Techdee

What Are the Advantages of Using Drones for Inspection?

Drone operated by construction worker on building site,flying with drone.

The pace of technological advancements is approaching a breakneck speed. Indeed, you can look at the small or big picture of this statement and find myriad examples.

On the small picture side, microchips, camera lens technology, and robotics are becoming increasingly smaller and more versatile. There continue to be advancements, even in the field of commercial drone services. Smaller LiDAR, FLIR, and thermal imaging equipment give drone manufacturers the ability to add more equipment on their devices without weighing them down.

drone inspecting electricity power lines

Similarly, on the big picture side, we have seen the explosion of new industries. Now, people are choosing to switch into sustainable energy markets like wind and solar, as well as niche markets like ecosystem management. With all of these new areas of study and innovation, commercial drone services are again seeing huge growth in utility.

Of course, the drone industry itself has seen a massive expansion in recent years. There are drone racing events, commercial companies, and even drone delivery services rising in popularity. Plus, as legislation continues to favor this new mode of travel, more and more possibilities appear every day.

Today, we will look at just one of the ways this advancement helps people and industries, through the realm of inspection activities.

1.Quicker Inspection Times

Firstly, commercial drone services are reducing the necessary time for many different inspections. For instance, consider a land-use survey. Historically, this process would involve several people looking over the area and combining aerial information with what the viewers actually saw on the ground. However, with drones, the process is much simpler.

Now, a single drone operator can cover the same area as two or three individuals in significantly less time. This system allows land-use surveys to proceed quicker, which in turn allows faster development and reduces pre-planning for a variety of construction projects.

2.Safer Alternatives

It would be easy to discuss this single benefit at length. The opportunity to reduce helicopter exposure hours is a perfect example. Aerial inspections are essential in the forestry, industrial, and surveying industries. Even with the high skill requirements for pilots and riders, helicopters still pose an inherent risk to individuals. A risk that simply doesn’t exist with drones.

Although helicopter riders are not the only people who benefit from the increase of drone applications. Indeed, foot traffic in wilderness areas also benefits from this service by reducing exposure to wildlife. This inspection can also reduce the risk of becoming stranded due to faulty equipment.

3.Fewer Employees

The benefit of reducing employees may seem essential only for businesses, but that isn’t actually the case. Earlier, there was mention about the rise in solar and wind industries. Obviously, a part of this growth is that the technology is more viable and global warming shows no sign of slowing down, but there is another aspect to the boom. The increase in skilled workers.

Naturally, this drives up the possibilities for a large variety of people who are struggling to maintain their way of life in traditional markets. Therefore, as people flock to learn new skills, such as drone pilots or solar panel installers, they increase their worth and open up a unique chance for the people who follow them. Both employers and employees benefit from this rise in skilled work.

4.Multipurpose Inspections

Many industries require working at heights, and for several different reasons at one time. For instance, building inspectors and insurance adjusters. They must use IR equipment to verify the insulation’s efficiency on the roof structure and check structural integrity. In some cases, this can involve dangerous maneuvers using ladders or working near the structure’s edge.

However, with commercial drone services, a single operator can remain safely on the ground. From there, they can complete both mechanical and infrared inspections in a single operation. Even more examinations are possible in other industries, and the future looks brighter every day.