Taking flight with Erizon Aerial Solutions

Technology Taking flight with Erizon Aerial Solutions

TECHNOLOGY IS PROVIDING COMPANIES WITH MORE AND MORE OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING THEIR WORKFORCE AND CUSTOMERS SAFE. ERIZON DRONE PILOT ALEKSEI TATARNIKOV EXPLAINS HOW DRONES HAVE ALSO ADDED EFFICIENCY TO THAT EQUATION FOR HIS COMPANY.

The uses of drone technology have increased in recent years with many in the mining and resources sector adopting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Companies such as Rio Tinto, BHP, Anglo American, South32 and Alcoa were quick to lead the trend by adopting the technology, mainly to inspect mining equipment, which is an expensive and time-consuming process, requiring a highly-skilled workforce, according to GlobalData in its report ‘Drones in Mining – Thematic Research’.

Mine sites are often located in remote areas with machinery and equipment that is controlled by operators that can be thousands of kilometres away.

In contrast, it is still common for operators to be working onsite despite the need to access hard to reach spaces – making the potential for hazardous activity even higher.

A drone’s versatility is allowing companies to carry out a plethora of activities that humans cannot while maintaining the required level of safety.

According to dust suppression and environmental expert Erizon, it is this focus on safety that led the company to begin looking at the possibilities of drone technology to develop its Erizon Aerial Solutions which includes aerial spraying, seeding and dust suppression.

“With a focus on safety and innovation at the heart of our company, we’re committed to finding new and improved ways to keep our staff and customers safe while on site,” Erizon marketing manager Aleksei Tatarnikov tells Safe To Work.

“Drones achieve ease of access unmatched by personnel, with the ability to get into unstable, hazardous, and hostile areas onsite, minimising and often eliminating many safety risks, while providing increased accuracy with reporting.

Vision Zero is part of Erizon’s mission to ensure its team is protected at all times.

Aerial spraying can treat an area up to 40 times faster than manual spraying.

“The rapid advancement of drone automation has provided the ability for us to invest in the latest technology to cooperate with the framework of our safety operations policy ‘Vision Zero’.”

Vision Zero is part of Erizon’s mission to ensure that its team, including clients, visitors, and contractors, are protected at all times.

Combined with mapping, multirotor drone sprayers can be utilised to target specific areas.

The combination of speed and power means that areas can be treated up to 40 times faster than manual spraying operations.

Intelligent flight control allows the drone to scan the area below, providing real-time data, and adjust to keep a constant and accurate height above the vegetation.

Each spray nozzle is placed directly below a motor, ensuring that the downward airflow generated by the octocopters propellers accelerates the spray, increasing its reach.

Fitted with Artificial Intelligence, the drone records its current position, remembering its past coordinates so that flight can easily be resumed after refilling or battery changes. That makes multi-hour or even multi-day drone missions possible.

AERIAL SPRAYING

Targeting specific areas where treatment of fertiliser and soil ameliorants is crucial to the plants’ health. Aerial spraying can treat an area up to 40 times faster than manual spraying operations, reducing disease and increasing efficiency.

For projects that require extended flight times, hybrid drones that utilise an onboard generator can be deployed.

“Latest drone technology allows us to apply fertiliser, trace elements and soil probiotics 4-8 weeks after seeding application to ensure ongoing project success,” Tatarnikov says.

AERIAL SEEDING

According to Erizon, drone seeding is an extremely cost-effective solution for aerial seeding.

“The manoeuvrability of the UAV allows our pilot to service isolated or difficult access areas and sites which require rehabilitation and/or stabilisation,” Tatarnikov says.

“Combined with Aerial Survey, our drones can be utilised to service broadacre or specific areas where treatment is necessary.”

As part of the company’s Aerial Survey service, a 3D mapping is undertaken to create a virtual copy of the area with a high degree of detail. Combined with a Real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) station running, drone surveying can achieve the same 1.5cm level of accuracy that a ground station can.

Monitoring drones fitted with the latest scanning and imaging technology and sensors make sure the project is going as planned.

AERIAL DUST SUPPRESSION

Consistently achieving significantly better dust control results, Erizon’s nontoxic dust control and soil stabilisation materials have been engineered and rigorously tested in some of the harshest conditions Australia wide.

Tatarnikov says with unmatched efficiency, drone application of dust suppression is extremely suited for remote sites with steep or rugged terrain, limited vehicle access and where safety concerns are paramount.

“For large scale dust suppression projects, hybrid or tethered drone options can be considered, to increase both flying time and access to our product,” Tatarnikov says.

Mine site rehabilitation refers to the remediation of the negative effects sustained by the site and its surrounding environment during mining operations.

It is often a legal requirement that mine sites must integrate environmental and social considerations throughout all phases of production.

Revegetating with healthy, sustainable plant species that support existing ecosystems is the most efficient and effective way to meet remediation requirements.

Erizon’s approach to mine site rehabilitation takes into consideration the climate, the size of the site, the soil or rock condition and the chemical properties to prepare an appropriate remediation plan aimed at erosion control, dust suppression and successful revegetation of even the most damaged and degraded soils.

“With a comprehensive range of drone solutions available, we can provide options for your site, and back it up with our ‘Supply, Apply, Guarantee’ outcome,” Tatarnikov says.

“By not relying on third-party operators or products, we can ensure the best results every time.”