Space-Time Insight lets power plants monitor changing needs

Venture Beat — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:22:19 -0500

Space-Time Insight (STI), maker of software that lets utilities and other infrastructure companies pinpoint data abnormalities on satellite maps, announced that it just brought in an undisclosed first round of funding to further develop its technology. Working primarily with electric-power utilities, the Fremont, Calif.-based company says its system can monitor the status of renewable energy, oil, gas and chemical plants — geographically pinpointing problems or anomalies like floods, fires, earthquakes and extreme weather.

Most infrastructure companies receive multiple streams of data from sensors and control centers that are not easily parsed and visualized. STI says it provides location-based status updates in real-time, rendered on 3-D satellite images, allowing its clients to take faster and more specific action in response to problems that arise. For example, the system could alert users to the origin of power outages and recommend strategies for fixing glitches quickly. In the alternative energy arena, it could forecast wind conditions and prescribe actions to prevent possible power fluctuations. STI also makes a software package to monitor smart grids (a concept that has taken off in the past year), measuring energy usage on regional or single-residence levels.

Currently, STI’s client base includes electric power providers like Entergy , Sempra Energy and non-profit grid operator California ISO as well as corporations with elaborate supply chains like Johnson & Johnson and medical vendor Novartis . For now, there is no major competitor in the space, but geographic data visualization is picking up steam and could produce a rival soon, especially as more renewable electricity systems are built with advanced monitoring functionality in mind.

The recent investment came from Opus Capital , a Menlo Park, Calif. firm that has backed several other data management enterprises, including AirGate Technologies and Informatica .

The Industry Standard - Space-Time Insight lets power plants monitor changing needs - Comments

Space-Time Insight lets power plants monitor changing needs