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Benefits In A Nutshell
Brussels, often called the "Capital of Europe," is a city of immense influence. It houses the European Commission and attracts a vast international community, along with thriving businesses and culture. As a hub for innovation, Brussels is an ideal place to develop smart city initiatives.
Smart cities leverage technology to gather data and enhance urban functionality. This involves everything from intelligent traffic signals to sustainable architecture. A smart city functions optimally when integrating advanced technology, system optimization, and thorough asset management.
The Maintenance and Inspection Department at Brussels Mobility embarked on a project to survey the technical galleries and networks beneath the city. These galleries, some constructed decades ago, lacked up-to-date documentation. Brussels Mobility aimed to create a detailed inventory of these spaces, including their contents and required maintenance, to improve their management.
Over nine intense days, we conducted 241 flights using the Elios 3 equipped with its LiDAR payload. This resulted in the recording and analysis of 1,776 points of interest to assess the condition of the galleries.
The underground galleries extend throughout Brussels, with some areas having water accumulation or narrow passageways. The Elios 3 proved highly versatile, capable of navigating diverse environments effectively.Building A Specialized Underground Survey Team
While the existence of the underground galleries was known, their precise locations, dimensions, and layouts remained unclear. Brussels Mobility sought to establish a comprehensive inventory and accurate record of the galleries, their contents, and the necessary maintenance. Without existing blueprints, they needed a thorough as-built resource to understand the current state.
Brussels Mobility collaborated with several firms to initiate this survey. They required specialists in data collection and processing, as the galleries had no documented records—posing uncertainties about potential hazards oré—留物.
SECO, an engineering and construction company, joined the project to examine structural defects in the concrete and aid in data collection. Anticipating complex and potentially hazardous conditions, SECO planned to employ a drone for data gathering and partnered with a specialized drone inspection service provider.
Sweco, a leading engineering and architectural consultancy, was tasked with cataloging the underground structures used for utilities. Their expertise in processing and analyzing data was crucial for this project. Utilizing LiDAR and visual imagery, they created comprehensive 2D maps and 3D cross-sections of the underground sites.
Medexon and Flywel, companies offering drone inspection services across various industries in Belgium, were invited to participate. Their Elios 3 drone played a vital role in inspecting hazardous and confined spaces and scouting areas before human entry.
With this expert team assembled, the inspection and surveying project commenced.
Underground Surveys With The Elios 3
The data collection team set three main goals for this project:
1. Gather data for unknown areas. Many galleries had little to no records of their condition. Brussels Mobility needed updated information about their layout to understand the extent of the network.
2. Identify assets and equipment. The data collected would need to provide details about all relevant elements.
3. Examine concrete cracking. Given the lack of maintenance over the years, Brussels Mobility wanted to assess the structural integrity of the concrete and walls in the galleries.
The varied and challenging conditions of these inspections presented hazards the team had to be mindful of. Accessing the galleries involved visiting entry points across the city, with all data collection georeferenced for the final map creation.
Complex Underground Mapping With A Drone
The data collection team had no idea what to expect in the galleries. They faced potential risks like electrical cables submerged in water due to drainage issues or large equipment obstructing pathways. Thus, they urgently needed a tool to scout spaces and collect data.
The Elios 3 was the perfect solution. Despite cold temperatures, the team completed over 200 flights to gather LiDAR and visual data across 13 kilometers of underground spaces.
The Elios 3 Surveying Payload was also utilized to survey particularly challenging underground sites, such as storm drains. This payload offers optimized workflows for handling similar locations that pose challenges to standard LiDAR scanners. In certain cases, the team held the Elios 3 manually to collect LiDAR data where flying was impossible.
Surveying 13 Kilometers With The Elios 3
Despite the project's scale, the team successfully collected data from all desired locations, spanning 13 kilometers including storm drains, galleries, and technical rooms. Over nine days, they conducted 241 flights. During these flights, 1,776 points of interest were recorded.
Processing and mapping this data has been a monumental effort for all parties involved. Some datasets showed the impact of drift, which the team worked with Flyability to optimize. Sweco has since created a detailed LiDAR map with an overlaid surface map, enabling Brussels Mobility and their partners to easily identify access points and plan operations.
This project has been ongoing for a year, with open collaboration among all teams. It has been a significant success in providing Brussels Mobility with comprehensive and actionable data to manage these underground spaces.
In the future, Brussels Mobility plans to share this data with utility companies to assist with maintenance and repair of underground assets and equipment. They also intend to use the maps to explore how these galleries can be repurposed for public use.
Underground surveys with drones, whether in mines, sewers, or technical galleries, are made faster and safer thanks to specialized UAVs like the Elios 3. Its ability to collect data and provide situational awareness kept the team safe, even in complex GPS-denied environments. Medexon-Flywel is confident in the drone’s capabilities for future projects, especially with the new Surveying Payload.
Discover more about the Elios 3 and its specialized LiDAR payload.
All images in this article are credited to CLP Power.