The New Drone Rules: What Utilities Need to Know, Ron Patel
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Ron Patel of Dallas Water Utilities discusses the utility's use of drones. The utility acquired drones to help inspect its large wastewater treatment plant from the air, covering over 450 acres and processing 65% of the city's flow. Drones are used to inspect roofs, facilities, construction sites, fences, and other infrastructure. A roof inspection project using drones saved significant time and costs compared to conventional inspection methods. The presentation covers FAA drone rules, safety practices, and potential future uses of drones at water and wastewater utilities like monitoring assets and processes.
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The New Drone Rules: What Utilities Need to Know, Ron Patel
- 1. June 16, 2017 Ron Patel, P.E., MBA, ENV SP Dallas Water Utilities City of Dallas The new drone rules: What utilities need to know
- 2. Why we acquired drone • CWWTP Flow : 170 MGD (avg. flow), 350 MGD PHF • 2 parallel trickling filter plants, activated sludge complex, and tertiary filtration facilities, effluent discharges into the Trinity River • 3 Storage basins (150 MGD capacity) • Area: Over 450 acres (Plant), 700 sq. miles service area • Flow Treatment : 65 % of City and other customers • 4200 equipment • 45 billion gal treatment • Plant personnel: 100 + • Shifts: 4
- 3. Contracted Service - Before
- 5. Current Drone DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter Drone 1080 p camera and 3-axis gimbal system (pzt) Video & 12 MP still photos flight battery, charger, & pre-bound handheld transmitter 16GB micro SD card Controller – data, motor speed, GPS, command inputs IMU Stabilizer Power indicator, USB output, Sensitive control sticks Auto takeoff and landing Camera setting dial, Start/Stop video, 6000mAh LiPo Return to home failsafe
- 6. What we use drone for • Roof Inspection • Facility Aerial Inspection • Construction Progress • Landscape Inspection • Perimeter Fence Inspection • Plant Evacuation Drill • River Flooding • Levees • Dams • Lakes and Shoreline • Water Tower
- 10. Lean Six Sigma – Roof Inspection A Successful Drone Project
- 11. Roof Inspection - Conventional • Conventional Roof Inspections • 73 Roof-tops
- 12. Roof Inspection by Drone
- 15. Discussion on Drone ….. • Pre- & Post-Construction Assessments • Flood Control Asset Inspections • Erosion Control Inspections • Vegetation Monitoring/Assessments • Operations Monitoring • Outfall Monitoring • Process Improvements • Air Pattern Distribution in Aeration Basins • Other Uses
- 16. Lessons Learned • Safety is Paramount • Know your Rules & Regulations • Develop a Robust Drone Policy • Keep Citizens Aware • Be Aware, Accidents can Happen • Technology can be Harmful if not Handled Properly • Learn from Others Success and Failure • Continuous Training
- 17. Spending on O&M Vs. Capital
- 19. Funding needs …
- 20. Reference • https://www.faa.gov/uas/ • www.dronepoweredsolutions.com • http://www.fs.fed.us/science-technology/fire/unmanned-aircraft-systems • The Truth about Drones, Skylogic Researcher, Colin Snow • Graph by Environmental Finance Center at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Data by Congressional Budget Office, Supplemental Data for Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, 1956 to 2014 • Congressional Budget Office: www.cbo.gov/publiation/49910 • American Society of Civil Engineers 2013 Report Card for American Infrastructure and Failure Act Series, published 2011 - 2013
Editor's Notes
- Wastewater utilities own, operate, manage and maintain a vast array of infrastructure. Inspecting assets manually is a time-consuming and labor intensive process that comprises a significant percentage of a utility’s operating costs each year. In some cases, manual inspection of certain out of reach assets can be dangerous. To provide robust service and prevent faults, service interruptions, significant accidents and damage, assets must be regularly inspected to detect any issues as early as possible. This is increasingly vital for aged utility and its aging infrastructure.
- Drones are a useful tool for municipalities to embrace toward monitoring the condition of their assets. Drones offer a safer and cheaper method of capturing a wealth of data to help make educated, timely decisions. The use of drones in the wastewater industry is increasing as technology becomes more readily available and cheaper.
- IMU - Inertial Measurement Unit PZT – Pan, zoom, tilt
- Drones are used for utility asset inspection by a small growing number of utilities throughout the nation. Drones are easier and very cost effective to operate. Using drones for asset inspection provides a number of substantial benefits over traditional inspection methods, including safety, cost effectiveness, efficiency, and data quality. Inspections of wastewater infrastructure are critical for monitoring and maintaining facility assets on an annual basis.
- Central Wastewater Treatment Plant has implemented, Lean Six Sigma, a strategic problem solving and process improvement strategy that focus on reducing waste and variation. The fundamental objective of the Lean Six Sigma methodology is the implementation of a measurement-based strategy that focuses on process improvement and variation reduction through the application of Lean Six Sigma improvement projects. By using data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects of Six Sigma approach at the facility, Central Wastewater Treatment Plant was able to drastically reduce the waste and increase productivity in the roof inspection process.
- 840 hours inspection time, 12 – 14 inspections / year
- 56 hours / year
- Central Wastewater Treatment Plant has learned various important lessons throughout the operation of drones in the past. Be aware of the rules and regulations set by Federal Aviation Administration, and other governmental agencies. These Federal rules changes often. Federal law requires that all aircraft including drones flown outdoors must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration and marked with a registration number. Develop a departmental safety guideline for drone operation.
- Central Wastewater Treatment Plant has learned various important lessons throughout the operation of drones in the past. Be aware of the rules and regulations set by Federal Aviation Administration, and other governmental agencies. These Federal rules changes often. Federal law requires that all aircraft including drones flown outdoors must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration and marked with a registration number. Develop a departmental safety guideline for drone operation.