Drones Used For Structural Inspections

How can drones improve my inspection business?

Drones are overtaking the inspection industry and for all the right reasons. Whether it is a home or industrial inspection, drones make the task safer and less expensive. Forget about using ladders, ropes or rigs while conducting an inspection; you won’t need it with drone technology.

John York, owner of York Services, LLC., shared with us why he started using drones for home inspections. York purchased a DJI Phantom 4 Pro from Vector Aerial, and it has changed the way he does business.

“I primarily use my drone to enhance my inspections of difficult, or otherwise, unsafe areas to access on foot or with a ladder, such as steep-pitched sections of roofing, chimneys and siding,” York said. “I also use it when my roof is slick from rain, algae, or has an excessive amount of debris. Utilizing the drone makes inspections much safer and prevents me from moving and repositioning a large extension ladder multiple times.”

York mentioned that not only is he satisfied with the results from his drone, but his clients are also impressed.

“My clients are pleased with my use of a drone,” he said. “Not only am I able to find more defects during my home inspections, enhancing the value of my service; it shows that I am committed to the quality of my work.”

What drone should I use for my inspection?

You don’t have to break the bank to buy a suitable drone for your inspection needs. We recommend several DJI drones that will get the job done.

The Matrice 300 RTK is the ultimate inspector’s drone. This drone is ideal for industrial inspections of large infrastructure such as oil rigs, pipelines or bridges. Its 55-minute flight time makes it the longest flight we have seen in a DJI drone. Its payload, the Zenmuse H20T sensor, houses a hybrid optical zoom and thermal camera, with zoom capabilities up to 23x. The Matrice 300 RTK is also the only DJI drone capable of operating in prolonged rainy environments.

The Mavic 2 Enterprise series offers zoom and thermal capabilities at a lower price than the Matrice series drones. We recommend this drone for home, building or tower inspections that are not as extensive as massive infrastructure inspections. The Mavic 2 Enterprise Zoom comes with 2x optical and 3x digital zoom capabilities. The Enterprise Dual series does not come with zoom capabilities; however, it houses a sensor capable of both visible and thermal imagery. The Dual is excellent for projects that require thermal data such as hot spot detection.

Still not sure which drone is the best for your inspection needs? Contact us for a custom drone solution.