CASE C45 · CL · 2024
Enel Distribución Chile: aerial inspection of about 2,500 km of distribution network in the Santiago Metropolitan Region
Enel Distribución Chile inspected about 2,500 km of medium- and low-voltage network around Santiago from a helicopter and drones with thermal and LiDAR sensors, to plan tree clearing before winter. No findings were reported, and the share flown by drone is unknown.
| Owner | Enel Distribución Chile |
| Provider | — |
| Location | Enel concession area, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| Aircraft | Helicopter plus drones (km split not stated) |
| Sensors | RGB photo/video, thermal infrared, LiDAR |
Before
Mainly ground patrols, which make it hard to assess tree encroachment and other threats over a large network.
With drones
About 2,500 km of medium- and low-voltage lines flown in two phases (900 km, then about 1,600 km); thermal and LiDAR data locate hotspots and trees by species, height and proximity. Flights stay above the lines to avoid imaging private property, in daytime under DGAC authorisation.
Outcomes
| Metric | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| coverage | about 2,500 km planned (phase 1: 900 km in early December 2024; phase 2: about 1,600 km by January 2025) | Reported |
| follow-up | tree pruning and other preventive work planned before winter | Target |
| defects / incidents avoided | not reported | Reported |
Caveats & limits
- Company press release; no findings, defect counts or reliability effects are reported.
- Drones were used together with a helicopter, and the share flown by drone is not stated, so the case does not isolate drone performance.
- Results are stated as an aim (preventing incidents), not as a measured outcome; flights are limited to 09:00–18:00, Monday to Saturday.
Sources
- Enel Distribución performs aerial inspections on nearly 2,500 kilometers of its electrical distribution networkEnel Chile Full text read
Sources checked: 2026-10-22