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Use Case

DFMG Deutsche Funkturm

Aerial flight of the Berlin TV tower by drone

With around 200 antennas for various services, the Berlin TV tower is one of the most complex radio sites in Germany and the tallest structure in Germany. With its height of 368 meters, it is exposed to extreme weather conditions. These characteristics present DFMG Deutsche Funkturm, as the tower's owner, with major challenges in terms of inspecting the building and operating the radio equipment.

Droniq advised Deutsche Funkturm on the aerial flight of the Berlin TV tower by drone to collect data for a detailed 3D model and ensured the necessary approvals - an enormous challenge from an aviation law perspective.

At a glance

Scan
TV Tower
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Flight altitude
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Flight route
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Flight time
3D
Model

The goal

Deutsche Funkturm wants to make greater use of the possibilities offered by digitization to operate its own infrastructure even more efficiently. Up to now, maintenance of the company's 30,000 towers, masts and roof locations has been time-consuming and often carried out by climbers at height. With a drone, this would be faster and more efficient. The drone's images and measurement data also contain detailed information about the building fabric and can help in the planning of new radio installations.

The implementation

In mid-November 2019, Deutsche Funkturm and Droniq flew a Yuneec H520 over the Berlin TV tower to collect data for a detailed 3D model. In the process, the unmanned aerial vehicle flew in spirals around the tower up to a height of 410 meters. The drone was equipped with a special camera system. It covered a distance of around 50 kilometers, and it took around three hours to scan the entire tower. The flight was only interrupted by short breaks to change the battery, after which the aircraft continued along the pre-programmed route. Finally, everything was in the can: a complete scan of the Berlin TV tower and the radio equipment installed there. Based on the images and data collected during the flight, a digital 3D model of the tower is created, accurate to within a few centimeters.

Our contribution

Droniq ensured a smooth flight process as well as the necessary permits and created the safety concept for the flight project. In terms of aviation law, the Berlin TV Tower is one of the most complex locations in Germany. Not only does it stand in the middle of the city, but it is also located in EDR 146, a restricted flight area that extends in a radius of 3 NM (approx. 5.5 km) around the Reichstag and in which the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles is generally prohibited. In addition, the entire city of Berlin is located in an air traffic control zone, which already begins on the ground. But Droniq made it: in just three months, it had approvals from the state aviation authority, the Federal Supervisory Office for Air Traffic Control, and an air traffic control clearance. State and federal police were also involved.

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