Aerial Inspection

Using drones to collect visual data on the condition of an asset/utility helps inspectors avoid having to place themselves in dangerous situations. Instead of climbing several stories in the air on a tower to take a close look at a wire or on scaffolding within a boiler to look at a weld, an inspector can send a drone instead. In most instances, these are visual inspections where the drone cameras act as the inspector’s eyes. Visual data is collected and then reviewed in detail later by the inspector.

Visual inspections are critical to ensuring the proper monitoring and maintenance of assets. Visual inspections are not only for saving costs, but also to save lives by fixing potential hazards. Also, drones can use other non-visual sensors such as lidar thermo infrared and multispectral sensors for other forms of inspections such as observing and monitoring the amount of current passing through power lines in a case of a power company

Benefits of drone inspections:

1. Inspections act as the 1st step in maintenance process. They enable the inspector to easily inspect and detect faults in the utility being inspected;
2. Reduced rist;
3. Increased safety though increased inspections;
4. Enables one to save costs on temporary structures, liability insurance and downtime;

Areas of application for aerial inspection

1. Agriculture;
2. Construction;
3. Infrastructure and utilities;
4. Insurance;
5. Power generation;
6. Mining;
7. Oil and gas;