Mitigating avian collision with power lines: a proof of concept for installation of line markers via unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

Avian collisions with overhead power lines are a global conservation concern. Collisions are mitigated primarily through marking power lines to increase their visibility. Line marking is typically accomplished via an expensive and potentially dangerous process of hovering a helicopter within 1 m of a wire and installing line markers by hand. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) may offer a less dangerous, less costly alternative that is also less disturbing to wildlife. Herein we describe equipping a commercially available UAV with an installation arm designed in collaboration with the Colorado State University Department of Mechanical Engineering to install line markers on a power line. The UAV installed line markers within a 30 cm target window on a model power line. The proof of concept described here demonstrates the potential utility of UAVs in mitigating avian collision with overhead power lines.

Boreal bird abundance estimates within different energy sector disturbances vary with point count radius

“…This is particularly true after ideal siting locations close to existing lines have been developed; subsequently constructed renewable energy facilities can be increasingly distant from the existing transmission line network, requiring increasingly longer connections. Transmission lines are associated with collision mortalities of flying birds (Rogers et al 2014, Lobermeier et al 2015; but see Luzenski et al 2016), but renewable energy connections can be overlooked when investigating direct and indirect effects of renewable energy facilities.…”

Review of Conservation Challenges and Possible Solutions for Grassland Birds of the North American Great Plains

“…New technologies such as the installation of line markers via Unpiloted Aircraft Systems (e.g., drones) continue to make solutions less expensive and more feasible ( Lobermeier et al 2016 ). Further, the use of ultraviolet light to illuminate transmission lines is also showing promise in reducing collisions ( Baasch et al 2022 ).…”

Drones for Conservation in Protected Areas: Present and Future

“…Some studies described the use of drones in various management tasks, such as moving elephants out of human settlements [75], mapping wildlife damage on crops to calculate compensation costs [76] or dropping fake baits targeting feral species [77]. Drones constitute an attainable low-cost alternative to assess and reduce the risk that hazardous infrastructures [78,79] or mechanical harvesting [80,81] pose to wildlife. Lastly, fine-scale mapping of species distribution, land-use changes and water bodies using high resolution aerial imagery hold potential to complement epidemiological and zoonotic studies [82][83][84][85], and may serve as a rapid mechanism to inform prevention and reinforce biosecurity programs.…”