Startup Uses Drone for Cleaning Water, Collecting Data
March 11, 2021
An Atlanta-based startup RanMarine has built a drone that swims rather than flies. The “WasteShark,” traverses waterways to collect litter, biomass, microplastic and other debris using a basket underneath the device. In addition to removing litter, the drone also collects data on water conditions. Sensors allow the WasteShark to analyze water temperature, pH levels, depth,......
July 06, 2017
The Port of Savannah, the fourth-largest and fastest growing container port in the country, is conveniently located near I-95, a major interstate that runs along the east coast. However, until recently there was no direct connection from the Port to the interstate. The Jimmy DeLoach Connector is a limited access highway that delivers trucks right......
May 19, 2017
The Ray, a 16-mile stretch of I-85 in Georgia, is challenging the idea that roads are just for driving on. It is the country’s first solar-paved road, with 5,400 square feet of solar panels capable of producing 7,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually. The solar panels are placed on top of the asphalt road surface and......
March 07, 2017
After experiencing multi-year droughts, officials in Atlanta estimated that running out of water could cost the city $100 million a day. To avoid those costs, the city took a proactive approach, creating a $300 million, 2.4-billion-gallon raw water storage facility in an abandoned quarry funded by a municipal-option sales tax. Using dynamite and a deep......
Robotic inspections are more accurate, less costly
February 16, 2017
The Georgia Department of Transportation partnered with the Georgia Tech Research Institute to create robotic technology that will automatically detect and repair damaged roads. The “Roadbot” is fully automated and requires only a single operator. The Roadbot has the potential to save states significant amounts of money by taking a preemptive approach toward road maintenance.......
February 16, 2017
Hydroelectric power dams provide renewable energy, but monitoring the condition of the infrastructure is a challenge. A key part of the inspections is managing corrosion in the penstocks—large, sewer-like tubes that move water from its original source to the turbine that generates power. Inspecting them traditionally includes dewatering the dam, then working in dark, slippery......
