The potential of drones as a tool in the solid waste industry is still being realised but one of the most common uses is to conduct aerial surveys featuring both still images and videography.  The ability of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to access areas that would be difficult or impossible for foot traffic offers a massive advantage at a fraction of the cost of a traditional piloted aerial survey.

It is anticipated that the deployment of drones for survey purposes will only increase and the addition of thermal imaging cameras adds to the use of the survey images by pinpointing risk areas for sub-surface fires at the earliest possible opportunity.

The capture of real time imagery of a waste disposal site can provide an invaluable tool in assessing stability, monitoring erosion, standing water and hot spots.  Drone mapping can provide landfill managers with a fast and comprehensive overview of their sites to improve both design, safety and efficiency.

This fast and accurate acquisition of airborne survey data can assist with

  • growth tracking
  • calculating remaining life expectancy
  • compaction
  • erosion
  • tracking of greenhouse gas emissions

This is all at a tiny fraction of the cost f the more traditional annual piloted aerial surveys, offering both financial savings and the opportunity to increase survey frequency for improved site management.