Microdrones has announced that UAS (unmanned aerial system) service provider AERIUM Analytics has used a Microdrones mdLiDAR1000 UAS to conduct runway safety inspections at Edmonton International Airport (EIA). The drone collected Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) and imagery data of EIA’s runways, which will be used to more accurately predict when to conduct preventative maintenance on runways, taxiways and aircraft handling aprons.
EIA has 2 million square feet of runways, taxiways and aircraft handling aprons to maintain, and its maintenance program also requires annual pavement inspections. The drone inspection operation was approved by Edmonton Airports in collaboration with Nav Canada, and is part of an ongoing program of UAV operations conducted by AERIUM at EIA. To date, AERIUM has conducted over 3,000 safe UAS flights at airports, including the first ever airport night-time drone flight at EIA.
Microdrones’ end-to-end mdLiDAR1000 solution combines a multirotor drone, a LiDAR payload, a fully integrated software workflow, and expert support to consistently provide quality deliverables. The mdLiDAR1000 is a fully integrated system for producing 3D point clouds optimized for land surveying, construction, oil & gas, and mining applications.
Steve Maybee, EIA VP of Operations and Infrastructure, said: “RPAS technology is advancing quickly and is more and more useful to EIA. Thanks to the hard work of our Operations team and our partners in Nav Canada and AERIUM Analytics, our airport is a leader in this field, and we are fast approaching the point where drones are just part of the regular flight operations at EIA.”
Jordan Cicoria, VP of Operations at AERIUM Analytics, commented: “We are honored to be able to work with Edmonton International Airport on groundbreaking projects in the RPAS industry in Canada. Yesterday’s flights are the result of months of planning and would not have been possible without the support we received from the airport and coordination with NAV Canada. We are looking forward to reviewing the data collected to aid the airport in future runway maintenance and infrastructure development.”
