Drone boat helping out at Barwon Heads Road upgrade

A DRONE boat is making it safer and easier to gather subsurface information from waterways near the Barwon Heads Road upgrade.

The TriDrone is the newest tool of project contractor SMEC Australia and will help map water depths and submerged contours in the project area, allowing surveyors to stay ashore to gather important data.

Its small size and manoeuvrability will allow access to areas impossible to reach in a full-size boat, such as under culverts, alongside shallow banks or amid foliage.

Data collected will help with the flood modelling for the project and potential upgrades to infrastructure.

Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) acting program director Damian Van Dyke said the drone boat was a fantastic alternative to generic conventional methods.

“The drone boat offers safer and easier access for site surveys as we continue our planning work on the next stage of the Barwon Heads Road upgrade.

“The drone boat also supports our efforts to work with our design and survey partners to adopt the latest innovations and technology as we continue working on this important project for the local community.”

The drone boat is a first of its kind for contractor SMEC Australia who are conducting survey activities on stage two of the project.

SMEC Australia survey Geelong team leader Sam Lovelock said the company was thrilled to be assisting with the Barwon Heads Road upgrades.

“We were pleased to continue to assist MRPV for the Barwon Heads Road upgrade – stage 2 with our innovative unmanned surface vehicle,” he said.

“The TriDrone is a great new tool in our arsenal of survey technology to conduct work safely and efficiently.

“SMEC has been working with MRPV on the Barwon Heads Road upgrade and together we are innovating to increase efficiencies throughout the project.”

For more information, visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/mrpv/barwon-heads-road-upgrade/stage-2