Drones for utilities and Inspection

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 Tower inspections are innately risky to the person conducting the inspection. Scheduling and conflicts of schedule sometimes set the job back. A lot of time goes into planning – weeks of travel time, climbing the tower, reporting, and analyzing the inspector’s findings. Manual inspections cost a lot in labor and resources such as safety equipment and insurance. 

Implementing a drone inspection significantly improves safety as drones are operated securely from the ground. Drones reduce the time it takes to complete an inspection from weeks to hours, freeing up time to inspect more towers. 

Drones collect and store historical data that can be referred to easily for further analysis and help to plan better subsequent infrastructure. The data collected is immediately sent to the cell tower company allowing the inspector to make quick and efficient decisions. The drone can focus more on quality inspections and scan other parts of the tower such as generators, gas and electric meters, platforms, pedestals, cabinets, and transformers that may otherwise go unnoticed. Drone inspections can catch much more than the human eye, like loose bolts or rust that can cause damage.

Drone inspections allow for ground observation around the tower. The drone can see from a bird’s eye view what a human could not possibly observe. The drone can help determine potential encroaching vegetation or debris that could become hazardous or cause a disruption.

 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates cell tower inspections for safety, maintenance and extending the life span of the infrastructure. Existing cell towers require general inspections as well as after the event of a natural disaster. Potential sites for new cell towers also require inspection. Cell tower inspections involve a lot of manpower and are tremendously risky. The inspection list for a cell tower is detailed, including the structure of the tower, electrical and lighting systems, guy wires, antennas, anchors and transmission lines. From maintenance to monitoring encroaching vegetation, cell tower inspections are an integral aspect of the preservation of the infrastructure.