Cuttack, July 28: There is a buzz in the city that a drone will boost its solid waste management.

The municipal corporation is considering a proposal to introduce unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones, for effective management of solid waste in the city.

A team of professors from IIT Kharagpur presented the proposal of using the high-end technology before officials here today.

The IIT team is keen on introducing the concept as a pilot project in Cuttack as there are only a handful of high-rise buildings, making it easier for drones to capture images and videos during flight.

Professor of IIT Kharagpur Arvind Routray, who headed the team, said a memorandum of understanding would be signed with the civic body to launch the new mechanism for effective monitoring of garbage and waterlogging, which are two major problems in the city.

The cost of introducing the drones that would monitor solid waste management would be between Rs 2 crore and Rs 3 crore.

“As the drones will be fitted with hyperspectral cameras, images of various locations can be received at a base station from where the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) officials can make decisions based on real-time data, including photographs,” said Routray.

Hyperspectral imaging is used to obtain the image of a scene, with the purpose of finding objects, identifying materials, or detecting processes.

Routray said it was a research project and the CMC would be the first in the country to adopt the new technology to generate comprehensive data of solid waste generated from various parts of the city.

The drones to be used as part of the proposed project will be programmed to capture images from a height of 800 metres. The images and other data will either be stored in a built-in storage device or transmitted to the ground station.

“The new technology will certainly help monitor solid waste management in Cuttack through pictures of unattended garbage collected by the drones at different locations,” said municipal commissioner Gyana Das.

The technology is expected to come in handy for the civic body in making a comprehensive plan on improving the solid waste management system by taking measures to clear unattended waste.

Besides, data generated can be used to map areas based on the amount of garbage generated on a daily basis, assist the civic body in proper planning and use its logistics in an effective way for proper disposal of the waste.

Senior officials of the CMC asked the IIT team to come up with modifications through software or equipment that can also be used to track blockages in drainage channels through the drones.

“Before launching the project, a detailed geographic information system (GIS) mapping of Cuttack city will be done. Apart from garbage monitoring, the project will also come in handy to conduct a detailed survey of water bodies and water pollution by detecting release of harmful medical waste or hazardous materials in drainage channels,” said Bhawani Shankar Das, another member of the team.

The members of the IIT Kharagpur team said that once the civic body approved the project, efforts would be taken jointly for arranging for funds to procure the drones as well as other equipment.

Official sources said there were plans to launch the project and arrange for funds either from the Swacch Bharat Mission or by involving corporate houses.

A CMC official said a decision on the proposal would be taken at the next council meeting. Once it was approved, it would take another year or year and a half to implement it, he added.

When a senior official of CMC was asked about the legalities involved in launching the service, he said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had issued a draft proposal to facilitate civil use of drones in May.

The proposals say individuals or companies can use drones for various purposes. But they will require an authorisation issued by DGCA and also obtain additional approvals from the local Air Traffic Services and district administration.

CMC has also asked the IIT team to provide a copy of the fresh guidelines so that there is no legal hurdle to starting the service after approvals from the CMC council.

Drones and what they do

• Keep an eye on poachers, as well as beasts and birds in wildlife parks 
• Track measurement and progress at roads and railway construction sites 
• Monitor crop health on fields 
• Measure ore extracts in mines
• Help in crowd management during major events
• Ferry human organ in ice box for transplant from one hospital to another
• Monitor voting process during elections
• Keep eye on law and order by police
• Spot litterbugs as they do in Dubai

Legal Point

Drone users have to register with directorate-general of civil aviation for unique identification number and apply for permits. They cannot fly above airports, defence establishments and other sensitive areas