by Dave Pankhurst, Innovation Director, Future Connected Solutions, BT
Network connectivity is more than a convenience - it’s the critical digital lifeline that keeps communities informed and businesses connected when it matters most.
This means that networks need to be robust and resilient to withstand environmental extremes and remain operational. Ensuring this resilience means more than safeguarding digital systems - it requires fortifying the physical infrastructure that supports them.
One of the standout innovations BT is deploying to meet this challenge is its ‘Drone Survey Services’. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and other sensors to capture detailed images, videos and other data, these drones are redefining how BT assesses the flood risk for its buildings that house critical network assets (like exchanges) and fortifies these sites.
The vulnerability of critical infrastructure has been laid bare by past flooding events. In 2020, Edinburgh saw floodwater breach a key power room, triggering a shutdown that cut off over 100,000 customers. And the UK has continued to experience significant storms since then, with major storms including Henk, Kathleen, Pierrick, and Bert in 2024, bringing widespread flooding across the country. These episodes underscore the urgent need for resilient, climate-ready infrastructure.
Flood risk assessments typically rely on manual inspections combined with environmental reports and data. BT’s Drone Survey Service has offered a step-change in capability: drones can rapidly and safely reach challenging areas and provide real-time insights with speed, precision and minimal disruption. Using this arial intelligence, BT teams have collaborated to conduct near-physical walkthroughs remotely, overlay footage onto existing plans, and tailor resilience strategies to each site’s unique risk profile.
In addition to helping to deliver faster and smarter risk assessment and infrastructure planning Drone Survey Services has also unlocked significant cost efficiencies. BT has seen survey costs reduce by up to 80% by avoiding unnecessary site visits, streamlining assessments, and minimising delays associated with poor visibility or access restrictions.
As extreme weather events grow more frequent, BT’s Drone Survey Services exemplify how cutting-edge technology is transforming how infrastructure is assessed, protected and maintained. BT is not just weathering the storm - it’s reshaping how its physical network assets are built to endure it.
