Drone Utility &
Power Line Inspections

No. Drone inspection of live transmission and distribution lines does not require de-energisation or line shutdown. Our pilots maintain safe separation distances from conductors at all times. The inspection is carried out under our EASA Specific Category authorisation which covers operation near live electrical infrastructure.

Our LiDAR system measures vegetation and ground clearance distances to ±10cm accuracy – sufficient for identifying encroachments against the statutory minimum clearances defined in ESB Networks and EirGrid network standards. The classified point cloud identifies every tree and structure within the corridor and calculates the clearance distance to the nearest conductor at each point.

For LiDAR corridor surveys we typically cover 15-25km of line per day depending on terrain complexity, number of structures, and access constraints. Visual and thermal inspection adds additional time per structure. For large transmission line programmes we plan multi-day mobilisations with consistent crew and equipment across the full route.

Yes. We deliver GIS datasets in Shapefile, GeoJSON, and DXF formats compatible with standard utility GIS platforms. Point cloud data is delivered in LAS/LAZ format. We can adapt the report format and data schema to match the client’s existing asset management system requirements.

For underground cable routes we provide corridor surveys documenting ground conditions, access track condition, and any third-party encroachments above the cable route. We also combine this with LiDAR terrain modelling for routes where ground movement or subsidence monitoring is required.