Seeing them in action, one would think that yesterday’s fiction has become quite real today! In fact, it’s simply the advent of new technologies gradually entering our daily lives.
The surprise comes from the fact that we are not necessarily accustomed to it, which leads us to wonder where the deception is. But the technological innovations are here, indeed, and they will revolutionize many things and, above all, allow others that we had not even imagined until now.
Drones for peaceful use (there are also those that replace aircraft in precise bombings) will be the “eyes” enabling topographic and thermographic surveys in many fields.
An example to better understand: it’s somewhat like when the electric lamp replaced the light of a candle.
It is therefore quite naturally, after months of experimentation, that the Departmental Council is adopting them for its missions in building supervision, infrastructure safety, natural risk prevention, and intervention in crisis situations. And, finally, to film all sorts of cultural, sporting, or artistic events.
This choice meets several criteria: personnel safety, as they can now avoid physical presence in risky situations; availability because the drone is a special object, but still an object within full reach; environmental friendliness because it uses significantly less energy than a helicopter, needless to say; speed and precision through its ultra-precise cameras in action.
Finally, in terms of cost: the flight hour of a drone is 500 euros per day in-house (2500 euros with a provider). And that of a helicopter? 10,000 euros per day.
As they say in these cases: the decision is made!
The only downside: the flight autonomy time which is 15 to 20 minutes per flight.
The Departmental Council will equip itself with this tool from 2016 and it will be used primarily for roads and transportation.
