Assessment of the Use of Mini Drones in 3D Modelling and Anomalies Detection on Utility Poles' Exterior State

This paper highlights the use of cost-effective drone-based 3D modelling for utility pole assessments (using the DJI Mini 2). This method enhances maintenance strategies and expedites anomaly detection while providing a lower-cost alternative to traditional and specialized UAV systems. Drones provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for inspecting power poles, allowing for quick and accurate visual assessments. This research aims to introduce an approach for assessing the condition of utility poles' exteriors, utilizing the capabilities of a mini drone. The choice of a mini drone is based on its current capabilities and this research deeply explores the extent of what the mini drone can achieve and detect anomalies utilizing the drone-based data collection and 3D modelling techniques. The mini drone used is the DJI Mini 2, which is equipped with high-resolution imaging capabilities are strategically deployed to capture intricate visual data of utility poles and their surroundings. The acquired images are then processed through Agisoft Metashape software, facilitating the generation of precise 3D models of the utility poles. Through a comparative analysis between the digitized 3D images and actual photographic captures, the evaluation of object deterioration and the pursuit of quantifying the precision in detecting anomalies on the real-world model are explored.