Drones in clean- up zones
INSPECTING damage to Queensland’s electricity network is being revolutionised with the use of drones, which could help crews to restore power faster after a natural disaster.
For crews on the ground, faultfinding is time- consuming and challenging in areas where damage is widespread and vehicle access has been cut by fallen trees, flooding or muddy terrain.
Ergon Energy’s chief remote pilot, John Mordacz, said drones were a portable and cost- effective tool for inspecting the network and carrying out repairs.
Ergon Energy and Energex are training up to 80 certified drone pilots to work around the state
“We can get very detailed aerial images of the network, which highlight faults that cannot be detected from the ground, and we’re also using drones to string powerlines over rugged terrain,” Mr Mordacz said.
“While drones don’t have the lift capacity of a helicopter or the flying range of a fixed- wing aircraft, they are a more accessible and cost- effective alternative in many situations.”
Ergon Energy area manager Wayne Alderman said while they were no substitute for crews, drones were a great addition to their tools of the trade that could make the job safer and help restore power faster.
“Our recent trials of drones in all aspects of network maintenance and inspection show promising advantages for our staff and the community,” Mr Alderman said.
“Drones allow us to rapidly investigate parts of the network that are typically difficult to access in vehicles or on foot, and the high- resolution images give us a better grasp of what damage has occurred and what equipment will be required to make repairs, saving a lot of time.”
The benefits of using drones don’t only apply to disaster situations.
“In the past, when we needed to string a new powerline from one side of a river to another, or over inaccessible terrain, we often had to call in a helicopter to carry out the task,” Mr Alderman explained.
“We can now use our own drones to do the same job, with fewer risks, at significantly less cost and more efficiently. Drones also allow us to closely inspect communication towers more than 100 metres high from all angles, looking for any damage or potential faults.”
Ergon Energy and Energex are training up to 80 members of their staff to become certified drone pilots, to ensure the aircraft can be used around the state.
“Given our pilots will be using drones close to the electricity network, teaching them to do that safely is our top priority,” Mr Mordacz said.