026. Power demands spike 165% by 2030 from EVs and AI data centers, but legacy systems can't handle real-time renewables or storm chaos.
LiDAR tech flips this script. Delivering 3D grid models that predict failures, and slashing outage costs by 40%, it is a must for survival amid rising cyber threats and regulatory hammers.
Cling tighter and watch competitors with digital twins dominate bids while you chase outages manually.
A substation floods during a hurricane, and your 20-year-old software spits out yesterday's data because it can't sync with weather APIs.
That's daily life for around 50% of utilities hit by ransomware last year on unpatchable operational infrastructure. Maintenance devours majority of IT budgets, leaving zero for AI analytics that could reroute power in seconds.
Smart meter rollouts flop because legacy backends choke on the data flood, delaying net-zero grids and inviting SEC fines for sloppy compliance.
LiDAR drones scan transmission lines in hours, not weeks, capturing millions of points to build digital twins that simulate wind loads or ice buildup before they snap.
Field crews get AR overlays on tablets, spotting corroded poles from 100 feet away. You don't need to spend another $500K on manual surveys.
In storm response, this means deploying linemen to real risks, not guesses, cutting SAIDI metrics by 30% and unlocking federal resiliency grants. Early adopters in water utilities already bank 25% market growth as funders demand data-backed bids.
Legacy operational technology (OT) systems, such as those based on Windows XP-era platforms, often lack modern zero-trust security architectures, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Data silos mean CISOs can't spot anomalies across OT/IT. Modern LiDAR platforms run cloud-native, auto-patching against breaches while feeding AI for predictive alerts.
LiDAR modernization reclaims budgets fast. Frees up your capital for distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids while transforming break-even operations into profitable ones through faster storm restorations.
Start small. Pilot LiDAR on 10% of your assets for high-ROI proofs like substation hardening. Integrate via low-code platforms to bridge old GIS without rip-and-replace chaos.
Train crews on mobile viewers for instant buy-in, then scale to full digital twins feeding AI powered platforms like KYRO AI for autonomous switching.
Emad Al-Turk pioneered this at Waggoner Engineering with early LiDAR bets that fueled explosive growth. Hear the full resilience-tech playbook on this episode - From Boots to Boardroom.
Rabiya Farheen is a content strategist and a writer who loves turning complex ideas into clear, meaningful stories, especially in the world of construction tech, AI, and B2B SaaS. She works closely with growing teams to create content that doesn’t just check SEO boxes, but actually helps people understand what a product does and why it matters. With a knack for research and a curiosity that never quits, Rabiya dives deep into industry trends, customer pain points, and data to craft content that feels super helpful and informative. When she’s not writing, she’s probably reading, painting, and exploring her creative side— or you'll find her hustling around for social causes, especially those that empower girls and women.
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