Revolutionary Drone Technology is Transforming Suffolk County’s Underground Infrastructure Inspection
Suffolk County’s aging sewer infrastructure faces unprecedented challenges, but cutting-edge drone technology is revolutionizing how maintenance professionals inspect and maintain these critical underground systems. As Suffolk’s water quality reaches a tipping point due to excessive contaminants—particularly nitrogen generated from approximately 365,000 residential onsite sewage disposal systems, innovative aerial inspection methods are providing safer, more efficient solutions for system maintenance.
The Growing Infrastructure Challenge
The Suffolk County Wastewater Plan estimated that there are 365,000 residential onsite sewage disposal systems installed in Suffolk County, of which 252,530 are estimated to consist of cesspools only. This massive infrastructure network requires regular inspection and maintenance to prevent costly failures and environmental contamination. The lack of countywide wastewater infrastructure has been widely recognized as a significant obstacle to sustainable economic growth, contributing to stagnation and constrained property values in many downtown business districts.
Traditional sewer inspection methods have significant limitations and safety concerns. This work can require inspectors to physically enter large sewer pipes, crawling or swimming through them while looking for potential defects. As part of their work, sewer inspectors will sometimes have to don scuba gear and PPE designed to protect them from raw sewage and swim through large sewer pipes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a total of 1,030 people died in the US between 2011 to 2018 due to occupational injuries involving confined spaces.
How Drone Technology is Revolutionizing Sewer Inspections
Indoor drone provider Flyability has formed a partnership with sewer inspection software provider WinCan in order to make sewer inspections safer, quicker, and more cost effective. Wastewater inspection professionals are increasingly employing Flyability’s Elios 2 drone to collect visual data inside sewer pipes. These specialized indoor drones offer remarkable capabilities that traditional inspection methods cannot match.
Fly the drone inside sewer systems with diameters as small as 75 cm. Scan galleries at a pace of 900 meters per day of inspection. The advanced Elios 3 drone represents the latest evolution in this technology, flying inside pipes as small as 60 cm in diameter, this solution empowers detailed reconnaissance with a 4K camera and centimeter-accurate LiDAR payload. These combined capabilities provide rapid insights into previously inaccessible areas, making it instrumental to streamlining complex sewer inspection and mapping projects.
Key Benefits of Drone-Assisted Sewer Inspection
Drones eliminate all of the hazards listed above for inspectors because they eliminate the need for inspectors to enter sewer pipes at all. An indoor drone like the Elios 2 can fly into a sewer pipe and collect all the visual data the inspector needs, allowing the inspector to stand safely outside the pipe, monitoring the drone’s progress on their live feed.
The efficiency gains are remarkable. We inspect 1% in a week [with drones]. Normally, we do 1% in a year, according to Alexandre Ventura, Head of Inspection Technology Innovation at Suez. This comprehensive end-to-end solution will make wastewater inspections safer by removing the need for inspectors to enter confined spaces; more affordable by gathering visual data at twice the rate as manual methods.
Advanced Technology Features
The Elios 3 is a purpose-built indoor inspection drone designed by Flyability to operate in confined, GPS-denied spaces. It features a collision-tolerant cage, bright lighting, and advanced sensors (4K camera, thermal camera, LiDAR, distance sensor). It is equipped with a 10,000-lumen lighting system, 4K video camera system, thermal, and a LiDAR unit, allowing it to take measurements as it flies and produce high-density pipe profiles, which can be fed back live to the operator.
Data from the Elios 3 can be viewed with the custom software solution Inspector, providing side-by-side comparisons of visual inspections with a 3D point cloud, making it easy to identify and localize points of interest or defects. This integration allows for comprehensive analysis and documentation that supports maintenance planning and regulatory compliance.
Local Expertise in Suffolk County
For Suffolk County residents and businesses requiring professional sewer maintenance services, established companies like Long Island Sewer and Water Main are adapting to these technological advances. For nearly 40 years, the team at Long Island Sewer and Water Main has been repairing and maintaining the sewer systems of Suffolk County and Nassau County as well as the five boroughs. Whether you are in need of a major sewer line repair, or routine sewer and drain cleaning, our team is ready to get to work for you.
We are one of the only providers of trenchless sewer and water line services across both Nassau County and Suffolk County. Using our trenchless technologies, we are able to provide more efficient, convenient, and cost-effective sewer line services to residents and businesses across Long Island. When you need reliable Sewer Cleaning Suffolk County, NY services, experienced professionals understand the importance of thorough inspection and maintenance.
The Future of Infrastructure Maintenance
Proposition 2 passed with more than 71 percent of the vote. The funding mechanism goes into effect in March 2025 and is expected to generate an estimated $49 million in additional revenues that will be available for use in 2026. The Act is projected to generate an estimated $3 billion in clean water infrastructure funds through 2060. This significant investment in Suffolk County’s water infrastructure creates opportunities for implementing advanced inspection technologies.
As drone technology continues to develop, we’re sure to see not only wider adoption among sewer inspectors, but also an increase in the capabilities of drones for wastewater applications. SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) is an example of a new technology that has the potential to significantly improve sewer inspections conducted by drone—and also increase safety in these operations.
The integration of drone technology into sewer inspection represents a fundamental shift toward safer, more efficient infrastructure maintenance. As Suffolk County continues to address its wastewater challenges, these aerial inspection methods will play an increasingly important role in maintaining the underground systems that protect public health and environmental quality. Property owners who prioritize regular sewer maintenance can benefit from these technological advances through professional service providers who embrace innovative inspection methods.