Ingenuity-Summer-2017

Pond Ingenuity Summer 2017 5 U nmanned Aerial Vehicles. Most people know them as drones and have either heard or seen them. Kids play with them as remote- controlled toys. The military uses them as spy planes. If neither of these things rings a bell, perhaps you’ve heard one roaming far above you, emitting a droning, buzzing hum. Or, if you are in the oil and gas industry, you may be seeing them in a whole new light…reflecting the glint of the sun and flying high by Pond to inspect pipelines. Actually, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs, have versatile uses that span many industries. Pond, which serves government, corporate and private sector clients worldwide, has adapted its use for a plethora of critical analysis projects. Wherever in-depth, detailed real-time data must be acquired, Pond takes full advantage of sophisticated UAV technology. At its New Orleans branch, Pond engineers have mastered its use as a tool for geospatial mapping, site design, surveying and analysis of wetlands, dams, facility planning projects and most recently, conducting inspections of gas and oil pipelines. The implementation of UAV technology provides a highly accurate means of data acquisition that is significantly safer than using teams of personnel with heavy equipment in many circumstances. In addition to increasing safety, the technique provides a cost savings by using smaller field teams and no heavy equipment. Says Sam L. Briuglio, a Pond Geographic Information Systems professional and Vice President, Planning & Geospatial, “We were looking for a cost-effective way to survey and inspect pipelines, and our recent client suggested we use a drone. We already had the technology and facilities in house to take aerial photos and high definition video, and we have expertise in developing digital elevation models. So we just took it a step further by combining our knowledge for a new application. “After exploring the project scope, we actually analyzed some aerial photos and decided a UAV was perfect for this pipeline inspection project, where access is a challenge.” Says project manager Kermit M. Lewis, Jr., who is also a geographer with 17 years of remote sensing experience, “The client was very impressed with our proficient application of UAV technology – plus the fact that we have licensed pilots on staff – and was quickly convinced of its efficacy in terms of safety, particularly when compared to traditional methods.” Pond’s skilled, licensed in-house pilot, who is also FAA-licensed for UAVs, is a rare find. Says Lewis, “Having somebody helping to manage a key element of the project and who has total control of the airspace differentiates our team.” Pond’s full-service A&E capabilities are buttressed by engineering intelligence with great experiential depth and breadth, enabling the firm to accommodate clients across a wide range of industries in this regard. Each team includes the UAV pilot and spotter, a GIS analyst to monitor quality control and a Subject Matter Expert (SME), usually an engineer or architect, who can guide the field team in the exact direction needed to gather the right amount of information in an expedited and industry-specific manner. The UAV inspector analyzes the data and can even assemble a plan that pinpoints and documents suspected problems, such as corrosion, that may require corrective action. UAV is ideal for detecting leaks and other problems. Oil and gas industry clients use the information to help avert potential fires and explosions. For this reason and others, regular inspections are often scheduled at frequent intervals. The implementation of UAV technology provides a highly accurate means of data acquisition that is significantly safer than using teams of personnel with heavy equipment in many circumstances.