Drone Power Washing Makes Cleaning Hospital Safer and Easier
© USAHealthSystem.com
American architect Bertrand Goldberg was known for his innovative buildings designed to provide structural solutions for optimal space usage. He designed several medical centers, aiming to enhance the space to meet the needs of patients, nurses, and doctors. In the late 1980s, Mr. Goldberg was commissioned to design and build USA Health Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. The resulting project is a collection of white tower buildings centered on round pods that allow hospital staff to easily observe and reach patients. Unlike most hospitals, the main structure of the building has no corners but rather curved sides, a trademark of Mr. Goldberg’s.
The hospital design is not only highly functional but also an architectural beauty. However, the unique shape of the building makes it a challenge to keep clean, and environmental dirt gathers in the recesses of the building’s curves. Another challenge, as pointed out by USA Health’s Administrative Director of Operations and Systems Safety Officer Jamey Greer, is accessing a large part of the structure that is blocked on land by a retention pond. This is why the hospital has once again embraced innovation to clean its exterior through drone technology.
In 2016, Rodney Strickler founded Deep South Exteriors, an all-purpose power washing company based in Daphne, Alabama. A little over a year ago, Mr. Strickler decided to add drones to his arsenal of cleaning tools, opening up far more opportunities for himself. Drone technology has come a long way in the past few years, including enabling them to connect to water sources for power washing the exteriors of structures like bridges, buildings, and more. Mr. Strickler has since been using the drone to power wash hotels, casinos, and, most recently, Providence Hospital.
Ms. Greer said the drone not only made the building look amazing but also delighted patients and staff who had the opportunity to witness Mr. Strickler at work. “Everything we do is soft washing,” Mr. Strickler said. “So we’re at 600 psi or less, which is the correct way to wash a building because you don’t want to put high pressure on buildings because you’ve got window seals. It can damage the stucco. We let the solution we put on the building do the work for us, then we go back and rinse it off.” The drone he uses is the Apellix Power Wash Drone.
Apellix was founded in 2014 by Robert Dahlstrom in Jacksonville, Florida, to develop drone systems that could not only help people better perform their jobs but also keep them safe while doing them. Their patented power-washing drone keeps workers safely on the ground. By simply connecting the drone to a power tether and hose, the drone does all the work while the human operator closely controls and observes from the ground. “Apellix Power Wash Drones can clean large areas quickly and efficiently, significantly reducing the time and manpower required to complete the task,” the company website states. “Setup is quick and easy. You’ll be cleaning within minutes of arriving on the job. No need for a lengthy setup of lifts or scaffolding. Unpack the Apellix Power Wash Drone, connect the hose and power tether, and you are ready to clean. This is absolutely the most efficient way to clean elevated structures.”
Mr. Strickler is currently one of the few licensed drone operators providing drone power-washing services in coastal Alabama. He points out that the only restriction he has encountered with using the drone is the weather. If it’s too windy, it is not safe to fly the drone. The concept of utilizing innovative technology like drones to perform labor-intensive, dangerous tasks like cleaning large structures is quickly growing in popularity. Companies across the United States are turning to drone technology to meet the cleaning needs of clients with all types of exterior structures.
In the same spirit of innovation that defined Bertrand Goldberg’s architectural designs, the use of drone technology to clean Providence Hospital exemplifies how creativity and modern solutions can enhance both functionality and aesthetics. Just as Mr. Goldberg’s buildings were designed with the future in mind, the integration of drones into the cleaning process reflects a forward-thinking approach to maintaining these iconic structures. As technology continues to evolve, it’s clear that the same visionary mindset that shaped Mr. Goldberg’s work will continue to inspire new ways to meet the challenges of modern architecture and design.
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