Drones Aid in Evaluation of Public Water-System Construction

GES managed the design and construction of a new public water-supply system to connect 443 properties and allow for further expansion. As part of the treatment plant and water tower construction oversight activities, GES used unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, to assist in the day-to-day documentation and inspection of the project. Flights were conducted to confirm that the contractor had laid out the various project components properly. These included building foundations, subsurface clearwell and wastewater tanks, roads, fencing, trenches for piping, and erosion control. 

During water tower construction, the drone was used to inspect and document welding work on the water tank (up to 50 feet above ground surface). Performing these inspections with the drone eliminated the health and safety hazard of construction oversight personnel working at heights.

Drone-derived data were also used to determine proper construction of the wastewater tank in the water treatment plant footprint, as the contractor had misaligned the building footer/pad excavation and the wastewater tank pad excavation, which would have caused significant problems when pouring the concrete for the foundation. The aerial photograph taken from the drone confirmed that the base slabs were approximately 2.33 feet out of square with each other, and not enough room to fit the wastewater tank. GES directed the contractor to correct the error in the tank orientation. Prior to drone technology, this issue like could have resulted in schedule delays and over $400,000 in rework by the contractor.Drone technology allowed GES to reduce construction time and expenditures for the state, ultimately resulting in taxpayer cost savings. The award-winning public water supply system established a permanent, high-quality community water source.