Stop, Drop and Rollout Drone Inspections for Fire Mitigation

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Duration: 30 Minutes

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Summary

Wildfires in the US have become increasingly severe and frequent, as we are seeing in California now, driven by a combination of climate change, prolonged drought, and fueled loads, such as dry vegetation and the frequency, duration, and severity of high winds. Wildfires not only destroy ecosystems, homes, businesses, communities, and infrastructure, but 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. 

However, the risks are substantial with more than 700,00 transmission lines and over 6 million distribution lines in the US that must be maintained and serviced – making fire mitigation a top priority.  

At the policy level, investments in early detection of faults and risks to our energy infrastructure through inspection of critical power assets by drones and visual data management platforms are essential to mitigate wildfire risks and keep our communities safe.