Lakewood Buys Drone to Survey Sewers and Erosion Along the Cliffs
Thursday, December 26, 2013
In an effort to monitor the lakeside cliffs, the city of Lakewood will launch its first video surveillance drone this spring.
The Phantom, manufactured by DJI, came with a price tag of approximately $1,200. The city is required by the EPA, once per year, to survey and evaluate 130 sewer pipes that outlet into Lake Erie.
Public works director Joe Beno said that using the drone will save money – mostly from cutting labor hours associated with workers repelling down the cliffs and eliminating the need for boat rental.
“I was surprised that the drone was that inexpensive,” Beno said.
The battery-powered drone – weighing in at only a few pounds – uses GPS technology to find problem areas. With a mounted camera, all of the heavy lifting can be done remotely from the engineering department at city hall.
The drone will even fly back on its own when the battery is low.
The first flight is scheduled for this spring.
The Phantom, manufactured by DJI, came with a price tag of approximately $1,200. The city is required by the EPA, once per year, to survey and evaluate 130 sewer pipes that outlet into Lake Erie.
Public works director Joe Beno said that using the drone will save money – mostly from cutting labor hours associated with workers repelling down the cliffs and eliminating the need for boat rental.
“I was surprised that the drone was that inexpensive,” Beno said.
The battery-powered drone – weighing in at only a few pounds – uses GPS technology to find problem areas. With a mounted camera, all of the heavy lifting can be done remotely from the engineering department at city hall.
The drone will even fly back on its own when the battery is low.
The first flight is scheduled for this spring.
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