Applications of Crack Detectors in Utilities Industry

Overview

The utilities industry encompasses companies and services that provide essential public services such as electricity, water, natural gas, and sewage treatment. These services are vital for the functioning of communities, industries, and households.

Depending on specific features and functions, GAO Tek’s crack detectors are sometimes referred to as structural integrity monitoring devices, crack detection sensors, and crack inspection systems.

GAO Tek’s crack detectors have the following applications in utilities industry:

Dams and Reservoirs: GAO Tek’s crack detectors are employed to monitor the integrity of dams and reservoirs, identifying any cracks or weaknesses that could compromise their stability. Continuous monitoring helps in early detection, preventing potential failures and ensuring the safety of water storage structures.
Power Plants: In power generation facilities, GAO Tek’s crack detectors are used to assess the condition of key components such as turbine blades, cooling towers, and support structures. Regular inspections help identify cracks or structural issues that could impact the reliable operation of power plants.
Transmission Towers and Poles: GAO Tek’s crack detectors play a crucial role in monitoring the integrity of transmission towers and utility poles that support power lines. Detecting cracks early helps prevent structural failures that could lead to power outages or safety hazards.
Pipeline Infrastructure: GAO Tek’s crack detectors are used to inspect pipelines for any signs of corrosion, stress-related cracks, or other defects. Early detection of cracks in pipelines helps prevent leaks, ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of water, natural gas, or other fluids.
Water Treatment Plants: In water treatment facilities, GAO Tek’s crack detectors are employed to assess the condition of tanks, basins, and other structures. Monitoring for cracks helps maintain the structural integrity of these facilities and prevents potential environmental hazards.
Storage Tanks: GAO Tek’s crack detectors are utilized to inspect storage tanks for any signs of corrosion or structural weaknesses. This application is crucial in industries such as water storage, petroleum, or chemical storage, where leaks or failures could have significant environmental and safety consequences.
Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure: Monitoring the structural integrity of wastewater treatment plants, including tanks, pipes, and treatment units, is essential to prevent environmental contamination. GAO Tek’s crack detectors help identify potential issues before they escalate.
Renewable Energy Installations: In wind and solar farms, GAO Tek’s crack detectors are used to monitor the integrity of wind turbine towers, solar panel structures, and associated infrastructure. Early detection of cracks ensures the reliable and safe operation of renewable energy installations.

More information on crack detectors and their application in other industries can be found on

Crack Detectors

This category pages lists related products

Structural Testers

GAO Tek’s targeted markets are North America, particularly the U.S., Canada.

Complying with Utilities Industry Standards

GAO Tek’s crack detectors comply or help our customers with the utilities industry standards such as:

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Complying with Government Regulations

GAO Tek’s crack detectors comply or help our customers comply with the U.S. government regulations such as:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

GAO Tek’s crack detectors comply or help our clients comply with the Canadian regulations such as:

Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
National Energy Board (NEB)
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
Canadian Electricity Association (CEA)
Provincial and Territorial Regulations
Environmental Regulations
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

Case Studies of Crack Detectors in Utilities Industry

Crack detectors are sometimes called as structural integrity monitoring Devices, crack detection sensors, and crack inspection systems.

Here are some practical examples of using crack detectors in utilities industry:

A gas utility in Pennsylvania implements advanced crack detectors along its extensive pipeline network. The detectors identify early signs of stress and cracks, allowing proactive maintenance and preventing potential gas leaks. This approach enhances safety and minimizes service disruptions.

In a wind energy project in the Midwest, crack detectors are installed on the towers supporting wind turbines. These detectors regularly assess the towers for any signs of structural issues, such as cracks or fatigue. Early detection allows for timely maintenance, ensuring the longevity and efficiency of the wind farm.

A utility company responsible for managing water resources in Louisiana employs crack detectors to monitor dams and levees. Continuous monitoring helps identify any structural weaknesses or cracks, ensuring the safety of these critical infrastructure components in flood-prone areas.

A geothermal power plant in Idaho employs crack detectors to monitor critical components, such as casings and support structures. The detectors help identify potential weaknesses, ensuring the plant’s continued safe and efficient operation.

In Nova Scotia, a municipality utilizes crack detectors in its wastewater treatment plants. Regular inspections identify potential structural issues, enabling timely repairs and preventing disruptions to the treatment process.

GAO RFID Inc. RFID Hardware, a sister company of GAO Tek Inc., is ranked as a top 10 RFID supplier in the world. Its RFID, BLE, and IoT products have also been widely used in utilities industry.

Utilities Industry |RFID Solutions

Construction Industry | RFID Solutions

Use of Crack Detectors with Leading Software and Cloud Services in Utilities Industry

GAO Tek has used or has facilitated its customers to use GAO’s crack detectors with some of the leading software and cloud services in their applications. Examples of such leading software and cloud services include

MATLAB
AutoCAD Civil 3D
SAP2000
ETABS
ANSYS
STAAD.Pro
CSI Bridge
OpenSees
Midland Valley Move
3DEC
Crack3D
CrackAnalyst
FEMAP
Crack Propagation Analysis Tools within ANSYS
CrackWise
StruCalc
Abaqus
COSMOS
Autodesk BIM 360
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Microsoft Azure
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Trimble Connect
SimScale
Rescale
ANSYS Cloud

GAO Tek’s crack detectors and their applications in other industries are listed on this page

Crack Detectors

Other related products can be found at this category page

Structural Testers

Meeting Customers’ Demands

Large Choice of Products

In order to satisfy the diversified needs of their corporate customers, GAO Tek Inc. and its sister company GAO RFID Inc. together offer a wide choice of testing and measurement devices, network products, RFID, BLE, IoT, and drones.

Fast Delivery

To shorten the delivery to our customers, GAO has maintained a large stock of its products and is able to ship overnight within the continental U.S. and Canada from the nearest warehouse.

Local to Our Customers

We are located in both the U.S. and Canada. We travel to customers’ premises if necessary. Hence, we provide a very strong local support to our customers in North America, particularly the U.S., Canada. Furthermore, we have built partnerships with some integrators, consulting firms and other service providers in different cities to further strengthen our services. Here are some of the service providers in utilities industry we have worked with to serve our joint customers:

Accenture
IBM Global Services
Cognizant
DXC Technology
Capgemini
Deloitte
Wipro
HCL Technologies
Infosys
NTT Data
Deloitte Consulting
PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
EY (Ernst & Young)
KPMG Advisory
Booz Allen Hamilton
CGI
Slalom

GAO has Many Customers in Utilities Industry

The products from both GAO Tek Inc. and GAO RFID Inc. have been widely used in utilities industry by many customers, including some leading companies. Here is more information on applications of GAO RFID Inc.’s products in utilities industry.

Utilities Industry | RFID Solutions

Construction Industry | RFID Solutions

Here are some of GAO’s customers in Utilities Industry: