Scaling Drone Inspections for Energy, Utilities, and Gas | Advexure

Drone technology is rapidly reshaping how utility and energy companies conduct infrastructure inspections—transforming a traditionally time-consuming, costly, and hazardous process into one that is safer, faster, and more efficient. Whether inspecting expansive solar farms, towering wind turbines, extensive power lines, or critical oil and gas infrastructure, drones have proven invaluable in reducing human risk and improving inspection accuracy.

While many organizations have successfully launched pilot drone programs, scaling these efforts to cover tens, hundreds, or even thousands of sites remains a challenge.

Decision-makers, drone program managers, and inspection professionals face key questions:

How do we select the right drone platforms tailored to specific inspection tasks, such as detailed turbine blade checks or long-distance pipeline patrols?
How can we design repeatable and standardized workflows—from flight planning to data processing—that ensure consistent results across multiple sites?
Which automation tools, like drone-in-a-box systems and AI-driven analytics, can significantly boost operational efficiency?
What strategies can we implement to ensure compliance, data security, and regulatory alignment, particularly when sensitive infrastructure data is involved?
How do we effectively scale drone programs within our organizations, including considerations around training internal teams versus outsourcing to specialized providers, managing beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights, and integrating drone data seamlessly into existing asset management systems?

This comprehensive guide addresses these crucial considerations, providing utility and energy professionals a clear roadmap to strategically deploy, expand, and sustain drone inspection operations.

Introduction
The Value of Drone Inspections in Energy and Utility Sectors
Selecting the Right Drone Platforms for Different Inspection Use Cases
Designing Scalable and Repeatable Drone Inspection Workflows
Leveraging Automation Tools and Technologies for Scale
Addressing Data Security and Compliance Concerns
Organizational Scale-Up Strategies
References & Further Reading

The Value of Drone Inspections in Energy and Utility Sectors

A DJI Matrice 350 RTK Drone Conducting inspections in a electrical substation.jpg

Drones are rapidly proving their value across the energy and utilities sectors by fundamentally reshaping traditional infrastructure inspection processes. By significantly enhancing safety, reducing costs, and increasing data accuracy, drone technology has emerged as a strategic asset for energy providers seeking more efficient and reliable operations.

Enhancing Safety and Reducing Risks

One of the most immediate benefits of drones in energy inspections is their ability to dramatically reduce human exposure to hazardous tasks. Historically, inspecting infrastructure like transmission towers, wind turbine blades, refinery tanks, or flare stacks has involved significant physical risks—such as climbing to dangerous heights or entering confined spaces.

Drone inspections mitigate these hazards by removing personnel from direct harm. For instance, at Shell’s Scotford refinery, drones have successfully replaced traditional inspections that involved hoisting inspectors on cranes to visually assess structures as high as 90 meters. These drone operations took roughly one hour and completely eliminated the safety risks traditionally faced by workers performing manual inspections. Shell’s experience underscores a critical industry takeaway: drones don’t just improve safety—they transform it.

Cost Savings and Efficiency Gains

Beyond safety, drones provide tangible economic benefits. Energy companies leveraging drone inspections regularly report substantial reductions in both operational expenses and downtime. Consider Shell’s experience again—the drone-based inspection of refinery stacks not only enhanced safety but also reduced inspection costs by tens of thousands of dollars per event, compared to manual inspection methods involving cranes and scaffolding.

The utility sector echoes these savings. Traditional inspections involving trucks, helicopters, or extensive scaffolding setups are costly and resource-intensive. Drones, however, drastically cut these costs by completing inspections in a fraction of the time. For example, inspecting power lines with drones allows utility teams to survey significantly more structures per day than traditional methods, acting as a “workforce multiplier” and maximizing the productivity of existing inspection crews.

These efficiency gains directly translate into reduced customer rates and more stable operating budgets. For utilities striving to meet rising maintenance demands without corresponding increases in staff or budgets, drones offer a sustainable path forward.

Improved Data Quality & Preventive Maintenance

The value of drone inspections extends to improved data quality, facilitating proactive and predictive maintenance strategies. Equipped with advanced imaging sensors—including high-resolution cameras, thermal infrared sensors, and LiDAR scanners—drones deliver detailed visual data that traditional inspection methods typically cannot match.

This superior data quality enables early detection of subtle yet critical issues such as corrosion, microfractures, equipment overheating, or structural deterioration. Early detection is invaluable, allowing maintenance teams to address potential problems before they escalate into costly failures or outages.

A notable example is Shell’s use of drones to rapidly assess refinery damage following Hurricane Harvey, dramatically accelerating the restoration of safe operations. By swiftly identifying critical issues in inaccessible areas, drones allowed Shell’s maintenance teams to address problems immediately, significantly reducing operational downtime.

Regulatory and Environmental Benefits

In addition to operational and financial advantages, drone inspections support regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship. Regular drone surveys enable consistent documentation of regulatory inspections, such as monitoring flare stack emissions, inspecting pipeline rights-of-way for vegetation encroachment, or detecting early signs of leakage or spills.

By spotting issues early, drones play a critical role in preventing environmental incidents. Catching minor leaks or overheating equipment quickly prevents larger incidents, protecting the surrounding environment from potentially severe consequences. Additionally, drone inspections substantially reduce the carbon footprint of infrastructure management operations, eliminating many helicopter flights and vehicle trips traditionally required to conduct comprehensive inspections.

Selecting the Right Drone Platforms for Different Inspection Use Cases

Freefly Astro inspecting power lines in a forested area.jpg

Choosing the appropriate drone platform is essential for successfully scaling your inspection operations. In the energy and utility sectors, where diverse assets require specialized approaches, understanding the strengths and trade-offs of different drone types ensures optimal performance and efficiency.

Below, we explore the two main drone categories—multirotor and fixed-wing—and how each aligns with specific inspection requirements. We’ll also briefly cover emerging hybrid platforms and payload considerations, providing practical guidance to select the right drone for each mission.

Multirotor Drones (Quadcopters)

Multirotor drones, such as quadcopters, are widely recognized for their vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability, high maneuverability, and ability to hover precisely in place. These features make multirotors ideal for detailed, close-range inspections of complex structures.

Key Advantages:

Precision Hovering: Enables detailed visual assessments, particularly effective for inspecting turbine blades, flare stacks, substations, or refinery equipment from multiple angles.
Payload Flexibility: Multirotors generally support heavier payloads, including high-resolution RGB cameras, thermal imagers, and LiDAR units, making them versatile inspection tools.
Operational Simplicity: Multirotors are relatively easy to operate, reducing training time and simplifying deployment across inspection teams.

Typical Use Cases:

Wind Turbine Inspections: Detailed examination of blades and nacelles for cracks, erosion, or lightning damage.
Tank and Stack Inspections: Up-close visual inspections without scaffolding, reducing human exposure to hazardous conditions.
Substation and Solar Farm Checks: Thermal imaging for detecting hotspots, loose connections, and malfunctioning solar panels.
Confined Space Inspections: Specialized collision-tolerant multirotors can safely navigate indoor spaces such as boilers, chimneys, or storage tanks.

Trade-offs to Consider:

Multirotors have shorter flight times (typically 20-40 minutes per battery) and limited range compared to fixed-wing drones. For larger facilities or linear infrastructure, multiple flights and battery swaps may be necessary.

Fixed-Wing Drones

Fixed-wing drones, resembling small airplanes, offer significant advantages for inspection tasks requiring coverage of large distances or expansive areas. Their aerodynamic efficiency allows them to fly longer distances and remain airborne significantly longer than multirotors.

Key Advantages:

Extended Flight Endurance: Capable of flying for one to two hours or more on a single battery, making them ideal for large-area or linear inspections.
Efficient Area Coverage: Suitable for surveying extensive pipelines, transmission lines, or vast solar and wind farms efficiently.
Weather Tolerance: Generally better equipped to handle stronger winds and inclement weather conditions, making them reliable in exposed or rural environments.

Typical Use Cases:

Pipeline and Transmission Line Patrols: Efficiently inspecting extensive linear assets, covering tens or even hundreds of miles per flight.
Solar and Wind Farm Surveys: Providing a rapid overview of asset conditions across expansive areas.
Dam and Watershed Monitoring: Efficiently capturing broad environmental and structural data around dams or reservoirs.

Trade-offs to Consider:

Unlike multirotors, fixed-wing drones cannot hover, requiring continuous forward motion. They also need designated takeoff and landing areas (runway, catapult launcher, or open space). Payload capacity is generally lower, limiting heavier sensors or complex payload setups.

Hybrid VTOL and Specialized Platforms

Hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones combine fixed-wing and multirotor features, providing both hovering capability and long-distance flight. These platforms can be particularly advantageous for inspections in extremely remote or rugged locations where space for takeoff and landing is constrained.

Additionally, tethered drones offer long-duration continuous flights for stationary surveillance, while single-rotor helicopter-style drones can manage heavy payloads and specialized sensors. However, these platforms often involve greater operational complexity and cost.

Matching Drone Platforms to Your Specific Inspection Needs

In practice, many utility and energy companies deploy a combination of drone types to meet diverse inspection requirements. For example, an organization might use fixed-wing drones for routine large-area patrols and multirotor drones for detailed follow-up inspections of specific sites identified as potential problem areas.

The key to scalability is deploying the appropriate drone platform to each task and integrating multiple drone types into a cohesive, standardized inspection program.

Sensor and Payload Considerations

Equally critical as drone selection is choosing the correct payload. Drones commonly carry a variety of sensors, including:

High-resolution RGB cameras: Essential for detailed visual inspections, enabling identification of structural issues, corrosion, or damage.
Optical zoom cameras: Allow close inspection from safe distances, minimizing risk in hazardous environments.
Thermal infrared cameras: Detect heat anomalies, such as overheating equipment, electrical issues, or panel malfunctions.
LiDAR scanners: Generate precise 3D models useful for evaluating structural integrity, line sagging, and terrain mapping.

Selecting a drone platform with the payload capability that aligns with your specific inspection objectives ensures accurate and reliable data capture. Additionally, for organizations operating within U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, compliance with NDAA regulations, ensuring no prohibited foreign components, may be necessary. Many modern enterprise drones are now available in NDAA-compliant configurations, meeting rigorous supply-chain security requirements.

Designing Scalable and Repeatable Drone Inspection Workflows

Deploying drones effectively at scale requires more than just selecting the right hardware—it demands well-structured, repeatable workflows that ensure consistent results across numerous inspections and multiple teams. Below, we outline best practices for creating standardized, efficient workflows that help organizations reliably expand their drone operations while maintaining high-quality results.

Standardized Flight Planning

The first step in establishing a scalable drone inspection workflow is creating standardized flight plans. Just as manual inspections rely on standardized checklists, drone inspections should follow predefined mission routes designed specifically for each type of asset. Whether inspecting wind turbine blades, transmission lines, or substations, clearly defined flight paths help ensure all critical angles and necessary data are consistently captured.

For example, a wind farm operator might develop a turbine-specific flight pattern involving a careful orbit around each blade and nacelle at precise altitudes and distances. Similarly, utilities might design structured inspection patterns for transmission towers, ensuring comprehensive coverage from multiple viewpoints. Advanced flight-planning software—like DroneDeploy, DJI Pilot 2, or Drone Harmony—allows companies to create these reusable flight plans, significantly reducing mission variability and increasing data consistency across inspections.

A real-world illustration: The New York Power Authority (NYPA) created standard flight plans for substations to ensure drone pilots consistently capture specific equipment angles during inspections, greatly improving comparative analyses over time.

Automated or Assisted Mission Execution

Scaling drone operations also involves leveraging automation to ensure that every inspection mission adheres precisely to the standardized plan. Modern drone systems often support GPS waypoint navigation, terrain-following capabilities, and automated “point of interest” orbits. Utilizing these features can drastically reduce the likelihood of pilot error and streamline operational consistency.

Automation also enables organizations to deploy less experienced pilots, as mission-critical flight operations can be executed with minimal manual intervention. In advanced deployments, drone operators simply select pre-scripted missions from a user-friendly interface, ensuring every flight yields reliably similar data quality, regardless of individual pilot experience.

Data Capture Best Practices

Effective workflow standardization extends to data capture itself. Clear guidelines must be established to guarantee consistent data quality across all missions. Examples of such guidelines might include:

Specifying minimum image resolution and overlap requirements for mapping and photogrammetry tasks (e.g., 75% forward overlap, 65% side overlap).
Defining optimal conditions for thermal inspections (time of day, ambient temperature) to maximize thermal contrast.
Creating pilot checklists detailing critical angles or essential close-ups needed for comprehensive asset evaluation (e.g., insulators on power poles, blade root junctions on turbines, specific valves and fittings at refinery facilities).

Introducing checklists—either physical or integrated within flight apps—helps pilots systematically confirm essential steps, camera settings, and data completeness prior to leaving inspection sites. Some organizations even adopt a “buddy system” or remote monitoring approach, where another team member verifies data quality live during flights, reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming re-flights.

Centralized Data Processing Pipelines

Scalability inevitably leads to significant data volumes, necessitating efficient and automated data processing pipelines. Whether using cloud-based solutions or on-premises storage, developing standardized data handling procedures is critical. Typical pipeline steps might include:

Immediate transfer or upload of raw drone imagery and sensor data after missions.
Automated image stitching, generating orthomosaic maps or detailed 3D asset models.
Applying artificial intelligence (AI) analytics to rapidly identify potential issues within captured data.
Seamlessly integrating processed results with asset management systems for action and follow-up.

Automated, end-to-end platforms—such as DroneDeploy, Pix4D, or FlytBase—can significantly streamline these processes, ensuring minimal manual intervention and consistent, timely outputs.

Inspection Data Review and Quality Assurance (QA)

While automation greatly enhances efficiency, human expertise remains critical for validating inspection data, particularly during the early stages of scaling drone programs. Establishing clear QA routines ensures that drone-captured imagery and data meet required standards for clarity, completeness, and relevance.

Following each mission, experienced engineers or analysts review processed data, confirming proper coverage of critical components and flagging any issues or anomalies. If a data quality concern arises—such as a blurry image or missing asset viewpoint—the workflow should include rapid corrective actions, like immediate re-flights or targeted re-captures. As operations mature and confidence in automated data analytics increases, QA reviews typically shift toward exception handling, focusing primarily on anomalies or flagged issues rather than comprehensive manual checks.

Workflow Documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Comprehensive documentation is fundamental for successful scaling. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should clearly outline every step within the inspection workflow—from mission planning and drone preparation to data processing, QA review, and reporting. Detailed SOPs support effective training, enable consistent execution regardless of team changes, and demonstrate to regulatory agencies that your drone operations are systematic, safe, and compliant.

Example: Phased Implementation for Scalability

Pampa Energía, a leading Argentine power provider, exemplifies phased drone implementation for scalability. Initially conducting proof-of-concept tests, Pampa evaluated various drone docks, software, and batteries. Following rigorous field testing to verify reliability, they standardized drone operations around defined flight paths covering their thermal power plant’s critical equipment.

Pampa’s systematic approach allowed them to transition from manual, ad-hoc drone flights to repeatable, automated workflows. The result: drones now perform daily automated inspections by day and security patrols at night, maximizing operational efficiency, coverage, and value from their drone-in-a-box system.

Leveraging Automation Tools and Technologies for Scale

A DJI Dock 3 in a fixed deployment scenario at a solar park

Scaling drone inspection workflows beyond small-scale pilot programs requires effective use of automation technologies that minimize manual intervention. Two key categories of automation—drone-in-a-box systems and AI-based data analysis—are proving particularly transformative in enabling large-scale, efficient, and consistent inspection programs across the energy and utility sectors.

Drone-in-a-Box Systems for 24/7 Inspections

Drone-in-a-box (DiaB) systems provide self-contained, autonomous solutions that enable drones to perform inspection missions remotely, without human pilots physically on site. These solutions typically include weatherproof drone docking stations that automate drone launching, landing, charging, and data uploading—ideal for scheduled inspections or on-demand missions.

Key Benefits of Drone-in-a-Box Solutions:

Continuous Operations: DiaB systems enable routine inspections at regular intervals (daily, weekly, or even hourly), ensuring consistent and proactive monitoring of critical infrastructure.
Reduced Human Risk: Autonomous drone deployments remove inspectors from hazardous environments and minimize human exposure to dangerous site conditions.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Automating drone flights eliminates repetitive manual procedures, allowing inspection teams to focus on data analysis and issue resolution rather than routine drone management.

Industry Options:

Several commercially available drone-in-a-box solutions—such as DJI Dock 3, Counterdrone OmniDock—offer varying features and capabilities. When evaluating DiaB systems, critical considerations include drone compatibility, operational range, weatherproofing, connectivity, and integration with existing asset-management software.

Regulatory Considerations:

Full-scale autonomous drone operations often require regulatory approvals for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) or automated operations, particularly within critical infrastructure sites. Companies like Shell have successfully secured regulatory permissions by demonstrating robust safety measures, including remote pilot oversight, radar telemetry tracking, and controlled operating environments.

Maintenance and Oversight:

Despite the autonomous nature of drone-in-a-box solutions, periodic maintenance and remote operational oversight remain necessary. Companies typically implement regular checkups, firmware updates, sensor calibration, and propeller replacements, often managed remotely by central operation centers. Alert systems to monitor drone health, weather conditions, and mission status further ensure reliability and safe operations.

AI-Based Data Analysis and Issue Detection

As drone inspection programs expand, the sheer volume of captured imagery and sensor data can rapidly overwhelm human analysis capabilities. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI)—particularly computer vision and machine learning algorithms—enables automated, accurate, and rapid anomaly detection from large datasets.

Why Use AI for Drone Inspections?

AI tools greatly accelerate issue identification within inspection imagery, efficiently pinpointing anomalies such as corrosion, structural cracks, thermal hotspots, or vegetation encroachment. By quickly filtering large image datasets, AI systems drastically reduce the time required for human review, allowing inspection teams to prioritize critical maintenance tasks.

Types of AI Tools and Use Cases:

Thermal Analysis: Automatically identifies hotspots indicative of electrical faults, solar panel malfunctions, or pipeline leaks.
Corrosion and Crack Detection: AI can systematically detect subtle structural defects in metal components, concrete surfaces, and wind turbine blades.
Vegetation Management: AI tools identify and flag vegetation encroachment near power lines or pipelines, significantly improving compliance monitoring.
Predictive Analytics: Advanced machine learning algorithms compare current imagery against historical data, proactively highlighting condition changes or predictive failure indicators.

In practice, large utilities already leverage AI extensively. For example, some wind farm operators routinely use AI to process drone imagery, quickly identifying turbine blade damage and generating actionable inspection reports. Similarly, transmission line operators deploy AI systems to automatically detect conductor issues, broken insulators, or vegetation hazards, categorizing defects by severity for rapid prioritization.

Human Oversight and Continuous Improvement:

While AI significantly improves efficiency, human experts remain essential for verifying and refining AI-detected findings. Typically, inspection teams initially review AI results to confirm accuracy and address false positives, continuously retraining AI models to enhance performance. Over time, human reviewers increasingly focus only on exceptional cases flagged by AI systems.

Implementation Considerations:

Successful AI deployment depends on consistent, standardized data collection—reinforcing the importance of uniform flight planning and standardized inspection workflows. Organizations must also carefully evaluate AI data handling processes, ensuring compliance with data security regulations, especially when utilizing cloud-based analysis platforms. Some companies opt for localized edge-computing solutions or specialized service providers that guarantee secure data residency.

Addressing Data Security and Compliance Concerns

As drone inspection programs scale, data security and regulatory compliance become increasingly significant considerations for utilities and critical infrastructure organizations. Infrastructure inspections generate sensitive imagery and sensor data—information that, if mishandled, could pose serious security, operational, or regulatory risks. Establishing robust data security measures and ensuring regulatory compliance are therefore essential components of any large-scale drone program.

Below, we address key concerns around data security, particularly regarding drones manufactured overseas, as well as broader considerations around data handling practices and regulatory compliance.

Understanding Data Security Concerns in Drone Operations

A significant source of concern among utilities and critical infrastructure operators has been the use of drones manufactured in foreign countries—particularly China. Critics have raised questions about potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities, suggesting that drones or their associated software could theoretically transmit sensitive data back to foreign governments.

However, it’s important to emphasize clearly and transparently: despite these concerns, there is currently no publicly available evidence that definitively proves drones manufactured in China have been exploited for data security breaches or unauthorized data sharing with foreign entities. While caution and vigilance are justified—particularly for critical infrastructure organizations responsible for sensitive assets—it is equally important to base decisions on empirical evidence rather than solely hypothetical risks.

NDAA Compliance and Domestic Drone Options

Given ongoing geopolitical sensitivities and policy developments—such as the United States’ National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—many utilities, energy companies, and critical infrastructure operators have proactively adopted drone platforms compliant with NDAA guidelines. The NDAA compliance framework specifies that drone hardware and software meet rigorous supply-chain standards to mitigate potential cybersecurity concerns. Importantly, NDAA compliance does not automatically imply higher performance, safety, or data security—rather, it reflects adherence to specific governmental procurement guidelines intended to reduce perceived supply-chain vulnerabilities.

In practice, many utility and critical infrastructure operators now evaluate drone solutions based on NDAA compliance as a precautionary measure, even if definitive evidence of foreign security risks remains unproven. The decision to adopt NDAA-compliant or domestically produced drones ultimately depends on organizational policies, risk assessments, and specific regulatory requirements.

Data Encryption and Secure Storage Practices

Regardless of drone manufacturing origin, all drone programs should prioritize robust data encryption and secure data handling practices. Key considerations include:

End-to-End Encryption: Ensure that drone imagery, sensor data, and telemetry signals are encrypted both in-flight and during data transfers. Advanced drone platforms and software typically support industry-standard AES encryption or equivalent, reducing interception risks.
Local or Secure Cloud Storage: Select storage solutions aligned with industry best practices for cybersecurity. Some critical infrastructure operators prefer on-premises servers or secure cloud solutions with stringent security certifications to maintain control over sensitive data.
Access Control and Permissions Management: Restrict data access using role-based permissions, ensuring that sensitive inspection data is accessible only to authorized personnel. Implement comprehensive audit trails to monitor data access, modifications, and transfers.

Regulatory Compliance and Data Sovereignty

Beyond cybersecurity considerations, organizations must comply with broader data sovereignty regulations—particularly important for energy and utility operators managing critical national infrastructure. Data sovereignty refers to ensuring sensitive information is stored and processed within approved geographic locations, meeting local regulatory mandates or internal compliance policies.

In many jurisdictions, critical infrastructure companies must ensure drone-captured data remains strictly within national borders or secured jurisdictions. Working with drone software providers and data-storage solutions that explicitly offer data residency guarantees helps organizations comply with these requirements, avoiding potential regulatory penalties.

Transparency and Clear Communication

Lastly, clearly communicating data security practices and compliance measures to stakeholders—including management teams, regulators, and customers—is essential for building trust and maintaining operational legitimacy. Transparent communication about how drone inspection data is captured, stored, analyzed, and protected helps address potential concerns proactively and demonstrates organizational commitment to cybersecurity and responsible drone operations.

✔️ Use NDAA-compliant or approved hardware

✔️ Enable AES-256 encryption for data links

✔️ Activate ‘local data mode’ or offline mode when appropriate

✔️ Store data on encrypted media; enforce access controls on cloud platforms

✔️ Keep firmware updated for security patches

Organizational Scale-Up Strategies

Successfully scaling drone inspection programs involves more than technological considerations—it also requires thoughtful organizational strategies. Utility and energy companies must determine whether to develop in-house drone teams, partner with external service providers, or adopt a hybrid model. Additionally, they must address workforce training, regulatory compliance, beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) considerations, and integration with existing asset management processes.

Below, we outline strategic organizational decisions companies should consider when scaling their drone inspection operations, informed by industry best practices and real-world examples.

In-House Teams vs. Drone Service Providers

One of the first decisions energy and utility organizations face when scaling drone operations is determining whether to build internal drone capabilities or contract external drone service providers. Each approach has distinct advantages:

In-House Drone Teams:

Control and Flexibility: Organizations can directly manage drone operations, scheduling, and workflows, adapting quickly to changing inspection needs.
Institutional Knowledge: Internal teams develop specialized knowledge of company-specific infrastructure, maintenance practices, and operational requirements, improving inspection accuracy and efficiency over time.
Long-Term Cost Efficiency: For frequent and routine inspection needs, in-house teams can become more cost-effective, especially as operations scale.

For example, Florida Power & Light (FPL) maintains an internal drone program with dedicated staff for inspecting transmission lines, solar facilities, and storm-damaged infrastructure. This strategy ensures rapid response and streamlined asset management, especially during hurricane recovery efforts.

External Drone Service Providers:

Immediate Expertise: External providers offer ready-to-deploy, certified pilots and analysts, accelerating initial inspection efforts without extensive internal training.
Reduced Upfront Investment: Companies avoid significant capital expenditures for drones, sensors, software, and training by contracting drone services as operational expenses.
Regulatory Simplification: Experienced drone providers often manage regulatory compliance complexities, such as FAA waivers or BVLOS approvals, reducing the administrative burden on utility organizations.

Many utilities choose external service providers for specialized inspection tasks—such as one-time or seasonal assessments—while simultaneously building internal capabilities for routine or frequent inspection needs.

Hybrid Approaches:

A hybrid model—maintaining core internal drone expertise while leveraging external partners for specialized missions or overflow capacity—is increasingly popular. This balanced approach allows organizations to optimize resource allocation and flexibility.

For example, Southern Company in the United States employs a hybrid drone inspection approach, using internal teams for routine transmission and substation inspections while partnering with external service providers for specialized LiDAR surveys, emergency storm assessments, and seasonal vegetation management.

Workforce Training and Certification

Scaling drone operations successfully requires ongoing workforce training and certification. Whether using internal teams or external providers, consistent training ensures operational safety, regulatory compliance, and high-quality inspections. Essential training components typically include:

Pilot Certification: Ensuring drone pilots hold the appropriate certifications (e.g., FAA Part 107 licenses in the U.S.) and meet any additional organizational safety standards.
Mission-Specific Training: Detailed instruction on standardized inspection workflows, sensor usage, flight planning, data handling, and quality assurance practices.
Continuous Education: Regularly updated training programs to incorporate emerging drone technologies, updated regulatory guidelines, and evolving safety protocols.

Regulatory Compliance and Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS)

Regulatory compliance significantly influences drone program scalability, especially regarding BVLOS operations critical for large-scale infrastructure inspections. Organizations planning extensive drone operations must proactively engage with regulatory agencies—such as the FAA in the U.S.—to secure necessary approvals and waivers.

Successful BVLOS approvals often require:

Comprehensive operational risk assessments
Robust safety management systems (SMS)
Demonstrable pilot training and proficiency standards
Advanced drone safety and detect-and-avoid capabilities

Dominion Energy, for example, secured one of the first FAA approvals for routine BVLOS operations, enabling regular inspections of transmission lines and solar facilities without pilot line-of-sight restrictions. By proactively addressing regulatory requirements, Dominion significantly expanded their operational inspection reach and efficiency.

Integration with Asset Management Systems

Integrating drone-captured data seamlessly into existing asset management systems is crucial for maximizing the value of drone inspections at scale. Effective integration involves:

Data Interoperability: Ensuring drone data formats (images, reports, GIS data) align with existing maintenance, GIS, and enterprise asset management (EAM) systems.
Automated Workflows: Directly connecting drone analytics and anomaly detection to automated work-order generation, prioritization, and asset-tracking systems.
Historical Data Archiving: Establishing clear processes for storing drone inspection data, enabling effective predictive maintenance and condition-based asset management practices.

Arizona Public Service (APS) exemplifies this practice by directly integrating drone inspection data into their enterprise asset management platform. As a result, drone-captured anomalies trigger automated maintenance workflows, streamlining repairs, reducing response times, and enhancing operational reliability.

Change Management and Internal Communication

Finally, successful drone program scaling requires robust internal communication and thoughtful change management strategies. Clearly articulating drone technology benefits, addressing workforce concerns about automation, and transparently communicating operational impacts are essential steps for securing internal buy-in.

Strategies for effective change management include:

Internal Stakeholder Engagement: Regularly briefing key stakeholders—from executives to frontline workers—on drone program objectives, outcomes, and benefits.
Transparent Communication: Clearly communicating how drones enhance—not replace—existing workflows, emphasizing improved worker safety, better data accuracy, and more efficient maintenance practices.
Collaborative Implementation: Involving field personnel early in drone adoption ensures workflow compatibility, user-friendly tools, and practical integration with existing practices.

Powering the Future of Inspections: Scaling Smarter, Safer, and More Sustainable Operations

Autel EVO Max 4T flying near wind turbines

The path toward scalable, efficient drone inspection workflows represents a transformative leap forward for utilities, energy providers, and critical infrastructure operators. As we’ve explored, drones provide unprecedented opportunities to enhance worker safety, reduce costs, and improve the reliability of essential infrastructure. Yet successfully scaling these drone operations demands strategic choices—from selecting the right drone platforms and sensors, to designing standardized, repeatable workflows supported by automation technologies and AI-driven data analysis.

As you move forward, it’s crucial to strike a thoughtful balance: embrace innovative drone technologies and automated workflows while maintaining vigilant data security practices, regulatory compliance, and effective organizational management. With careful planning and strategic execution, drone inspections can evolve beyond small pilot projects into robust programs that significantly strengthen asset maintenance, safety outcomes, and environmental stewardship.

Leading organizations—from power utilities like Florida Power & Light and Dominion Energy to global energy companies such as Shell—have already demonstrated the tremendous value drone inspections deliver. By building scalable inspection programs that integrate drones seamlessly into routine operations, these industry leaders have enhanced worker safety, proactively maintained assets, reduced operational costs, and minimized environmental impacts.

Your opportunity to achieve these benefits—and lead the next era of intelligent infrastructure management—is clearer than ever. By applying the principles outlined in this guide, your organization can scale drone inspections effectively, safely, and confidently, paving the way for a smarter, safer, and more sustainable operational future.