One Flight to Full System Intelligence: Lessons from Volt Inspections and MLGW’s Grid Modernization Effort
Discover how utilities are cutting inspection time, breaking down data silos, and gaining full system visibility with a single UAV flight and cloud-based reporting. In this webinar, hear real-world insights from MLGW and VOLT Inspections on using modern aerial data, automated scoring, and GIS-ready workflows to drive faster decisions, smarter maintenance, and long-term asset confidence.
March 12, 2026
6:00 PM UTC
1 hour
Sponsored by
March 12th, 2026 Time: 2:00 PM ET | 1:00 PM CT | 11:00 AM PT Duration: 60 minutes Already registered? Click here to login now.
Summary
This webinar explores how utilities can streamline inspection workflows, improve asset visibility, and strengthen field-to-office alignment using modern aerial data collection and analysis. Through a moderated discussion with MLGW and VOLT Inspections, attendees will learn how a single-flight data capture model can support faster decision making, enhance infrastructure reliability, and build field crew confidence through transparent, cloud based reporting. The session will use real project examples to illustrate practical steps utilities can take to improve efficiency, accuracy, and long term system planning.
How one flight UAV capture can support complete system awareness, faster reporting, and reduced back office workload.
Methods for increasing operational confidence through validated, cloud based inspection data.
Practical ways utilities can use automated criticality, efficiency scoring, and geo located findings to prioritize repairs and plan maintenance.
How inspection inventory and joint use data can enhance short and long term asset management, forecasting, and compliance.
How a straightforward CSV-based workflow imports VOLT inspection outputs into Esri GIS and removes data silos by centralizing inspection data in one shared mapping environment.
How VOLT’s integrated inspection and work order data create a complete life cycle view of every asset.
Speakers
Charlie El Khoury
Director of Tech Services
VOLT Inspections
Charlie has over 10 years of experience developing drone and inspection software applications. He previously co-founded NAR, the first real-time drone data management and reporting platform purpose-built for infrastructure inspections. He now works on the VOLT system, ensuring that field-collected data is delivered to utilities in a clear, structured format that translates into actionable insights.
Peyton Smith
Reliability Engineer
MLGW
Peyton Smith began his career in the electric utility industry in 2020 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He joined West Memphis Utilities in the summer of 2020, where he spent three years gaining hands-on experience across various aspects of electrical engineering, including SCADA, new system line design, and substation upgrades. In 2023, Peyton transitioned to Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) as a Reliability Engineer, where he has played a key role in improving system reliability by completing reliability designs and contributing to innovative initiatives, including the utilization of drone technologies to enhance grid performance and the ongoing development of a new vegetation management system, and in early 2025 he earned both his Professional Engineering (PE) License and his Part 107b Commercial Drone Piloting License.
