Ausnet Services – High Voltage drone Insulator inspections
Project Background
AusNet, one of Victoria’s key energy providers, engaged UAVISUALS to carry out detailed drone inspections of critical 500kV transmission infrastructure across Victoria. The focus of this project was to inspect the steel pins within the insulator rings on high-voltage towers—components that are traditionally difficult and hazardous to assess without manual climbing or direct contact. The aim was to identify early signs of corrosion or failure in these critical elements, which are vital for maintaining network reliability and safety.
Visual Solutions
UAVISUALS deployed our specialised drone teams to perform aerial condition assessments on high-voltage infrastructure, capturing high-resolution RGB and thermal imagery of the insulator strings on towers scattered across Victoria.
Key deliverables included:
- Close-up images of every steel pin within each insulator disc (average of 32 discs per string, with 6 strings per tower!).
- Thermal imaging to identify hotspots indicating stress or potential failure.
- Condition reporting
In addition to the visual inspections and thermal data, the outcome revealed several areas of potential concern, offering AusNet valuable insights for preventative maintenance.
Engagement Metrics
✅ Efficiency – Full tower inspections were completed in under 35 minutes, significantly faster than traditional methods.
✅ Safety – Our drone inspections eliminated the need for workers to climb towers or shut down sections of the network, removing high-risk manual tasks.
✅ Quality Data – We delivered detailed imagery and actionable reports, enabling AusNet to track component degradation and plan targeted maintenance.
“UAVISUALS provided an innovative and efficient solution that not only improved safety but also delivered high-quality data, setting a new benchmark for transmission line inspections.” — AusNet Services
Summary
With this project, UAVISUALS demonstrated how drone technology is transforming the way critical infrastructure is inspected—improving safety, reducing downtime, and delivering unparalleled data accuracy.
UAVISUALS provides professional drone inspections for power infrastructure and high-voltage transmission lines across Victoria, Western Australia, and Australia-wide.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your next infrastructure project with specialised aerial condition assessments.
For inquiries or to discuss your project needs, please contact us at info@uavisuals.com. or 1300 711 965
