US: EagleView Technology has announced an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) research project awarded to Pictometry, an EagleView company, by NYSEARCH/Northeast Gas Association, a consortium of 19 natural gas companies located across the US and Canada focusing on research, development and demonstration. The project will bring together the expertise of Pictometry and the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research (NUAIR) Alliance to focus on the feasibility of using UAS to improve the overall safety and speed of routine and emergency surveys and inspections of pipelines for gas utilities.
The team will perform ongoing research experimentation in the approved areas utilising the UAS imaging gas pipeline infrastructure. The research will use UAS with the system components featuring high-resolution cameras and potentially methane detection devices to enhance pipeline safety. The testing will include flight plan creation, protocol development and effective field implementation.
“The research programme came from the interests of NYSEARCH member gas utilities to perform routine inspections and surveys of facilities from an aerial vantage point along with the ability for rapid response in the case of emergency situations,” stated Joseph P. Mallia, NYSEARCH/NGA.
Source: Property drone
