Tips and Tricks from the Field for Safe and Efficient Drone Inspections

Master the art of drone inspections: execute safe, efficient flights and capture crystal-clear data with our expert field tips and tricks.

Takeoff Location Selection

Having no obstacles above your drone takeoff point is important for several reasons, including safety, performance, and regulatory compliance.

Takeoff Point

Clearing vegetation or obstacles at the takeoff location when performing drone inspections for infrastructure is important for several reasons:

• Safety: Removing obstacles and vegetation helps prevent accidents and collisions during takeoff and landing. Drones can be easily damaged by contact with trees, power lines, or other obstacles, which can lead to costly repairs or even compromise the safety of people on the ground.
• Unobstructed Flight Path: Clearing the takeoff area ensures that the drone can ascend and descend without any obstructions, allowing it to smoothly reach its designated inspection altitude and avoid potential hazards in the air.
• Improved GPS Accuracy: Trees and other obstacles can interfere with the drone’s GPS signal, affecting its ability to maintain a stable position and accurately track its location. Clearing the area around the takeoff location helps minimize signal interference and improve the overall accuracy of the inspection.
• Efficient Workflow: A clutter-free takeoff and landing area streamlines the entire inspection process, reducing the risk of delays and making it easier for the drone operator to focus on the inspection itself.

By ensuring a safe and obstacle-free takeoff location, drone operators can conduct infrastructure inspections more effectively, accurately, and efficiently, ultimately leading to better decision-making and maintenance planning.

Line of Sight

Maintaining a clear line of sight between the drone and the operator is crucial for safe and effective operation. Obstacles above the takeoff point can obstruct the operator’s view of the drone, making it difficult to maintain visual contact and increasing the risk of accidents.

Selecting a high point for takeoff when using a drone for infrastructure inspections offers an improved line of sight. A higher vantage point allows for a better line of sight between the drone operator and the drone, reducing the likelihood of signal interference. This ensures a more stable and reliable connection during the inspection process.

Camera Settings

The appropriate camera settings for infrastructure inspections can vary depending on factors such as lighting conditions, the type of structure being inspected, and the specific details you need to capture. Here are some common camera settings to consider adjusting for optimal results:

• Resolution: Choose the highest possible resolution to capture fine details and ensure that any defects or damage can be easily identified in the images.
• Frame Rate: When recording video, select a suitable frame rate, usually between 24–60 frames per second (fps), depending on the inspection requirements. Higher frame rates can help capture smoother footage but may result in larger file sizes.
• Shutter Speed: Adjust the shutter speed to control the exposure time, which can affect the sharpness of your images. A faster shutter speed may be necessary when capturing fast-moving parts or when inspecting in bright conditions.
• ISO: Keep the ISO as low as possible to minimize image noise while maintaining adequate exposure. In low light conditions, you may need to increase the ISO to capture a properly exposed image but be aware that this may introduce more noise.
• Aperture: Adjust the aperture (f-stop) to control the depth of field in your images. A larger aperture (lower f-stop number) will create a shallower depth of field, which can help isolate the area of interest from the background, while a smaller aperture (higher f-stop number) will increase the depth of field and keep more of the image in focus.
• White Balance: Set the white balance to match the lighting conditions (e.g., sunny, cloudy, or artificial light) to ensure accurate color representation in your images.
• Exposure Compensation: Use exposure compensation to adjust the overall brightness of your images, either by increasing or decreasing exposure, based on the specific inspection needs.
• Focus: Make sure to set the focus correctly, either by using manual focus or relying on autofocus, to ensure sharp and clear images of the structure being inspected.
• Image Format: Choose between shooting in JPEG or RAW format. The RAW format offers more flexibility in post-processing, while JPEGs are smaller and more manageable files. RAW format is often recommended for infrastructure inspections, as it provides more data for analysis.
• Video Format: Select an appropriate video format, such as MP4 or MOV, based on the required quality and compatibility with your analysis software.

Remember that the optimal camera settings will depend on your specific inspection needs and the conditions in which you are operating. It is important to experiment with different settings and review the results to determine the best configuration for your drone’s camera during infrastructure inspections.

Checklists

Pre- and post-flight checklists are crucial for drone inspections for several reasons. These checklists help ensure the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of drone operations. Some of the key reasons are:

• Safety: Checklists help identify potential issues before the drone takes off, reducing the risk of accidents, crashes, or property damage, the drone itself, or causing harm to people in the vicinity.
• Legal Compliance: Drone operators must adhere to specific regulations and guidelines set by aviation authorities like the FAA in the United States. Pre-and post-flight checklists ensure that operators comply with these rules and avoid penalties or fines.
• Equipment Maintenance: Regularly inspecting the drone’s components, such as propellers, motors, and batteries, can help prevent equipment failure during flight. A checklist helps operators systematically examine these components and detect any wear, damage, or malfunction.
• Data Accuracy and Quality: Ensuring that the drone’s sensors, cameras, and other data acquisition tools are functioning correctly is crucial for obtaining accurate and reliable data during inspections. Checklists guide operators in verifying these systems before and after each flight.
• Operational Efficiency: Following a checklist minimizes the chances of missing crucial steps in the inspection process, which can save time and resources. It also helps in maintaining a consistent process across multiple inspections or operators, improving overall operational efficiency.
• Documentation and Record-Keeping: Pre- and post-flight checklists provide a structured format for documenting the drone’s condition and any maintenance performed. This documentation can be valuable for legal purposes, insurance claims, or simply as a record of the drone’s usage and history.
• Emergency Preparedness: Checklists often include steps to follow in case of emergencies or unexpected situations. Familiarity with these procedures can help operators respond effectively and safely in the event of an issue during a drone inspection.

Team Roles

Having two team members in the field, generally ensures operations are safe, efficient, and frictionless. It’s critical to establish responsibilities of these roles before, during, and after the inspections to ensure that no tasks are missed and field operations are safe and efficient.

Below are some recommended steps for a two-person field operations team — a pilot and a safety officer. Each organization should review and decide their team make-up and steps to follow based on their specific needs.

Before Mobilization

Pilot

• Ensure all equipment has the latest firmware updates
• Check all equipment for any damage — do not fly if the equipment is damaged and notify your supervisor to get it repaired.
• Download any offline maps (if required).
• Charge all Drone and controller batteries
• Make sure the SD card is emptied.

Safety Coordinator

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection:

• Check fluid levels (oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering, and windshield washer)
• Inspect tires for proper inflation and tread depth
• Check the condition of the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench
• Inspect belts and hoses for wear or damage
• Test headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights
• Verify that wiper blades are in good condition and functioning properly
• Check the battery for proper charge and connections
• Inspect the brakes and suspension system
• Ensure all mirrors are clean and adjusted properly
• Confirm that the vehicle registration and insurance documents are up to date
• If required, ensure ratchet straps are properly secured.

Safety Equipment:

• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Reflective warning triangles or flares
• Seat belts for all passengers
• Portable jump starter and/or jumper cables
• Tow strap or rope
• Tire repair kit and/or air compressor

Communication and Navigation Tools:

• Mobile phone and charger
• Two-way radios (if needed)
• GPS navigation devices or offline maps
• Compass and/or paper maps of the area
• Written emergency contact numbers

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Safety vests or high-visibility clothing
• Hard hats
• Work gloves
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Steel-toed boots or other appropriate footwear

On-Site

Pilot

• Complete the site survey and identify takeoff spots away from underneath obstacles (i.e., powerlines)
• Work with the flight coordinator to find locations to take off/land that will allow for good visibility of the drone and good connectivity.
• Make sure there is no grass, brush, or any other hazards in the way of the props before takeoff to avoid damaging the motors.
• Take clear photos/videos at the pre-specified angles.
• Safely land and pack up the drone to move to the next location.

Safety Coordinator

• Perform Daily Risk Assessment.
• Ensure that all team members follow company safety protocols.
• Work with the pilot to find locations to takeoff/land that will allow for good visibility of the drone and good connectivity.

End of Day

Pilot

• Upload any images and videos taken in the field that day to the Detect Platform and clear the SD Card.
• Charge the Drone Batteries and controller
• Repack the drone case.

Safety Coordinator

• Report any incidents or near misses from the day.
• Update the safety documentation if the local police station or nearest hospital changes for the next day.
• Identify access areas in offline maps and make an access plan for the next day of flying.

In conclusion, by mastering the art of drone inspections and employing expert field tips and tricks, operators can ensure safe, efficient flights while capturing high-quality data, ultimately leading to more informed decision-making and improved infrastructure maintenance planning.