UAV Technology: From in the Clouds to below the Surface

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone technology has come a long way from the early aerial photograph tools to sophisticated inspection tools. UAVs are now capable of flight times that can capture longer reaches of large diameter pipelines and tunnels. Safely completing Permit Confined Space Entry (PCSE) inspection of critical infrastructure requires careful planning to identify and mitigate risks to inspectors. Advantages of using UAVs in place of human entrants for inspections include avoiding risks to human entrants and the associated costs of safety measures to mitigate these risks. The data collected using UAVs is often nearly equal in type and resolution to data collected by human inspectors. UAVs collect CCTV data, which can be used to visually assess asset condition, and LIDAR data, which can be used for three-dimensional mapping. For inspections, where a PCSE may still be required, the UAVs can assess the area and provide human entrants with information prior to entry, possibly shortening the duration of the required PCSE. Based on UAV screening data, human inspectors can enter safely and efficiently to collect the data without having to spend additional time determining where to focus assessment and testing.