failing components, joints, pipework and
beams. Again, UAV technology not only
delivers quantifiable safety benefits (by
removing the need for personnel to gain
access to locations), but it also avoids the
need for expensive and time-consuming
and expensive rope-access scaffolding
solutions. Large and complex geographi-
cal areas such as river banks and coastal
areas can also be inspected and surveyed.
UAV surveys are 10 times faster than
contact-based surveys, and provide a
welter of high-definition images.
Accuracy of data in conventional
LiDAR UAV surveys is generally to around
40 mm; investment and development
of UAV vehicles and associated survey
so…ware has led to Texo DSI Ltd achiev-
ing accuracy of up to 1-3 mm in its survey
grade LiDAR, which is delivered via its
custom-built UAV platform that measures
over 1,000,000 points per second. This
gives Texo DSI Ltd the most accurate UAV
deployed survey grade LiDAR in the sec-
tor. It means companies can get quick and
highly reliable surveys of entire assets and
topographies in a fraction of the time that
it would take a traditional survey team.
Conclusion
The versatility of UAV survey and
inspection and the engineering data
it provides make it a truly compelling
technology for the water and wastewater
industry. Applications that have been
honed and perfected in sectors such as
oil & gas are bringing new benefits in
the form of engineering certainty, time-
and cost-savings and improvements to
maintenance and repair regimes. All of
this means that UAV technology is set to
become a vital component in the drive
by water companies to improve customer
service and the efficiency across all of
their operations.
26 | JANUARY 2018 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk
The Knowledge: drones and innovation
Mega_Link is a cost effective and versatile radio telemetry system for passing
two-way instrumentation, measurement and control data between industrial
plant and site locations. Our equipment is used by UK water companies for
fresh water supply, wastewater, land drainage and other applications include
industrial process, chemical works, landfill and boiler monitoring.
Contact us: 01344 750233
sales@churchill-controls.co.uk
www.churchill-controls.co.uk
• TELEMETRY & CONTROL
o POINT to POINT and POINT to MULTI-POINT
o LONG DISTANCE via REPEATER SITE(S)
• FLEXIBLE COMMUNICATIONS
o Licence Exempt UHF Low Power Radio
o GPRS & 3G Mobile Networks
o Leased Line and Private Wire
• SENSOR and DATA INTERFACES
o Volt-free DIGITAL I/O and 4 - 20 mA ANALOGUE I/O
o RS232/RS485 Serial Modbus, Allen Bradley DF1 and Mitsubishi FX
• FULLY CONFIGURABLE and EASY TO USE with BUILT-IN DISPLAY
• EXCELLENT TECHNICAL SUPPORT and SPARES/REPAIR BACKUP
• RADIO PATH SITE SURVEY and COMMISSIONING SERVICE
www.teekaycouplings.com
tel: +44 (0)1494 679500
