What advantages can we obtain by carrying out Technical Inspections with drones?

Many companies in our country have taken a step forward to rely on drone technology to carry out technical inspections.

And although it is a technology in a constant evolutionary process, it has already become a perfect complement for this branch. The reasons? Well there are many, but the top three are: efficiency and quality in data acquisition, employee safety and, most importantly, speed in delivery. Even so, for being a relatively new technology, many companies are not aware of the great benefits that drones could give them over traditional methods.

Benefits of carrying out technical inspections with professional drones

The development of drones has changed the way technical inspections are carried out in recent years. Now, the process is much safer, cheaper and is done in record time.

What are just 10 reasons to consider drones as the best alternative for technical inspections?

1. Drones minimize obvious hazards and health risks

Professional drones enable inspections of tall and complex structures easily and safely.

You might be wondering what can be inspected with drones? Facilities such as oil and gas refineries, wind turbines, solar panels, dams; and a long et cetera that will increase in the coming years. In addition, the need for workers to physically access hostile environments is eliminated. And it is that drones can easily access areas that are difficult to access, leaving their pilot in a safe place.

2. Collection of detailed data

Drones suitable for these services are equipped with a camera of up to 30 magnification, a thermal camera and an RGB camera to capture even the smallest detail. You can capture high-resolution images or 4K videos that clearly show cracks, damage, misplaced wires and other defects at elevations and angles that humans can't. This allows for more comprehensive data collection and, most importantly, without exposing the inspection team to unnecessary risk.

3. Time reduction

RealDron remote pilots can start a drone inspection in no time. Additionally, these aircraft are fast and can complete an inspection in 5-20 minutes. For example, a construction engineer can easily request an inspection and get results in less than an hour.

4. Flexibility to adapt to most inspections

Professional drones have the ability to perform inspections of any kind. Smaller ones, like the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual, can fit into hard-to-reach cavities. In addition, they allow customization by being able to incorporate a wide variety of tools, allowing infinite applications.

They can take photos, capture videos, take thermal images and transmit data, among many other functions. They are able to gather and share information in hours, when by conventional means it would take days.

5. Easy to share data

With standard software and analytical tools, images and other collected information can be used to generate standard reports and easily shared across sectors. The information can be customized for different industries. Thus, this makes it easy for engineers to interpret and share relevant data.

6. For marketing and advertising

Carrying out technical inspections with drones also provides excellent video sequences for marketing initiatives. In real estate, for example, high-quality images and cinematography will give potential investors a better view of the properties they are considering.

7. Minimum downtime

Most manual inspections require shutting down equipment or systems to prevent damage or injury to inspection personnel. However, drones can safely inspect complex systems such as wind turbines, radars, communication towers and other infrastructure while in operation. This means that the inspection does not interfere with services or production.

8. Ability to inspect hard-to-reach and dangerous areas

Drones make it possible for professionals to easily collect aerial data in places where it would be impossible. Drones bring more safety and lower costs in hostile environments for people, such as radiation monitoring, inspection of power lines, etc. A manual process without production interruption would require more expensive protective equipment.

9. Low cost in insurance

Manual inspections require payment of worker insurance prior to performing tasks. Drone insurance requirements are minimal: just liability insurance and the drone operator. In addition, the risk of accidents and injuries is drastically reduced.

10. Reduction of preparation time

Drones minimize the high cost and time required to erect ladders, access towers, revolving stages, aerial lifts, and other heavy equipment. In addition, there is no need to hire any equipment from seniors and since the job takes less time, more assets can be inspected in a day.

Challenges of traditional inspections

The first thing to realize is that there are several challenges with traditional asset inspection methods. Most of the time, the boss is aware of the high costs, risks and time that a traditional inspection takes. Despite having this knowledge, the organization will most likely look for ways to improve methods. It is then the moment when the drones appear.

There are already several industries that hire professional drone pilots to do aerial photography, topographical surveys, deliveries, technical inspections and more. Others are just getting started, while the rest have yet to make up their minds. Drones in technical inspections can produce detailed and accurate inspection data quickly and safely. For their part, those who rely on traditional methods will find it difficult to do so during the same period.

The scope of drone use case applications will vary from business to business, but the construction, energy, insurance, real estate, and other industries with similar requirements are using drones to perform a wide range of tasks. Inspections There are several benefits to using drones to perform activities such as asset inspections, which are traditionally risky, expensive and time consuming. Plus, it replaces traditional methods that can produce inaccurate data due to human error and other factors.