DP&L partners with senseFly and Sinclair College to build drone program and bolster enterprise utilities management

Over a nine-month period, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will be used to inspect 4,000 miles of power transmission lines, supporting electricity delivery for the 1.25 million residents of the Dayton, Ohio region.

Under the collaboration, DP&L and Sinclair will employ four senseFly eBee X drones to gain visual insights that will help address the diverse challenges facing the energy industry, when conducting equipment inspections – such as vegetation encroachment near power lines or damage caused by storms that can lead to electricity delivery disruptions. The resulting high-resolution imagery will be used to build accurate assessments of affected areas through the generation of maps, digital elevation models (DEM) and other products. The technology will also aid in day-to-day essential maintenance, creating long-term efficiencies and streamlining energy management.

To support its team in deploying and integrating the eBee X drones and to generate quality and accurate data, DP&L is also partnering with Sinclair College to spearhead the drone training efforts—leveraging the State of Ohio’s TechCred program to train multiple operators and equip the DP&L team with the knowledge needed to execute drone mapping and inspection projects.