Save 'Millions Of Pounds A Day'

Drones have become crucial tools for inspection - collecting accurate data safely and quickly, resulting in huge cost-savings, deeper insights, and more informed decision-making.

Companies around the world have seen this potential and are harnessing the power of the technology.          

A drone inspection is the process of using an unmanned aircraft to assess an asset. In this case, drones literally become the eyes of the inspector.

Drones have the advantage of reaching places that are difficult, expensive, dangerous, live, or even impossible to access by manned inspection teams, and they can be used for indoor, underground, onshore, or offshore purposes.

A drone can inspect an array of assets, such as wind turbines, flare stacks, building facades, railways, and crops.

Inspection drones are being deployed across a range of industries, such as oil and gas, energy, agriculture, critical infrastructure, public safety, and mining.  

Using a drone for inspections has multiple benefits. These include:

• Reduce Risk: The inspection team no longer has to be put into potentially dangerous situations, such as working at height. The drone can collect the data for you, with your staff safely on the ground and away from hazardous areas.
• Cut Costs: Drones save money in many ways - from requiring less manpower through to removing the need to erect scaffolding or pay for a cherry picker. 
• Minimise Downtime: Keep operations and assets open and running while critical inspections are conducted. Reducing, or even removing downtime, can save huge amounts of money.                      
• Increase Efficiency: Drone inspections dramatically increase the amount of time it takes to inspect an asset, or assets.
• More Inspections: Generally speaking, a drone inspection provides a more cost-effective and efficient inspection solution - enabling more frequent checks. This in turn means that any problems can be identified and remedied a lot quicker. 
• Better Data: Drones collect quality data, which can be archived to create a detailed record of an asset's lifecycle. Drones can conduct automated, repeatable missions, ensuring the data is consistent each time - especially vital for regular and comparative checks.
• Versatility: Certain drones, like the M300 RTK, can be integrated with a range of different payloads to collect a variety of data, such as thermal, zoom, and LiDAR. In the case of the M300 RTK and H20T payload, utilise the camera's quad-sensor array of thermal, wide angle, zoom and laser rangefinder, to maximise data collection and increase mission efficiency.

Accurate Information. Deeper Insights.

Drones are a versatile solution, able to utilise an array of different cameras to capture a diverse range of data for inspection purposes. 

This enables deeper insights for more informed decision-making and a more efficient response. 

Types of drone inspection include:          

Commercial Uses For Inspection Drones

The benefits of drone inspections are clear, but how are UAVs helping specific industries? 

The section below explores drone inspection use-cases across the enterprise sector and the types of inspection they are conducting.

Oil And Gas Drone Inspections

Drones help professionals in the oil and gas industry to inspect and manage assets, such as refineries, storage tanks, offshore rigs and chimneys/smokestacks, with minimal downtime and without compromising staff safety.

Unmanned aircraft can be used to conduct refinery infrastructure inspections to help identify faults or weaknesses. Prior to drones, either helicopters would be required to examine flare systems or scaffolding would need to be erected for staff to inspect high structures - both costly, while the latter is also dangerous,

Drones can also be deployed for pipeline integrity management. They can quickly cover vast stretches of pipeline - especially useful when flying over complex and undulating terrain - helping to identify leakages or anomalies. 

Drones can prevent plant shutdowns, cut routine maintenance time and perform inspections without having to halt operations. This is a major benefit, as every second of downtime is lost revenue.

Drones can help to:

• Evaluate the operation of refinery flares;
• Assess steam systems;
• Identify weak points in structures;
• Pinpoint failures in flanges;
• Reveal deformations.

Drones For Energy Inspection

Drones can be utilised across the energy sector. Below, we focus on how drones are helping to inspect powerlines, wind turbines and solar panels.

Drone Powerline Inspection

Drones offer an effective solution to inspect and manage powerlines, with improved speed, efficiency, and safety - all while reducing manhours and costs. 

Conducting an automated drone inspection can save 30 to 50% of the cost and time , compared to alternative methods. 

After all, traditional methods are costly, laborious and dangerous. Using a helicopter is expensive, noisy, ecologically-unfriendly, and complex, while manual methods can be dangerous, slow, and hindered by difficult terrain.

Drones change all of this. And they are particularly suited to powerline inspection as they help cover large areas quickly and are an ideal tool for repeat inspections; typical of the powerline inspection industry.           

Using a drone, powerline inspectors can:          

• Assess the condition of all components of a powerline without workers ascending to height;
• Cover large areas quicker - increasing the number of powerlines inspected - and reach difficult-to-access locations;
• Inspections are conducted from a safe distance, with drone cameras such as zoom, thermal, LiDAR and 4K imagery providing key insights - all while staff keep their boots on the ground;
• Real-time data for informed and rapid insights and decision-making;
• Easily automate missions - ideal for efficiency, conducting repeatable flights, and for gathering more reliable year-on-year comparison data;
• Higher-resolution visual inspections than ground-based inspections;
• Towers remain functional during inspection.

Utilities And Infrastructure Inspections

Utilities and infrastructure is a broad term, but it covers assets such as roads, bridges, telecommunication towers, and railways, among other things.

Drones are being deployed in this sector to perform regular maintenance checks or following natural disasters - such as hurricanes or floods - where the condition of the asset is unknown, but could have suffered damage.

As with other industries, one of the key advantages of using drones for utilities and infrastructure inspections is the ability to capture quality data quickly, safely, and relatively cheaply. For instance, there is no need for personnel to be clambering up a telecommunications tower - the drone can do this instead.

When it comes to bridge inspections, there's no need to use heavy plant machinery, as drones can collect the required data in one flight, or a series of flights, and can do follow-up inspections more regularly because of the ease and cost-effectiveness of their use. These flights can also be automated.

Drones can also be used for project updates. Balfour Beatty used drones on a major Smart Motorway development, regularly flying the 13.6-mile mile stretch to keep track of progress and spot for mistakes. Imagine how much more difficult and time-consuming this would have been without a drone.

Drones can inspect:

• Utility towers;
• Bridges;
• Roads;
• Railways.

Construction Drone Inspections

The construction industry is the fastest growing adopter of commercial drones, and inspection plays a significant role. 

Deploying drones for construction can save hundreds of thousands of pounds during a project lifecycle and can be far more efficient than traditional methods - taking a matter of hours to collect data, instead of days, in some cases.

Drones can be used in the construction industry for monitoring onsite progress, checking for mistakes, measuring stockpiles, and comparing the real-life build compared to the design plans. 

As a result of drone inspections, companies are able to build 2D orthomosaic maps or 3D models for highly-detailed and accurate visual representations of the project. These digital twins can be quickly and easily shared with staff and stakeholders for improved communication and decision-making.          

Drones can also be deployed to inspect the job site for any security or maintenance issues, such as a damaged section of perimeter fence or using a thermal camera to detect an over-heating tank, for instance. 

As a consequence, drones help construction companies stay on schedule, reduce costs, improve communication, and keep workers safe.

Agriculture Drone Surveying

Drones have quickly emerged as a vital tool for agriculture, replacing the age-old method of farmers manually walking their fields to monitor and inspect their crops.

Thanks to drones and their sophisticated array of sensors, farmers are able to increase crop production, monitor and inspect crop growth, build a richer picture of their fields, improve farming efficiency, and maximise outputs. 

For instance, farmers can build 3D models of their land to better understand irrigation conditions, or use a drone to provide regular updates of crop conditions in far-flung locations on a large farm.          

Drones are able to achieve these insights far quicker than walking the field and, compared to deploying manned aviation, are a far more accessible and cost-effective method. This data can also be collected over time, enabling farmers to compare crop patterns across seasons or years.          

Drones provide real-time insights and are non-evasive to crops.

Assets For Inspection Include:

• Crops;
• Irrigation;
• Land conditions;
• Soil health;
• Livestock.

Public Safety Drone Programmes

Public safety officials are increasingly using drones for inspection purposes.

UAVs are powerful during a live incident, thanks to their ability to provide real-time footage and vital situational awareness, helping shape a more effective response and keep crews away from danger.

The partial dam wall collapse at Whaley Bridge in 2019 demonstrated this. Derbyshire Constabulary deployed a DJI drone, with zoom camera, to inspect the situation, and monitor the extent of the damage. Without the drone, somebody would have had to go up close to the damage - scaling a rope down the dam to have a look and putting their life at risk. 

As the picture shows, police also used the drone to check where bags of aggregate were placed by RAF Chinooks to sure-up the damaged section and look for any breaches - providing instant, real-time and up-close information thanks to the zoom.          

Officials can also deploy drones to inspect a crime scene or conduct crash-scene investigations.

Public safety drone inspections include:

• Visual data collection of ongoing incidents, such as fires;
• Vital situational awareness to help deploy resources in the most safe and efficient way;
• Deploying after an event, such as inspecting areas destroyed by wildfires, for example;
• Accident reconstruction;
• Inspecting public spaces like stadia or festival fields for security concerns or pre-event planning.

Mining Drone Inspections 

The mining industry is one of the fastest adopters of drone technology, and it is easy to see why.

Mines are dangerous and hostile environments, so drones enable fast and accurate data collection, while keeping employees safe.

Drones also enable access to the inaccessible, which in turn helps to stimulate better planning and decision-making.

Drone inspections can be utilised throughout the lifecycle of a mining operation, from mapping areas of interest and potential blast sites during the exploration stage, through to documenting equipment during construction, and detailing the final site on closure.

But their most common and practical use is during the operation phase. Drone inspections provide a bird's eye view of the site, showing general progress, assessing haul roads, highlighting any stability hazards or illegal mining activity, and monitoring pit and dump management. 

They can also be used to inspect on-site assets, providing real-time information in the process. These inspection assets include:

• Open Stope: Support backfilling operations by exploring restricted areas such as excavated open stopes. Understand ground conditions without putting staff at risk.
• Drop Raise: Identify clogging by flying down a dusty, wet and rocky drop raise in an underground mine.
• Stockpile Feeder: Assess the integrity and plan for maintenance by flying through the stockpile hole, collecting visuals.
• Conveyor Belt: No need to disturb the operation and stop ongoing excavation; use the drone to assess the integrity of conveyor belts.
• Blast Areas: Produce cost-effective and accessible 3D reconstructions and surface models for areas to be blasted or drilled - helping to better plan resources.

Chemical Inspections with Drones

Drone inspections within the chemical industry have one major benefit: They reduce the need for humans to be exposed to potentially harmful materials. 

This is key, because inspection within the chemical industry is an important task. Any leak caused by a poorly-maintained storage container could result in serious consequences. For instance, chemicals leaking into a watercourse or earth could lead to serious health issues to people in the surrounding area.  

Therefore, drones can be used to quickly and safely inspect the integrity of a chemical company's assets. And as a drone reduces the need for staff to get up close to tanks or containers, there is less need to have to build time-consuming and expensive scaffolding.

Drones can be used to inspect the following assets:    

• Pipe racks;
• Cables;
• Fermenter tanks;
• Storage tanks;
• Suction ducts;
• Heat exchangers;
• Storage silos and bins.

Insurance Sector Drone Inspections

A drone is a useful tool for insurance claims, particularly after a natural disaster or an event such as a fire.

Drones have the advantage of being able to safely access damaged or dangerous areas, and collect unique aerial views of a disaster zone.

High-resolution visual imagery can be quickly collected by drones and easily shared with insurance companies, providing a true and clear record of the damage to help validate an insurance claim. 

For example, the 2018 Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history, and the most expensive natural disaster in the world for that year in terms of insured losses.

Following the incident, drone maps of entire neighbourhoods were created, enabling homeowners to submit the imagery to insurance providers to immediately process claims -  a process that traditionally could take days or weeks. Many also used the imagery to gain access to FEMA relief funds for the families affected by the fires.

The same happened in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which hit Cape Verde. Extensive damage to properties meant that claim adjusters needed to inspect each structure and estimate the cost of repairs before insurance companies could begin to help the island’s residents get back on their feet.

From the ground, this would have taken months. But by using drone maps to assess the structural damage caused by the hurricane, insurance inspectors shortened that process to days  -  all while improving safety, data collection and turnaround time for the claims process.

As well as disaster areas, drones can be used to inspect the following for insurance claims:

• Car accident scenes;
• Farms / crop damage;
• Buildings and related infrastructure on an insured site.

Scientific Drone Inspections

Drones are being deployed by academics and professionals to conduct inspection missions within the field of science.

Volcano Inspections: Drones are changing the way that scientists can sample and survey previously inaccessible volcanic plumes, acquire information which was limited through ground-based techniques, and conduct short-range gas checks. Using drones for this type of study helps to protect local communities by obtaining key information about volcanic activity, and makes inspections safer and more accessible. Read the full case study here.

Inspecting Radiation Levels At Chernobyl: Drones have been used to complete comprehensive inspections of Chernobyl's Red Forest - one of the most radioactive locations on Earth. Drones helped to provided up-to-date information on the sites with the greatest contamination and also revealed previously undetected radiation hotspots. Using drones allowed scientists to investigate hazardous places from a safe distance. UAVs also helped the team cover large areas quickly. Read the full case study here.

Better Data Collection - Made Safer

Drones are a sensible solution for confined space inspections.

Typically, these inspections - in industries such as oil and gas, construction, and mining - have been challenging. Traditionally, such tasks are usually dangerous, time-consuming and costly.

Confined space inspection presents plenty of risk, such as workers getting trapped and being exposed to toxic gases and chemicals, while the limited area may hinder the inspection itself. 

To overcome these challenges, drones have emerged as a go-to solution to access and inspect confined spaces such as pipes, ducts, chimneys, and tunnels. The advantages of using drones for confined space inspections include:  

• Reduced inspection costs and time
• Easy to transport to the field
• Able to access tiny areas and spaces
• Better maintenance and reduced downtime of the asset
• Flexibility and ability to collect comprehensive data
• Improved safety

30% Efficiency Savings Using DJI M300 RTK

Valmont Industries has achieved dramatic efficiency savings using drone technology - or more specifically, flying the DJI M300 RTK with H20T camera.

The company has to inspect more than 2,000 inspection poles, covering 12,000 square miles. Using the drone has the following advantages:

• Increased Efficiency: The drone can inspect up to 12 poles a day, compared to four with a crane crew. The M300 RTK's endurance also helps to increase the number of poles that can be inspected during any one day.
• Comparable Data: Using the AI SpotCheck feature on the H20 Series camera, the crew can conduct the same flight repeatedly. This enables them to compare apples to apples, to see if there has been any significant changes to the structure over multiple years.
• Increased Zoom: The H20T has a 23x hybrid optical zoom, and 200x max zoom. This increased zoom enables the team to spot smaller defects, helping to check for missing elements, such as nuts and bolts.  

Global Oil Giant Shell Benefiting From Drone Data 

The team at Shell Deer Park, US, has been deploying drones on site since 2016 to inspect and maintain the industrial equipment - reducing the need for daunting dangerous climbs, and improving safety and cutting inspection costs.

Flare tips and floating roof tanks are among the key assets which require scheduled inspections; a process made easier, safer and more efficient with a drone. After all, their condition and activity are difficult to assess from ground level.

More recently, the team has deployed the M300 RTK with H20 camera - with outstanding results, especially when inspecting structures and navigating steam pipe systems.

• 23x Optical Zoom: The team has been able to obtain close-up views of each asset from a safe distance, without sacrificing image quality. 
• Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance: When inspecting pipe racks, for example, the M300 RTK can self-correct and fly between objects before coming down to the correct altitude. No longer does the team have to worry about the drone stopping after detecting an obstacle and putting the pilot in a difficult situation.
• Extended Flight Time: The M300 RTK can stay airborne for 45 minutes when flying with the H20. This is particularly ideal for demanding missions, and obtaining as much data as possible during a single flight. The ability to hot-swap the drone's TB60 batteries without disrupting the mission is also a great timesaver.
• AI SpotCheck:  Automate missions to collect repeatable data on each flight; particularly useful for regular inspections of the same asset. It means there is no more guesswork; the team can obtain the same picture of the same tank every week, making it easier to compare issues and make smarter maintenance decisions. 
• Health Management System: This system simplifies fleet maintenance and keeps tabs on each aircraft's flight data over time. The team can now better understand their fleet's performance and make data-driven decisions around servicing.

Saving The Client Time And Money

Drone services provider, Terra Drone Europe (formerly Skeye BV), utilises drones for offshore inspections - benefiting from enhanced safety and increased efficiency. 

Working on behalf of a major oil company, and deploying the DJI M200 drone with the Z30 zoom camera, Skeye BV achieved the following:

• Time Saving: The drone inspections lasted several weeks, but saved several months of laborious inspections with rope access. Following assessment of the drone imagery, Rope Access teams were called upon to repair the defects.
• Access All Areas: The M200 was used to inspect external features, while an alternative drone was used for confined space inspections. This ensured all areas were inspected, including difficult-to-access areas. 
• No Downtime: Terra Drone needed to inspect flare stacks. The drone offered a safe inspection solution without impacting operations on the platform - providing a full inspection on the flare stacks while they were operational.

Drones For Rooftop Inspections          

This image shows the power of using a drone and zoom camera for roof inspection work.

Quayle Industries utilised the DJI M210 V2 with the Z30 to conduct the assessment: The top image shows the view high above the building, while the bottom photograph is a crystal clear picture of two of the chimneys, as captured using the zoom. 

This technique enabled the inspection to be completed without having to send team members onto the roof, improving safety. This data was captured with boots firmly on the ground!

Consequently, it was also a great timesaver, as the information was collected far quicker than by manual methods. Imagine how much slower the process would be if scaffolding needed to be erected, followed by someone having to climb to the top and manually take photographs - not to mention dangerous and costly!

This inspection method did not scrimp on quality either, with the Z30 picking up every detail of the two chimneys - helping to drive decision-making, and remedies, where needed.

Inspecting The Lloyds Building In London

Digital services company, The Virtulab, completed a drone inspection of London’s iconic Lloyd’s building, using a DJI M210 RTK and X7 camera.

The team obtained an Operating Safety Case to fly close to the building within the City of London - the capital's main financial district.

The brief was to capture the detail of the Lloyd’s façade, as part of a five-year project to assess and monitor the external fabric of the building.

Using the drone had numerous advantages:

• Increased Safety And Efficiency: The drone replaced the need for rope access, which saved time and improved safety.
• Non-invasive Inspection: The Lloyds building is Grade-I listed. The drone was able to keep away from the structure, preventing any knocks, scrapes, or damage which could be caused through alternative methods. 
• Repeatable Data: Using the drone was ideal for capturing consistent data, removing the need to abseil down the outside of the building and stopping at regular intervals to manually take pictures. Accurate drone data is a more reliable process for cross-referencing and validating during the lifecycle of the project. 

Diverse Drones For Diverse Data Collection 

DJI offers a vast ecosystem for drone inspections, enabling operators to capture quick and reliable data. 

The versatility of the aircraft available ensures there is something for every mission - from the powerful and larger M300 RTK to the small, foldable and portable Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced. 

Some of the stand-out solutions include: 

M300 RTK

DJI's most powerful commercial drone platform.

• Up to 55 minutes of flight time;
• Carry up to three payloads at once;
• IP45 rating;
• Wide payload compatibility for inspections, such as H20T (including thermal, zoom, wide angle), L1 LiDAR sensor, P1 photogrammetry camera, and third-party payloads;
• Attach CSM Module to help detect small obstacles.

BUY M300 RTK

Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced

Compact drone for thermal, visual and zoom data.

• 640 x 512 px radiometric thermal sensor;
• 48MP visual camera;
• 32x digital zoom, and 16x thermal zoom;
• RTK Module available for CM-level positioning and greater flight stability, especially close to powerlines;
• Create up to 240 waypoints for automated inspection;
• Integrate with extra accessories, such as a bright spotlight.

BUY M2EA

Mini 2

Tiny drone for visual inspections.

• Sub 250g take-off weight for an ultra-light visual inspection tool;
• 12MP visual camera, and 4K 30fps video @ 100mbps;
• 4x Zoom, 2x lossless;
• 31 minutes of flight time;
• The drone's light weight means that a UK drone training course isn't necessarily necessary. Read UK drone laws.  

BUY MINI 2

Matrice 210 V2

A versatile inspection solution.

• Rugged and robust with an IP43 weather-resistance rating;
• Carry dual payloads to increase mission efficiency;
• Compatible with a range of cameras, including third-party options;
• Up to 34 minute maximum flight time;
• The M210 Series also has an RTK version available.

BUY M200 SERIES V2

Phantom 4 RTK

Low-altitude mapping tool.

• 1”CMOS sensor; 20MP; mechanical shutter to avoid rolling shutter blur;
• Achieve 1cm+1ppm RTK Horizontal Positioning Accuracy, and 1.5cm+1ppm RTK Vertical Positioning Accuracy;
• RTK module for real-time, CM-level positioning data for absolute accuracy on image metadata. Also utilise RTK for greater flight stability.

BUY PHANTOM 4 RTK

Flybotix ASIO Caged Drone

Caged Indoor Inspection Drone from Flybotix.

• 24m of flight time from patented Flybotix dual prop propulsion system;
• 4K video Camera alongside dedicated thermal optics
• Easy-to-replace protective cage;
• Smart wall following and advanced stabilisation features.

BUY Flybotix ASIO 

Pick The Payload For Your Inspection Needs

The type of data you want to collect during your drone inspection will dictate which camera you use.

Some drones, such as the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced and Phantom 4 RTK, have fixed cameras. But larger drones, such as the DJI M300 RTK and DJI M200 Series, can be integrated with a range of different cameras, enabling ultimate flexibility for drone inspection missions.          

Available payloads have a wealth of capabilities, enabling operators to collect varied data, such as thermal, zoom, and LiDAR. Meanwhile, the Z15 bright spotlight, is ideal for illuminating inspection areas, especially during lowlight missions.           

Your Drone Partner

A successful commercial drone programme is based on a multi-faceted approach. It isn't just hardware; it's developing a comprehensive end-to-end workflow, with all components running effectively, together.

For this, you need a pillar of support to help you build solid foundations, cover all bases and connect the dots.  

This is where heliguy™ can help. At the forefront of the industry since 2008, we have more than 20 members of staff who can help each aspect of your enterprise - from start-up to scale.

Our one-stop-shop structure spans consultancy; hardware supply and support; global logistics; pilot and industry-specific training; and in-house repairs, crash resolution and R&D to provide an integrated and comprehensive support network.

This approach has enabled us to empower the drone programmes of Network Rail, Balfour Beatty, Atkins, National Grid, the Ministry of Defence, AB Ports, Phillips 66, and more than 30 UK emergency services.

Drone Supply

• Free consultancy;
• Vast inventory of stock for instant supply, scaling and immediate swap outs;
• Drone rental;
•  Global network of industry partners;
• Service level agreements;
• Next-day delivery;
• Finance options available;
• IATA Certified to globally ship high-power batteries by air to help with transborder operations.

Drone Training

• 3,000+ candidates taught;
• CAA-approved courses;
• Online training and remote theory examinations;
• Closed courses and industry-specific training - we've delivered to the likes of Network Rail and UK blue light;
• CPD courses and industry application courses, like GIS and industrial inspection;
•  Streamlined Operations Manual creation and renewal;
• OSC consultancy;
• Handover days;
• Lifetime support.

Repairs & Crash Management

• In-house DJI-approved repair centre, offering crash support and repairs management;
• Instant replacement of dead on arrival products, including over-the-phone fault diagnosis with one of four technicians, and free returns/replacements of faulty items;
• Warranty repairs/replacements at no extra cost, including access to repairs infrastructure in the UK from our Repair Centre;
• Firmware upgrade and set-up support;
• Data analysis, premium customer support, and resolution with the manufacturer;
• R&D lab for custom builds and sensor integration.

Fly Legally And Safely

If you are planning on using a drone for inspection, it is important that you understand the rules and regulations and have the necessary training in place.

heliguy™'s expert training team can help drone pilots obtain the necessary permissions and meet the correct training criteria to empower them to deploy unmanned aircraft for inspection jobs. 

The type of training needed depends on the country you are operating in.

Drone Training: UK

If you want to operate drones for inspection in the UK, then, in the majority of cases, you will need to sit either an A2 CofC or GVC course. 

Candidates can sit either of these courses now, online through our dedicated Learning Management System. 

UK DRONE LAWS AND TRAINING

Drone Training: USA

In the U.S., commercial operators need to obtain a Part 107 drone license.

This involves passing the FAA Part 107 Test and obtaining a Remote Pilot Certificate.

PART 107: A GUIDE