Overstory Introduces AI Models to Predict Power Outages and Wildfires

Overstory has introduced new AI models designed to predict where power outages and utility-caused wildfires are most likely to start, according to a press release. The Outage Model and Ignition Model analyze vegetation, utility assets, and environmental factors to pinpoint specific trees, shrubs, or equipment that present the highest risk.

The models use satellite and aerial imagery, combined with historical outage and ignition data, asset age, and weather information. This allows utilities to create prioritized lists of actions to reduce the likelihood of incidents, such as removing hazardous trees or replacing aging infrastructure in high-risk areas.

Overstory has also launched Scenarios, a tool that lets utilities compare the cost and risk reduction of potential resilience programs. The platform enables operators to model different approaches in real time to determine which actions yield the most significant safety improvements within existing budgets.

The company, which works with six of the ten largest utilities in North America, has developed these models over years of vegetation and wildfire risk analysis. The new tools aim to move utilities from reactive maintenance to predictive planning, enhancing safety and reliability across power networks.