Carrying out inspections of high-rise buildings and tall infrastructure has always been a challenging task. In the past, such assessments required scaffolding, cranes, or workers hanging from the building top to get a close view and inspect. The methods were costly, time-consuming and risk-bearing.
However, modern technology has brought solutions to replace these traditional methods, i.e., drones. They were considered fancy toys and attracted to tech enthusiasts and aerial photographers. However, drones’ capability of capturing real-time data has made them a useful tool across many industries for inspecting tall buildings. This will discuss why drones are the best for safely performing aerial inspections.
Access To Difficult Areas
It is often noticed that high-rise buildings have structures that are hard to reach and access. There were more chances of workers getting in an accident, falling, or becoming exposed to harsh weather impacts, thus making their routine jobs hazardous.
With the incorporation of drones into inspections of these scenarios, the risk factor has significantly reduced but without compromising on the quality of the job. Now inspectors could stay safely on the ground while drones would inspect every inch of the site and capture footage, thus making their jobs easier and safer.
Speed And Access
Drones could accomplish the designated tasks within a few hours, which in the past would have taken many days to perform with human teams. Drones have not only minimised time but have made jobs less disturbing for the residents of the building. It has also helped cut down on the budget.
The speed and time saving have positively impacted the overall inspection budget, which is reduced compared to investigations carried out with human teams.
Data Quality
The images and data collected with the help of drones are of high quality. Drones have advanced cameras that can capture high-resolution photos and 4K videos. Some drones even have thermal imaging capabilities that help detect issues like heat loss or water leakage, which human eyes could have missed.
The footage captured with the drones also assists in effective decision-making. Some of the decisions could be taken immediately without the need for inspection to be completed. This kind of data is invaluable in an emergency situation like after a flood or earthquake.
Environment-Friendly Option
Compared to traditional methods, drones are more environmentally friendly than past methods. A lot of heavy machinery like cranes, lifts, and scaffolding costs money and leaves a large carbon footprint.
Drones are powered with batteries, leaving a much smaller carbon footprint. In an era of sustainability, adopting drones to inspect high-rise buildings aligns them with greener environments. Companies could leave a positive, greener, and environmental impact while ensuring the safety and integrity of the building.
Detailed Analysis And Documentation
Drones effectively collect data and allow for detailed analysis and documentation post-inspection. Post-inspection will be reviewed multiple times, facilitating zooming in on the areas of concern. This ability has helped inspect buildings without needing to be physically there. It ensures that no area is missed and also saves time.
Footages collected by drones provide a clear and accurate picture of the site. This data could be shared with the engineers and contractors to look up for any due maintenance.
Conclusion
Drones have changed how inspection of high-rise buildings has been done in the past. They provide safe, efficient, and accurate data collection without putting anyone’s life at risk. It offers the ability to reach hard-to-access areas within a fraction of the time. They have proven themselves as an irreplaceable tool in the construction and inspection fields. In a world where sustainability has gained massive importance, drones make it a safe option without compromising on quality.
