Power line inspection is a job that needs to be thoroughly inspected using specialized equipment and expertise. It is also a dangerous and highly rewarding job, especially when the terrain is difficult to traverse and the weather conditions are not the most favorable. I’m starting to inspect power lines using This has proven to have many benefits such as faster inspection times, more accurate data acquisition, safer working conditions and cost savings. Here’s everything you need to know about using drones for power line inspections.
Advantages of using drones for power line inspection
Drones bring many advantages to power line inspection. A major advantage is that it reduces the need for workers to physically inspect these cables, minimizing the risk of injury and electric shock.
Power line inspections should be performed on a regular basis for maintenance and regulatory compliance.
Inspections of infrastructure of any kind often do not lead to maintenance requirements of any kind, but for regulatory purposes utilities must perform inspections on a regular basis.
This has significant budget and resource implications as equipment such as mobile elevating work platforms, scaffolding, or small manned aircraft must be hired.
Manual inspection of infrastructure of any kind can be time consuming and often a dangerous undertaking.
The risk factor increases when pylons and other very tall structures have to be climbed. These types of jobs are among the most dangerous jobs in the world.
According to this article from University of Delaware, maintenance work on power lines kills about 20 people per 100,000 workers. There are also serious injuries associated with these types of jobs, possibly much higher.
Advanced technology such as drones can help reduce these casualties by allowing workers to inspect power lines and other types of infrastructure from a safe distance.
Drones can also reduce costs and improve ROI by eliminating the need to hire expensive equipment such as mobile lifting platforms and small helicopters.
Another advantage of drones is that they are small, light and ultra-portable. Easy to deploy whenever you need it, with no costs associated with purchasing or hiring additional equipment.
Regular inspections help catch power line problems early before they become serious problems, such as power outages.
Data captured by drones can be easily shared with stakeholders, improving communication between various departments and helping to plan and complete required maintenance work as quickly as possible.
Another cost-saving advantage of using drones is that they offer a safer means of inspection, so insurance premiums are not as high.
Best drone for power line inspection
The use of drone technology for inspection purposes is expanding rapidly and there are many options.
Perfect for all kinds of inspections, the drone has a long flight time and high resolution RGB and infrared camerahas an autonomous flight mode and can operate even in bad weather.
There are many drones with these capabilities, and while the list below is not exhaustive, it is one of the best enterprise-level drones on the market, making it ideal for all types of inspection tasks.
