Radiation-proof drones to increase safety and speed up inspection missions at Arab world's 1st nuclear power plant

• Safety of personnel guaranteed as UAVs can assess riskiest, most complex areas of nuclear power plant
• UAVs to help advance nuclear power plants with inspection capabilities that save inspectors time and costs

Dubai: The Middle East’s leading provider of DT^3 (Drone Technology, Data Technology, and Digital Transformation) technology, Falcon Eye Drones (FEDS), has underscored the importance of drones in increasing workplace safety while speeding up inspection measures to unlock the full potential of the Arab world’s sole Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme—the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi—that aims to generate clean electricity in the next 60 years.

Hailing the launch of the UAE’s nuclear power plant, Rabih Bou Rashid, CEO of FEDS, said that drones can help ensure the gold standards of safety and reliability of the country’s $32 billion power plant, which is expected to offset approximately 21 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, or equivalent to removing 3.2 million cars from the country’s roads annually.

“The Bakarah Nuclear Energy Plant is a significant step towards the UAE’s vision to deliver a new source of clean energy. It is a pioneering project that targets to deliver up to a quarter of the nation’s electricity needs, becoming a true milestone for this forward-thinking nation,” said Bou Rashid.

He noted that as the UAE remains committed to thrust science and technology, it is likely that it will employ only top-of-the-line technology, such as drones, in protecting and maintaining this Arab world’s pride.

Providing a clear insight about how drone applications are now being utilised in the nuclear industry today, the CEO said that drones play a vital role in site condition monitoring on nuclear sites across the globe because of its wide scope of advantages over these ground-based technologies.

An eye for safety 

With the drones’ ability to inspect confined spaces and areas beyond the human’s line of sight, FEDS said these unmanned utility vehicles (UAVs) can perform flawless assessments and capture crucial data in nuclear power plants without putting the workforce in harm’s way.

Prior to drones, Bou Rashid said surveying nuclear power plants required workers to don heavy anti-contamination suits. They also need to bring a radiation monitor—which exposes them to 250 millirem of radiation (around 10 per cent of the limit for radiation exposure yearly).

“Since drones are immune to radiation, inspectors can employ them to gather superior data—even around the most inaccessible spaces—without exposing workers to unnecessary dangers,” said Bou Rashid.

Recently, Swiss drone manufacturing company Flyability used its collision-resistant drones—Elios 2—in an annual survey of the tank rooms at a nuclear power plant, capturing every edge of the area without the need for any human intervention.

The application of drones in the nuclear power sector has also been accelerated by the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant in 2011. Drones allowed them to get a clear picture of the situation, as well as trace the changes in the reactors’ isotopic distribution.

Flyability’s data added that drones are now utilised in over 30 per cent of all of the nuclear power plants in the US. These UAVs are deployed regularly to prevent sending workers to physical inspections in radioactive environments, thereby increasing workplace safety.

In Norway, meanwhile, drone pilot Lieutenant Bård Alexander Raunlid said that they have entered a cooperation with the country’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in 2019 to utilize drone-based radiation detectors on Coast Guard vessels.

Gathering accurate mapping 

Bou Rashid said that drones’ capacity to comprehensively post-process data can play a crucial role in completing the set-up and maintaining the operations of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the most cost-efficient way possible.

“UAVs provide a first-hand full perspective of the site that was previously unrealistic to obtain, as well as help inspectors identify any potential deviations that could, in the future, dent its budget and even pose dangers to workers,” he said.

The CEO also underscored how drones can record areas using photogrammetry, allowing inspectors to view the nuclear site from different angles. He added that the information captured by drones can also be used to build information models and even virtual reality systems to help inspectors truly immerse in the data.

Time-saving alternative 

Bou Rashid also noted that the accurate data-gathering features of drones can cut time wastage by 18.4 per cent.

In the assessment done by Elios 2 at DSRL nuclear site, the time spent for tank inspection was drastically downsized from 1.5 hours to 15 minutes, he explained.

Meanwhile, Ontario Power Generation, dubbed as Canada's largest clean energy project, decided to obtain a fleet of 18 drones in 2018 following their first aerial survey success in 2015. “With that acquisition, they got 100 per cent photo record of the site through drones, which they have referred to many times since. This has saved them time from the traditional methods that involved a construction of a tall crane,” Bou Rashid said.

He believes that through the adoption of parallel technology, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will undoubtedly achieve its fullest potential and goals of providing sustainable electricity source.

“As the UAE once again sets the bar high in modern science through Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, drones will be vital to the leaders’ objective of providing clean energy and commercially competitive option which could make a significant contribution to the UAE’s economy and future energy security, " said the FEDS CEO.

-Ends-

About FEDS: 

FEDS is the first and leading Drone-As-A-Service (DaaS) company in the Middle East and amongst the top 10 drone services companies in the world in the mapping, surveying and inspection services.

In April 2020, FEDS has successfully closed a strategic investment with Aerodyne Group to create the world’s largest drone service company.

Proud to be UAE home-grown, FEDS was established in 2014, and in a short period has become the only company from the Middle East to be named as one of the top drone service providers in the world.

The company has acquired a global ranking of #7 in the ‘top drone service provider- mapping, surveying and inspection category’, and #12 in the ‘top drone service provider worldwide,’ as per the Drone Service Provider Ranking Report 2019 by Drone Industry Insights.

FEDS has pioneered Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) commonly referred to as ‘drones’ in the region, making FEDS synonymous with anything related to drone services. 

The company, founded by Rabih Bou Rashid, is the first DaaS firm in the Middle East that provides highly efficient, and sustainable drone services in the field of mapping, surveying, and inspection for companies in the mega industries—such as oil and gas, sustainable energy and utility, construction and infrastructure.

FEDS is committed to innovative technological advancements that provide cost-effective, timesaving, accurate and safe solutions to improve business decisions and strategic planning.

With highly qualified and certified workforce and channel partners, FEDS stays at the industry forefront by utilising the latest technology applications, data collection and analytic tools powered by AI as well as continuous evolution with the market trends.

FEDS provides solutions like aerial photography, 3D mapping, aerial surveys, inspections, and other aerial services with each solution uniquely customised as per the client’s requirements. 

Currently, the company has its stronghold in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and expanding steadily in the GCC countries and the MENA region. Headquartered in Dubai, FEDS has completed 1000+ projects in the Middle East & Africa region.

In addition, it is the only drone company in the Middle East that has partnered with Zayed University and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture. For more details - www.feds.ae 

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