Detecting changes at cell sites and surrounding areas using unmanned aerial vehicles

A processing device for cell site inspection by a cell site operator using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the processing device comprising:

• a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to
• responsive to creation of an initial computer model of a cell site and surrounding geography at a first point in time, wherein the initial computer model represents a known good state of the cell site and the surrounding geography, receive the initial computer model;
• receive captured current data of the cell site and the surrounding geography at a second point in time using the UAV;
• compare the current data to the initial computer model;
• and
• identify variances between the current data and the initial computer model, wherein the variances comprise differences at the cell site and the surrounding geography between the first point in time and the second point in time.

A non-transitory computer readable medium includes instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• creating an initial computer model of a cell site and surrounding geography at a first point in time, wherein the initial computer model represents a known good state of the cell site and the surrounding geography;
• providing the initial computer model to one or more of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and a processing device;
• capturing current data of the cell site and the surrounding geography at a second point in time using the UAV;
• comparing the current data to the initial computer model by the processing device;
• and
• identifying variances between the current data and the initial computer model, wherein the variances comprise differences at the cell site and the surrounding geography between the first point in time and the second point in time.