Carson City Public Works uses drone to collect data

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Carson City Public Works officials are getting a bird’s-eye view of their projects and property thanks to a small drone they think will help save them lots of money in the future.

The department in September purchased a 3-pound unmanned aerial drone as well as a dedicated iPad to operate the machine. It has since been using the camera-equipped aircraft for maintenance inspections and other tasks that need an aerial view, The Nevada Appeal reported. In all, the setup cost about $1,000.

The drone is equipped with a camera for imaging, and four other cameras used to detect obstructions in its path and can be flown up for 400 feet above the ground, according to Federal Aviation Administration rules. The drone requires an FAA pilot’s license to operate.

“We’re working on a proof of concept to determine what its capability is for Public Works,” said James Jacklett, operations manager, control systems, for the department. “We’ve been using it for maintenance inspection like solar panels, the Mexican dam, the ditch, the landfill.”

The department has used consultants who fly aircraft to take aerial imagery of property, disaster sites and city roads for various purposes like data collection and permitting. Officials say a drone could do some of that work faster and for far less money.

So far, the drone has been on about 20 flights, Jacklett said. For example, it was used to survey a construction project.