A thermal drone being used to monitor heat pockets at the Vellalore dumpyard in Coimbatore.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Coimbatore Corporation plans to undertake weekly thermal drone surveillance of the Vellalore dumpyard to identify subsurface heat pockets and initiate preventive action before they develop into fires.According to officials, a drone fitted with a thermal imaging sensor was used on a pilot basis during March, April and May this year, when temperatures were high. The surveys helped the Corporation identify sections of the dumpyard where temperatures were elevated. Based on the thermal data, earthmovers were deployed to excavate the identified portions of the waste and water was sprayed to bring down the temperature.The Corporation plans to continue the exercise once a week, particularly in view of the fire that broke out at the dumpyard on August 23 and continued for nearly two days. Officials said high temperatures, dry conditions, and inadequate rainfall could increase the risk of fires within the accumulated waste.L. Gopinath, Chief Executive Officer of Cymatics, which developed the software platform and operated the drone system, said thermal surveillance could help detect heat developing inside the waste heaps before it became visible as fire.The waste heaps at the dumpyard were about 15 to 20 ft deep and heat could remain trapped within them, he said. If the temperature inside a section of the waste approached 75°C, the area would be identified as a potential fire-risk zone and preventive measures, including excavation and water spraying, would be taken.The system would generate thermal data from the drone surveys and record the locations of hotspots on a dashboard using their geographical coordinates. This also enabled officials to identify whether a hotspot was a new occurrence or a location where elevated temperatures were detected repeatedly.Officials said the thermal data would enable targeted preventive action, with earthmovers, water tankers and firefighting infrastructure deployed at hotspots as required, providing an early-warning system particularly during prolonged hot and dry weather. Published - September 06, 2026 08:08 pm IST
