Hate drones? They may soon become a way of life in the Commonwealth.
The anticipated surge in unmanned aerial vehicles-or UAVs-won't only be as a result of their popularity with hobbyists, but because of their use by emergency responders, power companies, and other industries.
Dominion Virginia Power recently demonstrated the effectiveness of using UAVs to monitor transmission lines, which are typically monitored today by linemen or helicopters. The company believes that utilizing drones will not only save in fuel costs but will also enable them to complete critical tasks more safely. Dominion's Steven Eisenrauch says the utility is still assessing the feasibility, but within the next two years, drones could be deployed routinely. He adds that by that time, others may also be utilizing them.
"In general, public safety, fire and police officers, agriculture to be able to look at farm fields. You know, just several different industries that should be able to utilize these. And something I should say about hobbyists, too. These are great to have to work with but we do ask that the hobbyists stay clear of any power lines when they are flying."
Eisenrauch says obviously, the people piloting the drones will be highly trained. Virginia lawmakers recently addressed how state and local agencies could use UAVs. The new laws prohibit weaponizing drones and limit their use in surveillance by law enforcement without a warrant.
