Ingenuity-Summer-2017

6 Pond | www.pondco.com Pond’s pilot can fly a UAV at a specified height that is dependent on the job. To capture a digital elevation, the UAV is flown high, while it can fly lower to capture an aerial image of a building. For the pipe inspection project, the UAV flew low, just a few feet over water, to assure accurate pictures. A visual spotter assists the pilot by keeping an eye out for potential interference from other drones, birds and aircraft. The UAV is about 1.5 feet high and wide, and is kept in a protective cage to avoid damage should it come in contact with another object. Built-in sensors detect when an object is getting too close to the UAV to eliminate as much risk as possible. For this project, the UAV was in the air for an hour and twenty minutes. Images of the pipeline were taken from four different angles – top, bottom and both sides. To assure close-in shots, the pilot was able to maneuver the UAV into tight positions. “It takes a lot of practice to accomplish this on demand in the field,” explains Briuglio. An overview shot was taken to create a digital elevation model for the areas surrounding the pipeline. Pond then stitched together all the images to create one large photo mosaic. A total of about 300 individual images were taken. UAV technology completely avoids the many drawbacks associated with traditional methods of navigating difficult terrain. In fact, as the UAV flew and gathered data, Pond’s client commented that ordinarily, using traditional, heavy ground equipment and machinery, the preparation and work involved would have taken more than a month. Indeed, the logistics would have been arduous. The roads into the site were poor and in some spots the pipeline ran 50 feet underground, so even getting the additional manpower to the site would have been hazardous and involved a facility shutdown. In turn this would have been substantially more expensive. On the contrary, Pond’s reliance on UAV technology for visual access assured that efficiency was the order of the day; it took about a day for Pond to extract the information and within a week Pond had analyzed the data as requested by the client. Says Lewis, “We were inspecting the pipeline coatings for deterioration and corrosion. We found several spots that would require further analysis where the coating looked a little damaged but overall the pipe was in good shape. The coating was worn in a few spots but not to the point where action had to be taken.” Added Briuglio, “We definitely plan to use our UAV capabilities with multiple clients. It’s adaptable to many different purposes – in any situation that requires the rapid collection of high-definition video and surface models of plants, platforms and pipelines and where GIS is helpful as a data collection tool. Besides inspecting bridges and dams, we can use our in-house UAV technology to produce micro-level and macro-level terrain models for planning infrastructure and facilities. We can identify specific areas of erosion, particular kinds of vegetation, missing signage and more. We can couple the technology for any engineering situation.” Success of this type of UAV project rests in large portion on pre-project planning. Pond reviewed the flight plan and knew what the pipeline and terrain looked like and recreated that at the office and went over scenarios before they got to the field. Still, as with any A&E job, weather can impact the best-laid plans. Says Lewis, “When we are ready to fly, we don’t know what the weather is going to be like so we have to be prepared for those unforeseen delays, and sometimes we may have to remain on site for several days to wait for the weather to clear up. We always factor that in to our schedule.” Says Lewis, “We are on the cutting edge of this technology. We maximize its potential to benefit our clients. By eliminating risks associated with other methods of inspection and increasing efficiency as much as possible – and because we are a one-stop-shop, so to speak – partnering with Pond creates a real win-win for our clients. And it’s exciting to look at the Our visual spotters, certified remote pilots, and coatings specialists can inspect a larger area per day than what is currently inspected using traditional methods . We provide solutions to government, oil marketers, pipeline operators, power generation, airport fueling facilities, gas and water utilities throughout the U.S. and globally. SERVICES | CAPABILITIES · · UAS Video Inspection · · High Resolution Photography · · Aerial Mapping/Imagery · · Thermographic Imagery · · GIS Data Development · · Point Cloud Acquisition · · Gas leak detection capabilities · · Experts direct & evaluate results · · Track record - We use WatchDog™ to map all facilities · · UAS sensors allow safe distance from the surface · · Operated by licensed FAA pilots