Seen an ENWIN van with cameras? Here is why
Seen an ENWIN van with cameras in Windsor? The utility is piloting AI-assisted pole inspections: photos from public roads help flag defects and plan work. ENWIN says it is not a replacement for on-site inspectors, and privacy rules cover the data.
Topics: Roads and transit
Get these every Sunday: the free Windsor News weekly digest.
If you have seen an ENWIN vehicle fitted with cameras on Windsor streets, it is part of a utility-pole inspection pilot the company announced in late September.
What the pilot is
ENWIN Utilities Ltd. said it is working with Neural D Inc. to evaluate artificial intelligence for inspecting and managing utility infrastructure. A vehicle with specialized cameras travels selected areas of ENWIN's service territory and photographs infrastructure visible from public roadways, including poles, overhead conductors and pole-mounted equipment.
ENWIN says the AI tools are meant to support asset identification, condition assessment and the detection of potential defects so the utility can prioritize maintenance and long-term planning.
Privacy and people
ENWIN says the pilot runs under a formal agreement that covers privacy protection, data security, access controls, data retention and secure disposal. The company frames the work as an evaluation of new tools, not a replacement for on-site inspectors.
Director of Engineering Marvio Vinhaes said in the release that pole inspections are part of keeping the electrical system safe and reliable, and that the pilot will help ENWIN judge whether AI-assisted assessments improve planning and service reliability.
