Your travel experience on the national highways especially along the east-west highway is expected to become better. Next time you are on the road, the chances of getting stuck in a roadblock will likely be less. This is because the Department of Roads will now be using drones to fetch data during disasters such as landslides which is a major cause of roadblocks, especially during monsoon. To date, it has remained a challenge for the DoR officials to carry out assessments and report roadblocks on time.
This aerial shot of the national highway at Dzongkhalum between Trongsa and Zhemgang was captured by a drone. The stretch of the highway is prone to landslides.
Engineers from the Department of Roads’ offices in Monggar, Trongsa, Trashigang, Zhemgang and Thimphu captured the footage while learning how to fly a drone.
The engineers learned how to gather data during disasters such as landslides by flying a drone.
Sohshi Mikami, a mentor from Japan is training the engineers. He says the drone can fetch data and pictures by flying almost eight kilometres horizontally and up to a height of 100 meters within a short period.
“When landslides occur, we cannot go near but drones can reach from a distance and determine the size of it. So, with drones, we could derive information that provides safety to people during disasters.”
Besides, the use of drones can reduce the time and dependence on manpower while gathering information such as slope risk assessment to begin the construction of new roads.
“During disasters such as landslides, we do not know what has happened on the other side of the road when there is no bypass. So, it is difficult to decide the number of machines and people to be deployed at the site. Likewise, we update roadblock information on social media but they are not accurate. Hence, using drones we will henceforth be able to provide realistic information to the public,” said Leki Dema, an Engineer with DoR’s office at Lingmithang in Monggar.
“Even in the case of bridges, we will be able to carry out routine maintenance easily. For instance, drones can easily reach and take pictures of parts that require maintenance such as underneath the bridge, which is otherwise difficult, manually,” added Rinchen Dorji, another Engineer with the DoR office in Thimphu.
The Department of Roads received two drones from JICA earlier this month. The department has plans to train the engineers in all its regional offices.
Passang, Trongsa
Edited by Phub Gyem
