Thermal Imaging Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) for Radio and TV Broadcasters

Broadcast Technologies, Paper Presentation, The NAB Show Conference Pass, Broadcast Engineering and IT Conference (BEIT)

When:

Monday, April 25 | 1:55 PM - 2:15 PM

Where:

W307-W309

Open To:

The NAB Show Conference Pass

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This presentation will focus on the benifits to broadcasters that exist when thermal imaging technology is combined with drone technology to enable broadcasters to observe another dimension of the condition of their tower, transmission lines, and antenna systems. By using thermal imaging, tower owners and broadcasters have new tools that allow them to identify potential serious failures in their antenna systems before they occur. This presentation shares actual case studies showing where hot spots were identified, which enabled tower crews to precicely locate areas of concern and take steps to remedy the issues. A brief discussion of the theory behind thermal imaging, including some of the important limitations of these measurements, along with best practices will be reviewed. Cost-to-benefit ratio as well as the very latest FAA requirements for SUAS operations will be discussed.