Gedeon Robotics Takes the Spotlight in New Flyability Case Study
Fresh off the stage at Vancouver Surveying Connect Day, the Gedeon Robotics Department, led by Director of Research & Robotics Services Miles Kilcourse and Senior Drone Pilot Antron Anderson, has been spotlighted in a newly published Flyability case study highlighting our work with Spiniello Companies and DC Water.
The feature showcases how our team leveraged the Elios 3 drone to inspect the Anacostia Force Main, a critical wastewater pipeline serving more than 113,000 customers in the Washington, D.C. region.
The Challenge: Inspecting Critical Infrastructure—Safely and Efficiently
The Anacostia Force Main is a large, high-pressure pipeline that plays a vital role in regional wastewater management. Accessing and inspecting it presents significant challenges, including:
- Limited entry points
- Hazardous confined space conditions
- Ongoing flow that restricts inspection windows
To minimize operational disruption, the Robotics team conducted the inspection during a controlled low-flow period between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM.
The Solution: Elios 3 in Action
Working in partnership with Spiniello Companies, the Gedeon Robotics team deployed the Elios 3 confined-space drone to safely and efficiently collect critical data.
With this approach, the team was able to:
- 🦺 Eliminate confined space entry, reducing risk to personnel
- 📸 Perform high-resolution visual inspections of the pipeline interior
- 📐 Capture survey-grade data to support pre-construction analysis
The Elios 3 enabled the team to remotely access and map approximately 850 linear feet of the pipeline—without exposing staff to hazardous conditions.
Delivering Data That Drives Decisions
Beyond inspection, the data collected played a key role in future planning efforts. Outputs from the mission supported Scan-to-BIM workflows, allowing teams to develop accurate digital models of the pipeline using tools such as Revit and Civil 3D.
This data is helping inform rehabilitation strategies and long-term asset management planning for DC Water—ensuring the continued reliability of essential infrastructure.
Why It Matters
This project underscores the value of robotics in infrastructure inspection:
- Improved safety by removing the need for confined space entry
- Faster data collection, completing inspections in hours rather than days or weeks
- Higher-quality insights that support smarter, data-driven decisions
It also reflects the strength of collaboration between Gedeon GRC, Spiniello Companies, Flyability, and DC Water—bringing together expertise and innovation to solve complex challenges.
Read the Full Case Study
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