Mitigating avian collision with power lines: a proof of concept for installation of line markers via unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract: Avian collisions with overhead power lines are a global conservation concern. Collisions are mitigated primarily through marking power lines to increase the visibility of lines. Line marking is typically accomplished via an expensive and potentially dangerous process of hovering a helicopter within 1 m of a wire and installing line markers by hand. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) may offer a less dangerous, less costly alternative that is also less disturbing to wildlife. Herein we describe equipping a commercially available UAV with an installation arm designed in collaboration with the Colorado State University Department of Mechanical Engineering to install line markers on a power line. The UAV installed line markers within a 30 cm target window on a model power line. The proof of concept described here demonstrates the potential utility of UAVs in mitigating avian collision with overhead power lines.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author