On 14 Dec 2004 05:18:18 -0800, wrote:

As is common in the industry, our electric utility performs regularly
scheduled air patrols. Our aerial contractors are looking for so
called "danger trees" that could come in contact with the lines,
right of way encroachments, and facility maintenance items.

We're using both fixed wing and rotary aircraft.

It is a challenge to train contractors and it's labor intensive to
investigate each problem. We think a better way of performing this
task is to have the contractor provide a digital still image of each
item in his report along with the associated geographic coordinate
(accuracy is not an issue since anything within 500' is acceptable).

I would appreciate any insight, experiences, or comments relative to
this topic.

Thanks,

Mark


Sounds like a plausible idea. I'd give it a shot with one of the
pilot's / flight staff you are more closely with as a trial. Have
them take pictures of the same place in both an airplane and
helicopter (maybe even have them focus on exactly the same tree
group). Then send someone out on the ground to take additional
pictures and make a ground assessment. Review and compare the results
with your team and analyze the findings. If it seems like a reliable
means slowly implement it, making ground checks periodically to ensure
accuracy, and work toward saving your company money.

You will incur a little greater expense in the initial stages of this
plan since you'd be sending both types of aircraft and a ground person
to exactly the same sight, but this approach will allow you to make a
good comparison between all three.

Hope this helps.
z