Aerial Inspection

Aerial inspections provide a bird's eye view of the network to identify faults or potential problems. These inspections form part of our ongoing inspection program, along with ground inspections as required, to ensure the network is in good condition.

The Aerial inspections collect information about the network and the immediate area around it. There are two types of information collected namely pole top photography and LiDAR measurements.

Pre Summer Bushfire Inspection Program (PSBI)

The PSBI Program is for the visual inspection of the Essential Energy Network in areas identified as High Bushfire Risk. This Program involves a small fixed wing aircraft flying at low altitude below 500ft to inspect the Essential Energy Network to ensure it is in sound condition before the Bushfire Season. This plane will be displaying signage “Essential Energy Aerial Patrol”.

Pole photography enables us to identify defects on poles to fix them before they become dangerous failures. 

The corridor photos give us the overall context of the span and easement condition.

LiDAR Data Acquisition Program

The LiDAR Program involves a fixed wing Plane flying at approximately 1000ft or higher, capturing LiDAR and Downward imagery of 28,000kms of powerline that supports Essential Energy’s ongoing network maintenance activities.

LiDAR is a surveying method which enables us to make three-dimensional models of the poles and wires to determine distance to vegetation, for bushfire risks identification and distance to the ground to identify public risks.

The resultant point cloud is shown in the video below. 

Aerial patrol schedule

Aerial Patrols are an efficient method of ensuring that the electricity network is adequately maintained. Public notifications are issued prior to Aerial Inspection taking place within each area. If you have specific circumstances that require additional notification you can register for aerial notification prior to fly over.

Aerial patrols scheduled from February to June 2021 are listed below.

Key:   PSBI program   LiDAR program

March 2021

April 2021

May 2021

June 2021