September 4, 2018
Utilities companies in the United States are faced with constant change and business model alterations, as renewable energy options rise and traditional energy sources diminish.
With the changing scope of power and utility needs, utilities companies are forced to innovate and adapt. One way utility companies have been embracing new technology is through the use of drones. But what do drones have to do with power sources? Let’s take a closer look.
Visability
The use of drones in the utilities sector might at first sound like a stretch, but drones are rising in popularity because they can increase safety, reduce manpower, and increase efficiency. Drones can be used to take high resolution photos and video of hard to reach areas. While it may take a survey crew and entire day to scope out a new area of service, it can take a drone only a matter of minutes.
Safety
Likewise, in the event of a natural disaster, a drone can be used to survey the damage. For example, if a storm comes through an area and many trees are down, the drone can be used to take photographs and videos of the damage, without putting any repair crews at risk. Once the problem has been mapped out a repair crew can go and fix the damage with prior knowledge of the situation, making it safer for everyone involved.
Management
In addition to better visibility and increased safety, drones can also benefit utility companies by being used to monitor environmental factors that may play a role in utilities, such as water quality. Drones can also monitor vegetation overgrowth that may impact services, such as overgrown trees impacting powerlines.
Drones can not only reduce the workload for utilities workers, but can also provide safer alternatives for surveillance and monitoring. Drones can be quite an investment but we are confident that they are well worth the investment over time.
Because drones can be costly it is essential to have a good drone insurance policy. For drone insurance in Maryland call us at American Heritage today to discuss how we can help you protect your investment. We have extensive experience with drone insurance and we can help you find the best plan for your business.