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Figure 4: Façade inspection of exterior brickwork.
In additional to digital photography and video recording, drones can also be used for thermographic imaging of buildings. This thermographic imaging, whether it be of the roof or façade, can be completed more quickly with a drone. Traditional, handheld thermography requires the technician to reposition themselves. And as discussed above, it may require additional access equipment. With a drone, the time required to complete the thermographic imaging is shorter than when using a handheld scanner because the drone can travel along a pre - programmed path, capturing data along the way. Additionally, a technician does not typically require access to the interior of the building (Figure 5). This allows for multiple buildings or properties to be scanned in a single visit, depending on how close the buildings are to each other.
Figure 5: Thermographic façade scan conducted with a drone equipped with a thermographic camera.
Using a drone in investigations of the built environment may not replace a technician ’ s potential need to physically touch specific areas of concern, as they may need to lift or remove material to dig deeper. However, drones can help to specifically identify the areas that the technician will need to investigate further, thus ensuring that the technician is using their time and talents efficiently to target these specific areas during the investigative process. The use of a drone is another tool in a technician ’ s toolbox to help make their investigations more focused, more cost effective, quicker, and safer.
CCI Review 2022/2023 - 3 March 2023 Page 12
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