Grinnell Mutual, a property casualty insurance company and the nation’s largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies, is using Kespry’s UAS and aerial intelligence platform for residential and commercial property roof inspections.
Using Kespry’s technology, Grinnell Mutual takes detailed, high-resolution photos that are rapidly blended into single, composite 3-D images of roofs. Combined with aerial intelligence and machine learning-based algorithmic assessments made in the Kespry Cloud, the images help Grinnell Mutual’s adjusters determine storm-related damage so that they can make the most accurate claims decisions possible.
Inspection
Inspection
N.C. A&T professor to help NCDOT examine how UAS can be used to inspect bridges
In October, a North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University professor will help the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on a project to examine how UAS can be used to inspect aging civil infrastructure.
Vestas selects Sulzer Schmid, WKA to inspect wind turbines using UAS
Wind turbine company Vestas has selected Sulzer Schmid, a Swiss UAS technology company for rotor blade inspections, and WKA, a blade inspection and repair service provider, to conduct a large UAS-based blade inspection campaign in Scandinavia on 1,250 wind turbines in less than 12 weeks.
Located across Sweden and Finland, the blades of the 1,250 Vestas turbines must be inspected by the end of June, just in time for the beginning of the repair work season, which traditionally takes place during the less windy summer months.
To meet this tight deadline, Vestas opted for UAS, which is the “only approach that can meet its high-quality standards within such a demanding time-frame,” the companies say.
UAS helps U.S. Coast Guard inspect new Aids to Navigation structures
A UAS was recently used by U.S. Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit (CEU) Providence, Rhode Island to inspect the construction of new Aids to Navigation (ATON) structures.
The inspections were conducted by Lt. Kieron D. McCarthy, who piloted the UAS from a small boat assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bollard (WYTL-65614), based in New Haven, Connecticut.
The UAS was hand launched from the boat, and helped the CEU inspect and approve the steel tower structures that serve as fixed channel markers at Housatonic River, Black Rock, and Duck Island.
According to McCarthy, using UAS saved the CEU more than 30 hours of work, while reducing the risk of having to climb the structures.
AATI acquires unmanned technology service-provider Sky Scape Industries
American Aerospace Technologies Inc. (AATI), a provider of real-time remote sensing and airborne intelligence services for enterprise, has acquired Sky Scape Industries LLC (SSI), a provider of unmanned technology services.
According to SSI, its services are widely used by critical infrastructure operators in the electric, water, and oil & gas industries. The company says that it will continue to provide integration services, professional UAS advisory services, and inspection services across the U.S.
Miami University using UAS to conduct building inspections on campus
The physical facilities department at Miami University in Ohio is using UAS to inspect the roofs and gutters of some buildings on campus.
The technology is being used thanks to a Lean Project, which examined how UAS could be used on campus to increase efficiency.
One idea was to use the technology for visual inspections of roofs, gutters, chimneys and cupolas. Usually, a lift would be used to allow employees and contractors to conduct inspections and repairs.
To conduct these UAS operations, Miami chose a Boise, Idaho drone company called Rapid Aerial as its time and materials contractor for drone services. The company inspected four academic buildings that are difficult to access due to their height and location.
Ameren Corp., Black & Veatch and Collins Aerospace conduct BVLOS UAS flight to inspect transmission lines
On Nov. 8, electric services company Ameren Corp., along with Black & Veatch and Collins Aerospace, conducted a non-stop, 60-mile beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS flight to inspect Ameren’s transmission lines.
With thousands of miles of high-voltage lines, Ameren wanted a “better and safer” way to monitor its assets spread over rural territories beyond manual or helicopter inspections.
The companies say that the successful BVLOS flight showed the promise that UAS could have when it comes to conducting more efficient monitoring of expansive utility assets, especially in remote rural stretches.
PrecisionHawk expands network of UAS pilots through acquisition of Uplift Data Partners
PrecisionHawk Inc. has purchased Uplift Data Partners, which is a company that delivers turnkey inspection services for construction, building information management (BIM) and real-estate.
Having provided UAS services for leading national and global brands, Uplift’s nationwide network of commercially trained UAS pilots will join PrecisionHawk’s Droners.io network of UAS pilots, which currently stands at more than 15,000.
“This acquisition displays PrecisionHawk’s commitment to strengthening our technology and expertise in high-growth markets,” says Michael Chasen, PrecisionHawk CEO.
DJI unveils business-themed Mavic 2 Enterprise with added accessories
Dronemaker DJI has unveiled the Mavic 2 Enterprise, a compact, foldable drone with a zoom camera that can be outfitted with accessories such as a beacon or loudspeaker.
The Mavic 2 Enterprise is aimed at businesses, governments, educators and other professionals, the company says, with accessories aimed at boosting its capabilities for firefighting, emergency response, law enforcement and infrastructure inspections.
NATE hosts UAS showcase event to highlight wireless industry use
The National Association of Tower Erectors hosted key stakeholders from federal government agencies, industry and media at the inaugural NATE UAS Operations “Field Day Showcase” on Tuesday, Oct. 9 in Gainesville, Virginia, near the Washington, D.C. Beltway.
The event was held at a Crown Castle tower site. Crown Castle operates and leases more than 40,000 cell towers across the United States. At the event, attendees watched live flight demonstrations conducted by ETAK Systems; Talon Aerolytics; Ehresmann Engineering; and B+T Group.
Attendees were also able visit with drone and aviation subject matter experts about the transformative impact this technology is having on the wireless industry.
