[00:00:03]
“THIS IS VERY NEW, IT’S A VERY NEW PROCESS.” FRISCO PUBLIC WORKS IS USING DRONE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP WATER SAFE AND PREVENT EROSION ISSUES.
THE CITY OF FRISCO PRIDES ITSELF IN BEING A PLACE FOR INNOVATORS.
“YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE RIPPLES OF THE WATER FROM 400 FEET UP IN THE AIR.” ENCOURAGEMENT TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX LED THE CITY'S STORMWATER DIVISION TO START USING DRONES FOR INSPECTIONS.
FRISCO INSPECTORS ARE AMONG THE FIRST IN TEXAS TO USE DRONES LIKE THIS.
“IT’S THE NEXT STEP. IT’S WHERE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO. IT’S THE DIGITAL AGE.” THE DRONES PROVIDE A MORE EFFICIENT WAY FOR STORMWATER INSPECTORS TO CHECK OUT CONSTRUCTION SITES, DISCOVER POSSIBLE EROSION ISSUES OR SEE PROBLEMS FOLLOWING A RAIN EVENT.
“THERE’S A LOT OF BENEFITS TO IT, KEEPING US OFF ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITES, ALLOWING US TO RESPOND QUICKLY AFTER A POST RAIN EVENT IF WE DO GET FLOODING CALLS. WE ALSO HAVE AREAS WE KEEP AN EYE ON THAT MAY HAVE POTENTIAL FLOOD RISKS.” MORE RECENTLY, STORMWATER INSPECTORS STARTED TO INCORPORATE A TYPE OF LASER TECHNOLOGY ON SOME DRONE FLIGHTS TO IDENTIFY OR INSPECT EROSION ISSUES. IT'S CALLED LIDAR, WHICH STANDS FOR LIGHT, DETECTION AND RANGING.
“IT’S A LASER LIGHT THAT PENETRATES TREE CANOPY AND PRODUCES EXTREMELY DETAILED TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS OF THE GROUND, SO WE USE THAT TO PEER THROUGH THE CANOPY AND GET ACTUAL IMAGES OF THE STREAM BOTTOMS.” THE LIDAR-ENHANCED VIDEO CAN BE READY TO VIEW IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR.
“WE’RE ABLE TO CREATE THESE MODELS AND THEY’RE EXTREMELY DETAILED.
THIS IS ALL HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS THAT ARE PIECED TOGETHER WITH THOUSANDS OF LASER RETURNS.” THESE IMAGES ALLOW STORMWATER INSPECTORS TO FIND POTENTIAL EROSION.
“IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THAT BEFORE IT BECOMES A PROBLEM THEN OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CAN PLAN TO PROTECT THAT BANK BEFORE IT BECOMES A BIG ISSUE.” THE STORMWATER DIVISION CURRENTLY HAS 6 DRONE PILOTS AND HOPES TO SOON ADD MORE.
“FRISCO IS LEADING THE PACK WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR DRONE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM DEDICATED TO THE END GOAL WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THE CITY OF FRISCO DOES EVERYTHING WITHIN ITS POWERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON’T POLLUTE THE WATER LEAVING FRISCO.”
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.