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Check out some of the ways we are using drones across our footprint.
This article is about:
The use of drones throughout our operations.
Unmanned aircraft systems – or drones – were initially developed for military missions that were too dangerous for troops to explore on foot. Over the last decade, drone use has expanded to civilian commercial and recreational use such as delivering packages, aiding search and rescue operations, wildlife monitoring, and photography and videography.
Dominion Energy started using drones in 2014 for electric transmission operations and power generation inspections. Since then, our use of drones has grown exponentially, supporting operations at solar farms, construction sites, electric and gas right of ways, and facility inspections with many more uses on the horizon.
This year, Dominion Energy became one of the only energy companies in the country to gain approval from the FAA to fly a drone beyond line of site from a remote location. We can now set up drones that live in remote locations to fly missions and collect data without sending workers onsite.
Traditional solar maintenance inspections require handheld thermal cameras which can take a group of technicians up to 2-5 hours to complete. By using drones to inspect solar panels with infrared cameras and thermal imaging, we can identify faulty panels in a fraction of the time.
After a major storm, pilots deploy drones to asses damage and help crews determine what repairs are needed. Within minutes, we have eyes on remote locations or damaged areas that are blocked by obstacles such as broken trees and downed power lines. Drones can perform more detailed inspections than helicopters and identify the best path to access equipment while maintaining safe operations for crews. They also have a smaller carbon footprint than older methods of inspections such as flying helicopters.
Drones can perform more detailed inspections of tall structures such as transmission towers, wind turbines, and right-of-way vegetation inspections which increases inspection which increases inspection efficiency while reducing the number of technician climbs. Drones also provide high resolution zoom capabilities making it easier to clearly identify a problem.
When you need to examine spaces that are difficult or hazardous to access during maintenance inspections – drones can be used to pinpoint potential complications. Drones come in various sizes and are built to easily navigation confined spaces. They can also be equipped with various sensors that conduct visual, thermal, and other tests while taking photos or videos to search for problems.
Drones are used to improve construction processes ensuring the site runs safely and smoothly. Before construction begins, they can survey the topography of a site to help with mapping and modeling. Drones can also be used to provide aerial views of the jobsite, machinery, and employees. As construction progresses, drones can be a great tool for monitoring and documenting the progress of a project at regular intervals.
As drone technology progresses, Dominion Energy will continue to embrace innovation to remain at the forefront of this technology and to better serve our customers.
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