Learners Live

Inside the Electrical Industry’s AI Learning Curve by Tim Kridel

As electrical firms ramp up their use of artificial intelligence, some trends are emerging in why, where, how, and for whom. In electrical, AI use cases run the gamut, from producing multiple iterations of a design to creating slide decks to present those design options to a client. A common denominator — and a big part of the business case — is that AI does grunt work that otherwise would tie up highly skilled employees.  Key Takeaways:

  • AI enhances productivity by automating repetitive tasks, allowing professionals to focus on complex, high-value activities.
  • Effective AI use requires skilled humans to interpret results, validate outputs, and ensure compliance with standards and codes.
  • Incremental improvements through AI are prioritized over seeking a ‘silver bullet’ solution, fostering continuous enhancement.
  • Cybersecurity considerations are critical when deploying AI tools, with a focus on secure design and safeguarding proprietary information.

How Electrical Firms Are Using AI in Design and Construction | EC&M

Eye on the Storm by Tim Kridel

The new ANSI/NEMA C137.10 standard is designed to keep streetlights on during extreme weather. But in normal times, it also creates opportunities in the smart cities market. By the end of this decade, the North American smart city market will be worth close to $1 trillion, a roughly fourfold jump from 2024, Grand View Research A new standard from NEMA’s Lighting Systems Division should help electrical contractors and electrical design firms grab a share of that burgeoning market by leveraging upgrades aimed at bolstering outdoor lighting resiliency. ANSI/NEMA C137.10-2024 creates a vendor-agnostic format for data produced by sensors installed on light poles along roadways and pedways. That standardization enables municipalities, utilities, and other lighting infrastructure owners to have a mix of hardware and software vendors without risking data incompatibility. ANSI/NEMA C137.10 Standard and Lighting System Interoperability | EC&M

Interesting: The Three Pillars of Independence of an Organization

The 3 Pillars of Independence most commonly refers to a framework from the UK voluntary sector (specifically promoted by organizations like Bond and the Directory of Social Change). It is a toolkit for assessing and maintaining the independence of charities, NGOs, or civil society organizations.

The Three Pillars are:

  1. Independent of Party Politics – The organization (or regulator) must remain free from bias or influence by any political party or the government of the day. Decisions should be impartial, not favoring one political side.
  2. Independent of Populism – It should not be swayed by popular public opinion, media-driven campaigns, or transient public pressure, especially on controversial or unpopular causes.
  3. Independent of the Press – Freedom from media influence or pressure, ensuring decisions are based on evidence and law rather than headlines or public narratives.

This toolkit was created to monitor potential political encroachment on charitable regulation and to ensure charities can operate without undue external interference.

 

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August Blog: Learning to Get Better by Bill Attardi

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