Unique Drones Track Down Graffiti in Inaccessible Spots across Washington State
Graffiti Be Gone: Spray Drone Takes Flight in Washington State
Try saying goodbye to unsightly graffiti in hard-to-reach spots. That's the promise of a new drone-assisted graffiti-removal pilot program launched in Washington state. Let's dive into the details.
Last month, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) hit a milestone, securing $1 million to combat graffiti across the state. A portion of the program will invest in upgrading traffic cameras to aid in identifying graffiti offenders. The remaining funds will be allocated to test novel graffiti removal methods, especially for high locations that prove challenging and can accumulate major costs.
WSDOT unveiled its groundbreaking idea on their blog, highlighting the challenge of dealing with graffiti in difficult-to-reach areas using specialized trucks. These trucks, called UBITs, are in high demand, often reserved for priority bridge maintenance and inspection work.
The pioneering concept for graffiti-fighting drones originated from Mike Gauger, a Tacoma area maintenance crew member at WSDOT. Gauger partnered with drone company Aquiline, which already had an Endure drone model used for window washing and roof cleaning.
Initial efforts to modify the Endure drone for graffiti removal failed. However, after some adjustments, a functional drone emerged, catering to WSDOT's needs. A video showcasing the drone in action is now available on YouTube.
WSDOT claims the graffiti-removal drone program is the first of its kind, a claim confirmed by the limited available information. Drones have already been employed for diverse purposes, such as a flame-throwing drone that incinerates trash from power lines or water-spraying drones tested for fighting fires.
Trained highway maintenance employees, holding existing Part 107 drone licenses, will handle the new drones under this pilot program. Field testing will primarily take place in Tacoma and Olympia this year.
Despite the drone's potential to reach previously inaccessible spots, numerous obstacles may hinder its success. Legal restrictions prevent drones from being flown over active traffic lanes, necessitating closed work zones or managed slowdown closures during operation.
By December, WSDOT will submit a progress report to the state legislature. If the results are positive, other cities and states may consider adopting similar drone-assisted graffiti-removal programs.
Sources:
- NYPD uses drones to monitor events and traffic
- Drones assist in Springfield, Oregon, operations
- The future of graffiti removal in hard-to-reach areas seems to be in tech, as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is testing drones for this purpose.
- In a bid to combat graffiti, WSDOT usually allocates funding not only for identifying offenders but also for testing novel graffiti removal methods, such as the graffiti-removal drone.
- The idea for a graffiti-fighting drone originated from Mike Gauger, a Tacoma area maintenance crew member at WSDOT, who collaborated with drone company Aquiline.
- Although drones are often associated with usage in diverse fields like firefighting or trash removal, the WSDOT's drone-assisted graffiti-removal program is a unique application of technology in this area, following the successful launch of the program in Washington state.
