Safety Underground galleries often contain unknown hazards such as exposed wiring, old equipment, or dangerous materials. Traditional inspection methods posed significant risks to personnel. The Elios 3 offered a safer alternative for data collection in these challenging environments. Speed The drone enabled rapid data collection across multiple galleries, adapting to different site conditions. This allowed the team to efficiently map 13 kilometers of underground spaces, including confined areas, open zones, and around pipe racks. Data Quality The Elios 3, equipped with its LiDAR payload, was used over 9 intense days for 241 flights. A total of 1,776 points of interest were recorded and analyzed by experts to assess the condition of the galleries accurately. Access The underground galleries are spread throughout the city, some of which are flooded or have tight spaces. The Elios 3 proved adaptable, allowing access to a wide range of environments and ensuring comprehensive coverage of the project area. Brussels is one of Europe’s most influential cities, home to the European Commission and hosting a large international community. Known as the "Capital of Europe," it's an ideal place for implementing smart city initiatives. Smart cities use technology to collect data and optimize operations—from smart traffic systems to sustainable architecture. Effective implementation requires a blend of advanced tech, optimized systems, and thorough asset management. To support this vision, Brussels Mobility launched a project to survey and map the technical galleries and networks beneath the city. These galleries, some built decades ago, had no up-to-date records. The goal was to create a detailed inventory of the spaces, their contents, and required maintenance, enabling better planning and usage optimization. The presence of the underground galleries was known, but their exact locations, sizes, and connections were not. Brussels Mobility aimed to build a comprehensive record of these spaces, creating an accurate as-built resource to understand the current state of the network. Without existing designs, they needed reliable data to guide future decisions. Brussels Mobility partnered with several companies to form a specialized team. They sought experts in data collection and processing, as the underground spaces presented unknown risks. SECO, an engineering and construction firm, was the first partner. They were tasked with identifying concrete defects and supporting data collection efforts in complex, potentially hazardous environments. Sweco, another key partner, specializes in engineering and architecture consultancy. They were assigned to create an inventory of the underground utility structures. Using LiDAR and visual imagery, they produced detailed 2D maps and 3D cross-sections of the sites. Medexon and Flywel, drone inspection specialists, brought the Elios 3 into the project. Their expertise in navigating hazardous and confined spaces made them essential for scouting areas before human entry and collecting critical data. Image: The Elios 3 and its surveying payload provided safe and efficient access to difficult areas, significantly improving the speed and accuracy of the mapping process. The team had three main objectives for the project: The inspections faced various challenges, including electrical hazards, blocked passages, and cold temperatures. To address these, the team relied on the Elios 3 for both scouting and data collection. Over 200 flights were conducted across 13 kilometers of tunnels, storm drains, and technical rooms. During the project, the Elios 3’s Surveying Payload was used to map particularly difficult areas. In some cases, the team manually held the drone to collect LiDAR data where flying wasn’t possible. This flexibility ensured complete coverage of even the most challenging locations. For more details on the Elios 3, its Surveying Payload, and drift reduction, read our accuracy report. Despite the complexity of the task, the team successfully mapped 13 kilometers of underground spaces, including storm drains, galleries, and technical rooms. Over 241 flights were conducted in just nine days, resulting in 1,776 points of interest being recorded. Data processing was a massive effort, with the team addressing issues like LiDAR drift. Sweco created a detailed LiDAR map overlaid with surface data, providing a clear view of underground assets in relation to the city above. This has been invaluable for planning future maintenance and inspections. Image: The final gallery maps are precisely referenced and ready to support ongoing maintenance and development efforts. This project, which has spanned over a year, showcases the power of collaboration between teams. It has delivered comprehensive, actionable data that will shape the future of these underground spaces. Brussels Mobility hopes to share this data with utility companies for maintenance and repair, and also explore potential repurposing of the galleries for public use. Drones like the Elios 3 are revolutionizing underground surveys, making them faster, safer, and more efficient. With its ability to collect data and provide situational awareness, the Elios 3 ensured the safety of the team, even in GPS-denied environments. Medexon-Flywel is confident in the drone’s capabilities for future projects—especially with the new Surveying Payload. Discover more about the Elios 3 and its specialized LiDAR payload. All images in this article are credited to CLP Power. 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Key Benefits at a Glance
Building a Specialized Underground Survey Team
Conducting Underground Surveys with the Elios 3
Surveying 13 Kilometers with the Elios 3
Mapping 13 kilometers of underground technical galleries in Brussels