Transgrid is trialling advanced drone technology to inspect its high-voltage transmission network in New South Wales and the ACT to help keep local communities safe from bushfires. Transgrid Executive General Manager of Delivery, Jennifer Hughes, said, “We take preparation for bushfire season very seriously and the safety of our people, landowners and communities is our first priority. “We are trialling [...]
In today's fast-paced tech world, staying ahead in facility and asset management means embracing innovation. Programmed Facility Management is revolutionising this field with Chorus, a key player in New Zealand’s telecom sector. This partnership showcases how technology can optimise infrastructure management. Image: Programmed Facility Management. Tasked with managing a vast network of telecom assets, Chorus faced the challenge of transitioning [...]
A new underwater drone is helping Coliban Water to optimise its tank inspection process and improve the service it delivers to customers. Divers William Burmeister and Cameron Garratt. Image: Aegir Divers, courtesy of Coliban Water. Coliban Water’s experts are now able to deploy a drone underwater to look more closely at a tank’s interior. Previously, internal inspections often meant a [...]
by Powercor Powercor details its largest drone trial across western Victoria as the electricity distributor investigates how the technology may be used in the future to maintain a safe and reliable network for homes and business. Take a moment to imagine yourself among thick, ferny undergrowth, soaring treetops, deep valleys and lofty peaks. There’s pristine beaches meeting temperate rainforests containing [...]
The Ballarat region has acted as a testbed for Powercor’s new drone technology, which is able to inspect power lines promptly and in great detail. Remotely piloted drones have inspected more than 30km of powerlines around Ross Creek, Cambrian Hill, Napoleons and parts of Buninyong in recent weeks. The work is in addition to Powercor’s ongoing continuous program of asset [...]
Functioning natural ecosystems are vital to maintaining healthy water catchments, and a critical part of how water utilities can manage the delivery of safe, clean drinking water to customers. As one of South Australia's largest landholders, SA Water manages around 76,000 hectares of land across the state, with around 20,000 hectares reservoir reserves land – the equivalent size of 10,000 [...]
Technology has become a major part of our modern world, helping to make life easier and safer for many – and utilities are no different. For Gippsland Water, the implementation of advanced technology into its operations has been a no-brainer, with the water utility embracing the use of drone technology over the past few years to help improve the way [...]
For Gippsland Water, the use of drones in asset inspections has improved safety and delivered cost-savings. Managing Director, Sarah Cumming, said the organisation had embraced the use of drones to improve the way its team carries out essential tasks, like inspecting sites with limited access. “We have a lot of infrastructure that can be difficult to access and inspect, like [...]
Seqwater has begun using remote control mini-helicopters to deliver precision attacks against invasive weeds threatening South East Queensland’s water supply. The organisation is deploying a 3.5m-long Yamaha RMax helicopter above Wappa Dam to attack an infestation of Water Hyacinth in the drinking water storage. Drones are swiftly becoming an invaluable tool in monitoring and managing aquatic weeds in South East [...]
In Western Australia, Western Power connects more than two million customers over an area larger than the United Kingdom. The South West Interconnected Network (SWIN) is one of the world’s largest standalone grids and spans around 255,000 square kilometres, from Kalbarri in the north to Bremer Bay on the south coast and inland to Kalgoorlie. Thermal image captured by the [...]
SA Water’s Riverland team is utilising drone technology to improve operational efficiency, customer experience and enable greater safety outcomes. The utility is maturing its drone capability and progressively using the technology at more of its water and wastewater facilities. SA Water has seven licensed drone pilots, one of which is based in Berri. SA Water General Manager of Business Services, [...]
The rapid evolution and maturity of technology is creating diverse opportunities for utilities to embrace emerging devices and systems which improve operational efficiency, customer experience and enable greater safety outcomes. With a long history of innovation, SA Water has a focus on fostering and developing new applications of technology for the benefit of its customers and communities. The South Australian [...]
Developed after inspecting over 90,000km of powerlines using beyond visible line of sight (BVLOS) flights, the Terra Drone solution suite leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to automate damage detection – such as rust on bolts, birds nests and loosening of tower parts – and vegetation management in power transmission and distribution equipment. Terra Drone Corporation, the world’s largest provider of industrial drone solutions, has [...]
Western Power has commenced a new inspection trial, using drones to assist with visual inspections of faults around the Northam and Geraldton areas. The drones will increase response times to outages and detect faults, and are capable of withstanding electromagnetic interference, allowing safe navigation near powerlines. Drone pilots will be able to switch between two different cameras, a high powered [...]
Powerlink has enlisted the help of helicopters to undertake inspections across Central and North Queensland in order to maintain the reliability and safety of its electricity network. Inspections will take place late June through to August 2019 (weather permitting) in areas including Alligator Creek, Clare, Kelso, Mulgrave, Rangemore, Woodstock, Bouldercombe, Marlborough, Nebo and Stanwell where Powerlink’s network is located. Powerlink [...]
One of the long-running challenges for utilities in managing their assets has been finding ways to easily access, survey and inspect their networks. The introduction of drone technology is providing network owners with new perspectives on their assets in unprecedented detail, and Zinfra is now offering drones as part of its asset inspection services on a routine basis. Zinfra’s interest [...]
According to The Age, an investigation is underway after an Evoenergy drone worth an estimated $500,000 was shot down near Canberra on 14 February while undertaking surveying works. An ACT Policing spokesperson reportedly confirmed the incident in Tennent, ACT, just after 2pm on 14 February. Evoenergy has not yet provided a statement, though its 2018 annual planning report suggests that [...]
Restoring power after natural disasters could soon be easier, with drones set to assist in inspecting and repairing damage to Queensland’s electricity network. For crews on the ground, fault-finding 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 [...]
The energy industry is already enjoying some of the benefits drone technology is able to provide, but now a team from Queensland University of Technology and the FrontierSI are researching ways to enhance the benefits for the industry. According to a recent PwC report1, operational safety and increased automation are two of the biggest challenges – and opportunities – in [...]
Drones have opened a new frontier of mapping and inspection possibilities for the civil construction industry, according to Nick Smith, CEO of Airsight Australia. Mr Smith has almost a decade of experience in the commercial drone industry, immersing himself in drones long before they entered the mainstream. He began development of the business model for his current company, Airsight Australia, [...]
The Queensland Government is using drone technology to assess water levels in dams and bores in remote areas. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner, said drones have the potential to become part of day-to-day farming operations, drastically reducing the time it takes to accomplish vital tasks. As well as water monitoring, this includes using drones to detect [...]
A Melbourne Water pilot project is using drones to monitor environmental health around the outfall at Boags Rocks on the Mornington Peninsula. The drones measure growth of the seaweed, Hormosira Banksii, commonly known as Neptune’s Necklace, providing invaluable insight into water quality. Dr Kris Coventry, a Research Manager at Melbourne Water, said the work could support countless opportunities for drone use to [...]
Essential Energy is working with the Aerial Application Association of Australia (AAAA) and aviation operators to trial new powerline markers to make the power network more visible to pilots in Moree, NSW. General Manager Safety, HR and Environment, David Nardi, said the trial would identify the best available marker to improve powerline visibility and minimise the risk of accidents. “Essential [...]
Melbourne Water is using drones to help monitor its waterways, water supply and sewerage networks. On the back of highly successful trials, Melbourne Water has purchased its own fleet of drones, including an underwater submersible, and has trained its own pilots. The airborne drones are also utilising an innovative thermal imaging camera technology. Manager Asset Knowledge and Systems, Michael Gomez, [...]
Conducting pipeline inspections can sometimes be a challenging task due to the proximity to hazards, limited access spaces or large inspection areas ranging many kilometres. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, offer a unique range of benefits as an asset management tool for pipeline inspection and detection of integrity issues. Here, we look at these benefits and how a unique drone on the Australian [...]
In September 2017, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) began the first stages of its drone safety review, on which a discussion paper on the range of safety issues to be examined during the review was released. Responses to the discussion paper were released in December 2017, with CASA aiming to provide a final report in early 2018.
The Queensland Government is partnering with global giants such as Boeing and Shell along with small to medium enterprises to develop remotely piloted aircraft systems – innovative partnerships that have sky-high potential for local industries. The Queensland Government provided the Advance Queensland funding in a first-of-its kind partnership with global aerospace giant The Boeing Company, in conjunction with Boeing subsidiary [...]
The Queensland Government will implement Australia's first whole-government drone strategy to address the business opportunities and regulatory challenges for the drone industry. Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, released the consultation paper on the future of drone technology in Queensland. The Premier is encouraging all Queenslanders to have their say on the Queensland Drones Strategy Consultation Paper, to help direct future policy and [...]
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has released a discussion paper that sets out Australian and international aviation safety regulatory arrangements in regards to drones. The paper is part of CASA’s review of drone regulations and calls for industry and community input on the potential future regulatory approaches to cover the emerging and increased application of drone technology. Federal Minister [...]
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