Aeronaves no tripuladas como herramienta para el análisis de áreas no preparadas de aterrizaje en operaciones helicoportadas

Abstract

Air operations of helicopters in unprepared areas are a constant in the hydrocarbon environment, due to the remoteness of facilities and the challenging access to infrastructure caused by the difficult Colombian geography and its limited access routes. The lack of suitable heliport services in these areas forces a constant reliance on the use of unprepared areas to carry out aerial operations for the movement of personnel and cargo in helicopters, which are vital for supplying and maintaining the infrastructure related to the hydrocarbon industry. An additional factor in these high-risk operations is the limited time available to conduct a proper analysis of the terrain and various obstacles. This is why it is necessary for the planning team to present this information in a clear, objective, and precise manner to contribute to the decision-making of the crews. This allows for a precise assessment of the risks associated with operations in unprepared areas; otherwise, there would be inadequate management, resulting in uninformed decisions and a lack of appropriate safety and prevention measures that could lead to an accident. The proposed solution to address the challenge of helicopter air operations in unprepared areas lies in the strategic implementation of drone technology as the main tool for taking measures and identifying obstacles. This involves employing various image processing techniques such as photogrammetry and structure inspection. The product obtained will be presented to the crews and personnel involved in the operation briefing to enhance aviation safety.