“Inspections of our transmission lines are crucial and effective”
If you were anywhere near Danbury, CT, on the weekend of December 20, 2021 – you may have noticed a particularly interesting sight in the sky, a helicopter flying overhead (which the military has made a bit of a habit of in recent years). The military will sometimes use the area to land planes or helicopters to perform maintenance or practice maneuvers.
What may have been quizzical were the more atypically colored yellow and blue streaks whirring alongside a familiar hum of propellers; a color scheme is attributed to none other than local energy company Eversource.
Eversource Vice President of Operations, Steve Driscoll, had this to say of the new technology in the company’s press release:
“The helicopter inspections of our transmission lines are a crucial and effective part of our commitment to reducing the frequency and duration of power outages.”
How 3D Laser Scanning Services Come Into Play
The brightly streaked helicopter hovering overhead is used as an emissary of the company – which uses 3D laser scanning services to survey its electrical transmission lines. In addition, each of the helicopters in the fleet is equipped with infrared heat-sensing technology, capable of detecting potential equipment issues and heat signature failures before they can cause any major problems.
Eversource boasts a proprietary “LiDar” which detects light and range signals from the air and, using 3D scanning services, creates a package of data to be sent back to their engineers.
According to their official website and local news sources, the 3D laser scanning devices have already flown successfully over many towns and cities in Connecticut. In addition, Eversource claims to use the helicopters to inspect transmission lines often located upwards of 100 feet in the air – helping engineers schedule necessary maintenance and upgrades and quell problems before issues arise.
One of the more consistent concerns heard from detractors of the advancement of 3D laser scanning services such as this is a mistrust of reliability.
Many wonder if the use of camera and sensor technology is not complicating a simple process to the detriment of efficiency. If, for example, the cameras and sensors were to break – they would cost both extra time (in manually performing the task for which it was sent) and money (in fuel and upkeep).
Luckily for Eversource, it is notable that flight times for this highly advanced 3D scanning service have ranged throughout full workdays.
Their helicopters have proven several times over to be capable of encountering various light and weather conditions to servicing over 72 communities across Connecticut.