Lishui, Zhejiang: Drone inspections help defend against typhoons

State Grid Lishui Power Supply Co (State Grid Lishui) deployed drones to carry out detailed inspections on the 110-kilovolt Suitao 1246 line and other lines near river channels on July 6. Through air-ground collaborative operations, the company improved response efficiency, establishing a technological safeguard for the stable operation of the power grid during typhoon periods.

In recent days, Typhoon "Bavi", the ninth typhoon of the year, has continued to intensify and has been upgraded to a super typhoon. According to meteorological forecasts, Bavi is expected to approach the coastal areas of Zhejiang and Fujian around July 10, bringing severe wind and rain to Zhejiang. Facing the grim typhoon preparedness situation, State Grid Lishui acted swiftly upon the typhoon warning and deployed defensive measures. With drone-based 3D inspections and emergency material support working in tandem, the company is going all out to build a safe facility mostly unaffected by the typhoon.

Lishui is in a mountainous region, where most power grid lines traverse mountains and riverbanks. The heavy winds and rain brought by severe storms can easily trigger secondary disasters such as tree obstructions and landslides.

Traditional manual inspection methods are unable to achieve full-coverage surveys within a short time. To address this, State Grid Lishui has launched drone patrols.

Drones carry out refined aerial surveys of transmission and distribution lines in mountainous areas, near rivers, and in zones prone to geological disasters, precisely identifying potential risks such as tree and bamboo hazards, floating debris, and geological loosening within the line corridors.

In addition, using infrared thermography, the drones perform temperature checks on critical connection points to promptly detect hidden defects, ensuring no blind spots are left.

Under the air-ground collaborative operation mode, on-site visuals and data are transmitted in real time to the emergency command center, enabling remote consultations and rapid decision-making, and greatly enhancing the efficiency of hazard identification.

At the same time, State Grid Lishui has organized staff members to conduct comprehensive checks, and inventory counts at emergency material warehouses, with a focus on verifying the reserves of commonly used repair materials such as conductors, cables, fittings, and insulators. Each item is examined individually to assess the quantity, model, and condition to ensure consistency among accounts, cards, and physical stock.

In response to potential risks posed by the typhoon, backup generators, emergency lighting, pumps, and other equipment in the warehouses have all been tested and are ready for deployment, ensuring they can be dispatched and utilized at critical moments.

Furthermore, the company has reviewed the staffing and equipment readiness of emergency repair teams and established a dynamic material replenishment mechanism. The emergency procurement and cross-regional allocation procedures can be initiated immediately should any shortfalls arise.

State Grid Lishui will closely monitor the evolving dynamics of Typhoon Bavi, continuously intensify special patrols and protective measures for power lines, and strictly implement a 24-hour emergency duty system.