Land reclamation is the act of bringing disturbed land back to an original or much-improved state. Today, Canada’s energy industry remains largely invested in land reclamation, with leaders like Canadian Natural Resources Limited reported to have reclaimed 8 193 hectares; Syncrude said over 4800 hectares and Suncor at 2621 hectares in 2019 alone with increasing numbers expected for 2022 and beyond.
Like anything else, most companies are looking for ways to improve their methods and technologies as public scrutiny, volatile markets, and Government-enforced environmental mandates continue to add pressure on operators.
As a result, several energy companies have turned to the efficiency and effectiveness of drones for their reclamation needs.
Advantages of Drones in Land Reclamation
A successful land reclamation project is a must have for environmentally compliant and socially responsible energy companies, and aerial drone solutions have proven to be a significant catalyst.
A list of their immense advantages includes:
Drone Mapping
It’s impossible to do land reclamation without mapping and surveys. Drone has high-end sensors and LiDAR capable of gathering data and producing quality subsurface images required to form the bedrock of any land reclamation project.
Landfilling and Revegetation
With aerial drone solutions, it is easy to refill and replant with high precision and accuracy. Drones work on measured grids, can fill to specified depth, and are ideal tools for those seeking pattern vegetation; vegetation grown in a designed pattern and structure.
Water and Soil Quality Assessment
Drones can easily extract soil samples at any location of the land for further assessment.
In the same capacity, drones can gather accurate information on groundwater formations and other characteristics of the area, including using its mapping tools to identify any form of intrusion or pollution.
Improved Safety
The use of drones has been proven to reduce accidents and injuries traditionally connected to involvement and interaction with heavy duty equipment and/or vehicles. By utilizing remote piloted aerial drones, the need for heavy equipment is removed, as are the dangers connected to activity on-site.
Improved Turnaround Time
Drones reduce the project timeline by covering large areas in little time and perform assigned actions swiftly. As well, their setup, teardown, delivery and maintenance needs are minimal, which helps projects save significant time in those areas.
Ability to Monitor Project Progress
Drones are ideal for surveillance due to their ability to supply a ton of real time data. When drones are used for land reclamation projects, it is easy for energy companies to track, adjust and report on progress.
Cost-Effectiveness
The aerial drone solution eliminates the need to have so much equipment and workers on the field which cuts down the expenses for human labor and reduces the overall cost of the project.
Drones Drift and Legalization
The application of aerial drone solutions for land reclamation has been quite restricted in Canada due to unfounded fear surrounding drift. These fears are unfounded and have been repeatedly debunked across multiple tests and are completely legal in several countries, including the USA.
As is often the case when it comes to knee-jerk legislation, often that which is considered a threat, is uniquely capable of eliminating the threat in question rather than contributing to it.
Drones used for high profile operation are built to overcome drift. This includes even weight distribution, proper calibration, up to date software, and quality hardware.
As well, professionals handle the drones and are well-trained to pilot them against the factors that lead to drift. The fact is that drones bring accuracy and precision that is needed for these types of projects, and should be heralded for their safety and effectiveness, rather than stifled out of ignorance and politics.
Interested in what drones can do for your land reclamation needs? Contact Strongfield today for a wide range of traditional and evolved solutions.