Visual inspection is a simple, non-destructive technique essential in assessing buildings and structures. Aside from regular maintenance, ground teams can make critical repairs in problem areas if they are detected early.
This is where drone inspection comes in. Drone inspections are vital in saving companies both money and time. Thanks to drones’ ability to easily navigate hazardous areas, they can save the lives of maintenance teams by minimizing accidents.
Why Implement Drones for Visual Inspection?
A visual inspection carefully reviews every part of a specific asset with the naked eye. While this visible data is essential, it is not always accessible depending on the asset.
Today, drones enhance the visual inspection process for maintenance crews, architects, and engineers. They are the optimal way to obtain accurate results because of their speed and manoeuvrability.
Drone construction inspection is especially popular for large infrastructure projects, such as runways or multistore buildings. They help save time while increasing performance and can provide valuable data faster and more efficiently.
How to Use Drones for Drone Inspection?
Many companies have assets that can pose significant health and safety hazards without proper maintenance. However, while not all inspections are visual, drones can be equipped with different sensors for different kinds of assessments.
Using drones for inspection is faster and more efficient no matter the purpose. Built-in multispectral sensors provide highly detailed imaging, especially useful for time-sensitive operations. Here is what you need to do to get started:
#1. Familiarizing Drone Controls
Most drones, especially those used in drone inspection services, have a standard controller layout. After a few minutes or hours of practice, flying should be intuitive. Here are a few quick tips to be more familiar with your drone’s controls:
- Read the Manual
Nearly every drone comes with an instruction manual that contains its control layout. Aside from flight controls, it also provides directions on adjusting the drone’s camera settings.
- Practice Flying
Keep the drone in GPS mode when making a few practice flights. This way, it will hover and maintain its position if there is no input in the control sticks.
- Familiarize Local Flying Regulations
Depending on your location, drone inspection may require a permit before operations. Check your location to see if it is safe to fly your drone.
#2. System Inspection
It is also essential to keep a pre-flight checklist in mind. If you do not know where to start, check for the following on your drone:
- Signs of wear and tear
- Fully charged batteries for adequate power
- Proper connectivity to the controller
- Drone and camera settings
- Available memory (for taking pictures or video footage)
#3. Conduct Weather, Site, and Safety Checks
Drone monitoring is not just making visual checks on the assets. It is also about checking everything else around them, such as the terrain and the weather.
While suitable terrain is necessary for the drone’s landing and take-off, the weather is also significant. Bad weather and strong winds affect visibility and make it difficult for drones to fly or take detailed footage.
#4. Site Inspections
After performing the checks, it’s time to fly the drone. After adjusting the camera and sensor settings accordingly, you can now let the drone do the work.
Be sure to pay attention to where the drone is and what it’s monitoring. Some inspections may require adjusting sensors beforehand, like with NDVI or LiDAR imaging.
When it comes to drone inspection, keep in mind the requirements on the industry set by most laws:
- Inspection standards
Most countries have specific criteria to be followed when inspecting particular assets. These standards are usually set with particular industries in mind.
- Inspection Bodies
Aside from standards, most countries also require representatives from inspection bodies to be present. Coordinate with them to ensure that the inspection protocol is carried out correctly.
The Takeaway
Many industrial and commercial drones now come with special sensors that allow them to perform different inspections. They are a great way to ensure safety and efficiency while also being cost-efficient.
The ZenaDrone 1000 is one such tool that combines advanced technologies into one multipurpose tool that can fit any industry. Whether visual data or payload delivery, you can trust ZenaDrone to deliver.
