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Improved Safety:
Eliminates the need for human climbers, reducing the risk of accidents.
Inspections can be done from a safe distance.
Efficiency:
Reduces the time required for inspections compared to manual methods.
Drones can inspect multiple towers in a single day.
Cost-Effective:
Lowers labor costs and minimizes downtime.
Reduces the need for heavy equipment like cranes or lifts.
High-Quality Data:
Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, drones provide detailed imagery and thermal data.
Data can include 360-degree views, close-ups of specific components, and thermal imaging for detecting heat anomalies.
Accessibility:
Drones can easily access hard-to-reach areas of the tower, including the top and underside of components.
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Structural Integrity Checks:
Inspect for damage, corrosion, or wear and tear.
Antenna Alignment:
Verify the proper positioning and angles of antennas.
Heat or Energy Leak Detection:
Thermal imaging helps detect overheating or electrical issues.
Storm or Disaster Assessments:
Quick evaluations of damage after severe weather events.
Routine Maintenance:
Conduct regular inspections to prevent costly repairs.
Orbit Sequence:
Perform multiple circular orbits around the tower at different elevations.
Each orbit should capture the structure from various angles (top-down, mid-level, and base-level).
Vertical Scans: Capture straight-up vertical shots to complement the orbit data.
5-8 ft above the tower
Perform an orbit every 5-8 ft. towards the ground
Continue down to the ground equipment
5-8 ft. distance from the structure
Camera tilt -45deg
Picture frequency
Overlap 80%
Every 1 to 2 seconds take a photo
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63ac5e3a7de8b86d83ecc6a3/1733598232371-GFME1ORKCQ9BM6PFFRY3/unsplash-image-TIvFLeqZ4ec.jpg)
Overview
Deliverables:
High-resolution images of the tower and components (antennas, guy wires, bolts, etc.).
Photogrammetry-generated point cloud models.
3D digital twin with precise measurements and annotations.Applications:
Structural analysis and compliance checks.
Identifying damage, corrosion, or misalignment.
Asset inventory.
Data Requirements:
High-resolution point clouds and digital twins require more processing time and software expertise.
Single Tower Inspection
Base Drone Flight (Capture high-res images) → $1,000
Pix4D Photogrammetry (Point cloud creation) → $1,500
Digital Twin & Reporting → $500
Travel Fee (if > 50 miles) → $100
Total: $3,100
Bulk Tower Inspections (e.g., 10 towers)
Base Rate per Tower: $800
Point Cloud/Digital Twin per Tower: $1,200
Bulk Discount: 10%
Total: $18,000–$25,000 for 10 towers
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63ac5e3a7de8b86d83ecc6a3/1733598877636-4G0S7068F63B7SNFP9ZV/unsplash-image-TIvFLeqZ4ec.jpg)