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Con Ed Tests Using Drones To Inspect Steam System

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Con Edison is using drones to inspect its vast steam system.

A test program is using the devices to carry cameras inside huge boilers at a steam plant near the East River, the utility said Monday.

The boilers produce steam for some of the city's most recognizable buildings, including the Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal and the World Trade Center.

When people inspect the boilers, they have to undergo confined-space training and work on 10-story scaffolding.

Con Edison said the technology can improve quality and safety while saving money and time.

The drones use video, camera, and thermal technology to produce images in real time, which workers can then analyze to determine if repairs or maintenance is needed.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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