Recent developments in drone technology have made them more useful than ever. In fact, drones may soon be able to identify, inspect and remove asbestos. As a result, workers may not need to reach as many dangerous areas during inspections. For instance, drones could access high roofs and small spaces instead of workers.
Drones may reduce the risks many asbestos professionals face — including the chances of harmful asbestos exposure. Keep reading to learn how these drones could make asbestos removal safer and easier.
How Do Drones Identify and Remove Asbestos?
Thanks to new cameras and sensors, some drones can now identify and possibly remove asbestos. Drones are small, lightweight robotic systems that a user can remotely control. Drones are a rapidly developing modern technology, with many different forms and purposes.
For asbestos identification, locations with potential asbestos materials would first be identified. Further inspection and asbestos testing would then be performed in these locations. This is when the drone could come into play.
Some drones have a special sensor and a high-resolution camera. The camera allows the worker to send the drone into a suspected asbestos spot — like a small attic crawlspace or a roof with asbestos tiles. The worker can perform a remote visual inspection with the drone. If needed, they can also use the sensor to identify asbestos. And the robotic functions of the drone may have the ability to remove affected materials.
While this is still an early concept, experts think it may significantly improve asbestos abatement.
How Will Drones Redefine the Role of Asbestos Professionals?
This technology wouldn’t replace asbestos professionals but would be a valuable tool for them. Identifying asbestos is a complex process. Visually confirming the presence of asbestos is almost impossible. Its fibers are microscopic and it was regularly mixed into other materials, like cement. Workers have to physically inspect and test suspected materials.
Many older homes contain various asbestos construction products. This can require many hours of inspection, testing and removal. These activities not only pose general safety risks to workers, but asbestos exposure risks too.
Drones may provide faster, more hands-off identification of asbestos. In the future, these robotic assistants could also make its removal safer, easier and more cost-effective. Workers would remotely operate the drones, which may lower the risks of occupational asbestos exposure.
The use of drones for asbestos removal is a new solution to an old problem. Experts hope to develop this tool further, helping to better protect workers.
