The ongoing fight against COVID-19 and other pathogens has opened the door for creative solutions, including the repurposing of aerial drones to spray sanitizers and disinfectants to improve surface hygiene and safety in large facilities and outdoor spaces.
The Future of Drones in the Fight Against COVID and Other Pathogens
The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to some creative thinking regarding how large outdoor spaces and indoor facilities can quickly be sanitized against pathogens.
For example, a recent report has come out regarding the Spanish military's investigation into the possibility of repurposing crop spraying technologies to disinfect large outdoor areas, giving rise to speculation and some real-world examples of aerial drones being used to disinfect indoor areas.
According to EdTech;
The Spanish Army has been testing whether crop-spraying capabilities, already used in agriculture, might enable drones to disinfect large outdoor areas.
Private companies are looking to do the same in indoor spaces such as Broadway theaters.
Could colleges also apply these techniques?
Some hope that small, nimble drones could disinfect classrooms and lecture halls faster and cheaper than human crews.
Clean Sweep: How Sanitization Drones Can Improve Campus Safety
Presently, one service provider out of Florida has already repurposed a large aerial drone, previously used to clean the outside of buildings, and paired it with electrostatic disinfection technology for use indoors.
According to a recent article published by Insurance Journal;
[The operator] flies the drone about eight feet in the air and it emits a very fine mist of sanitizer out of an attached storage tank to completely coat surfaces.
[...] the mist is electrostatically charged to ensure it bonds to surfaces.
With the mist, surfaces that aren’t touched often will be safe from germs for a couple of weeks while on highly touched surfaces, the spray may last three to four days.
Additionally;
[The services provider] uses a tool called an illuminometer to show if there are any remaining germs on surfaces once the spray is complete.
Florida Company Deploys Drones to Sanitize Facilities in Virus Fight
The Future of Electrostatic Disinfection and No-Touch Cleaning
Prior to the outbreak, the custodial industry was growing by leaps and bounds in market share, innovation, and financial investment.
Much of this was due to an increasing body of evidence demonstrating the failures of conventional cleaning methods and the toll those practices were taking on profits, productivity, grades, and occupant health and wellness.
Now, these technologies--many of which remained obscure to most of the population--have become as recognizable as any major household brand, and the demand from employees, customers, and students has increased on par with the realization that these systems create safer places to work, eat, and learn.
The logic behind this is simple.
Touchless and electrostatic disinfection technologies:
- Require fewer people to enter a building to provide a higher level (when compared to conventional cleaning and disinfection methods) of cleanliness and sanitation.
- Take significantly less time to thoroughly clean and disinfect a facility.
- Reduce the likelihood of surface cross-contamination--previously one of the common methods for spreading germs around an office or classroom, and;
- Significantly decrease the spread of pathogens.
References & Resources
Takeaway
Drones have been used successfully to clean the outside of buildings for several years.
The most notable example is outdoor window cleaning, especially for large or very tall buildings, resulting in faster service and a significantly reduced chance of operator/service provider injury.
Further, electrostatic disinfection appliances have been leveraged in several school districts to successfully halt and avert influenza outbreaks during the height of the season.
When combined, the technologies have the capacity to significantly increase the level of sanitation and safety in large indoor facilities, as well as outdoor playgrounds, parks, and stadiums.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
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