Skip to main content

How & why are Drones being used in Inspections & surveys of a reservoir?


Using an underwater Drone for the inspection of reservoirs has so many benefits for not only the consumer but corporations too.

One company based in Washington, called Clark Public Utilities, conducts routine safety and maintenance of 35 water reservoirs and has recently introduced underwater Drones.

Traditionally, the reservoirs would have needed to be drained in order to have them inspected safely by an individual. Some of these reservoirs would contain 3 million gallons of water, which would incur drainage and refilling costs.

So you can understand why CPU introduced an ROV called the DTG2 ROV, due to its portability.  With built in lithium batteries there is now no need to use a generator to power the ROV. On average, a 90-minute charge can allow up to eight hours of operation, unlike previous methods that would take hours to not only drain but refill.

With the inclusion of this particular ROV, CPU claimed: ‘Some of our reservoirs are in a pressure zone with no other reservoir. It’s extra work to set up the pumping system to maintain pressure to our customers while we drain a reservoir. The ROV gives the capability of conducting routine inspections and keeping the reservoirs online; ensuring there is no interruption of service to the community.’

On inspection, the Deep Trekker ROV noticed some floating debris in the reservoir which allowed Clark Public Utilities to clean the reservoir, lowering operational costs, which in turn keeps the rates low for the consumer.

Thanks to the high definition camera on the ROV the video is transmits a live feed to a lightweight, handheld controller.

To collect the debris, a boom was fitted to the ROV which allowed it to ‘gather and push the debris towards the hatch for removal.

Essex & Suffolk Water, which is part of the Northumbrian Water Group, serves 1.8million consumers in the UK. And now with Covid 19 safety procedures in place an underwater ROV was necessary.

Greg Barrett of Essex & Suffolk Water says: ‘I would now class the traditional way of doing it as quite archaic when compared to the data set we achieved by drone. This way of conducting inspections is definitely part of the 21st century way of doing things and we hope this new approach is set to become the industry standard.’

Ends

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Quarry Industry Embraces Drone Technology for Stockpile Management

  In recent years, the quarry industry has undergone a remarkable transformation with the integration of cutting-edge technology to streamline operations and enhance productivity. One such innovative tool that has revolutionised the way quarries manage their stockpiles is drone technology. Drones for Stockpile Management Drones have quickly become an indispensable asset in the quarry industry, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for stockpile management. By utilising drones equipped with high-powered cameras and sensors, quarry operators can now easily monitor and measure the volume of materials in stockpiles in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods. Gone are the days of manual surveys and measurements that were not only time-consuming but also posed significant safety risks to workers. With drones, quarry operators can now conduct aerial surveys with precision and accuracy, providing real-time data on stockpile volumes, shape, and potential is...
Read more

Drone Warehouse Inventory Management: Optimising Operations with Drones

  In today's fast-paced world, the need for efficient and seamless warehouse inventory management has become paramount across industries. One sector that has greatly benefited from innovative inventory solutions is the drone industry. Drones have revolutionised many aspects of business operations, and the efficient management of drone warehouse inventory is essential for ensuring smooth operations and meeting customer demands. Key Features of Drone Warehouse Inventory Management Real-time Tracking: With advanced tracking systems in place, drones can monitor the movement of its inventory in real-time. This helps in preventing stockouts, optimising stock levels, and ensuring timely replenishment. Automated Systems: Drones utilises automated systems for inventory management, such as barcode scanning and RFID technology. These systems help in reducing human error, increasing accuracy, and speeding up the overall inventory handling process. Forecasting and Demand Planning: By ana...
Read more

The Benefits of Using Drones for Exterior Building Cleaning

In recent years, the use of drones has become increasingly popular in various industries, including the cleaning and maintenance of buildings. One innovative application of drones is in exterior building cleaning, offering a range of benefits over traditional cleaning methods. Let’s explore the advantages of using drones for this purpose: 1. Cost-Effective: Using drones for exterior building cleaning can be more cost-effective compared to traditional methods that may require specialized equipment, expensive scaffolding, or manual labour. Drones can access hard-to-reach areas without the need for expensive equipment, resulting in cost savings for building owners and cleaning companies. 2. Efficiency: Drones can clean building exteriors faster and more efficiently than manual methods. With their ability to fly and move around structures, drones can cover large surface areas in a shorter amount of time, reducing the overall cleaning time required. 3. Safety: Cleaning the exter...
Read more