Stop, Drop and Rollout Drone Inspections for Fire Mitigation

Evidence shows that wildfires have increased in severity and frequency, in both the US and across the world, driven by a combination of climate change, prolonged drought, and fueled loads, such as dry vegetation and high winds. Wildfires pose a significant threat to our ecosystems, homes, businesses, communities, and infrastructure, and also pose serious health risks due to smoke and particulate matter, contributing to long-term environmental and economic challenges.

Mitigation strategies focus on reducing wildfire risks and improving preparedness. Prescribed burns and mechanical thinning help manage vegetation to limit fuel for fires. Community efforts, such as creating defensible spaces around homes and business structures and using fire-resistant building materials play critical roles as well.

Utilities also have a significant role to play, with the proper maintenance of the 500,000 miles of high voltage lines and over 5 million miles of distribution lines in the US being a key factor in reducing the risk of wildfire ignition. Of course, this is no small task, and consequently finding effective and reliable fire mitigation strategies has become a core focus of utilities' maintenance programs.

Join Cyberhawk CEO Chris Fleming, and CCO Matt Zafuto for the fourth and final in our series of webchats with T&D World to find out how utilities are using drone inspections and better visual data management to get ahead of the wildfire problem.