FAQs

What do we cover?
What is a drone survey?

Drone surveys are a faster, more detailed and safer way of conducting close up visual inspection of key assets and infrastructure which would normally be conducted by a team of ‘at height’ specialists using rope access, scaffolding and other ‘at height’ methods to reach inspection points.

Drones are unmanned quad blade aerial vehicle that we can fit with video, photography and thermal imaging cameras. They allow us to conduct up close visual inspections of structures, areas of interest and other objects, capturing visual data in the form of photos, video and scans that are collected and processed using powerful cloud based software to produce detailed inspection reports.

Drone surveys can be conducted in the exact same weather conditions that a normal inspection team operate in and can comparatively cover a huge area in a short space of time. At Balmore, we operate a fleet of drones that are specialised for different applications. For example, we operate a ‘confined spaces drone‘ equipped with a protective cage that allows it to access high risk confined spaces that are too small for a human to access. The protective cage allows to the drone to operate in tight locations.

We also operate drones equipped with vision sensor technology that do not rely on GPS signals. This makes it invaluable when operating in areas with an unstable GPS signal such as the metal structures surrounding an oil platform.

Advantages of using a drone survey

The advantages of using drone surveys for your visual inspection needs includes everything from the quality of the inspection data to the cost savings and the safety benefits it brings as human life is not put in harms way.

Scaffolding required to allow an inspection crew to perform a visual inspection is an expensive and time consuming process. It can take days to erect and deconstruct scaffolding.  Simply for a visual inspection to be conducted.  It can result of normal operations being disrupted or even put on hold and puts human life at risk while working at height.

Using aerial drone surveys instead of human inspection crews will:

• Reduce risk to life

• Offer significant cost savings

• Lower your insurance premiums

• Reduce operational downtime and disruption

• Produce more accurate and detailed inspection reports

• Be faster

A drone survey can take thousands of images from multiple vantage points. And all from distances and angles that are simply not possible with other current methods. These images can be GPS tagged so that future scheduled drone inspection work can follow the exact same flight path to take overlapping photos from the exact same GPS co-ordinates and angles as before. This gives your business direct visual comparison inspection data to monitor developing issues on points of interest. This is an invaluable service that has, for example, saved wind farms hundreds of thousands of pounds in maintenance costs and operational downtime as visual drone surveys have highlighted developing issues and monitored them as part of a scheduled inspection contract that allows repairs to be conducted when it best suits the company.

Schedules and reactive drone surveys
We can provide both scheduled drone survey work and reactive inspections.  For businesses that require regular reviews and inspections of their company assets, regular drone inspections allow you to keep abreast of any developing issues, allowing you to plan accordingly and work any operational downtime more efficiently.

Storm damage can require reactive drone inspections to be conducted on a commercial or industrial roofing system to make sure that there is no hidden damage.  Thermal imaging drone surveys can see things that the human eye simply can’t and we can highlight problems with your roof or building structure, allowing you to get them repaired before they become serious issues.

To find out more about our drone survey work, please contact us today.  Our team will be more than happy to answer any and all questions you may have about our aerial drone survey services.

Quotes & Enquiries

At Balmore, we offer the expertise of four decades in difficult access works including roofing, rope access, industrial cleaning and drone inspection services. Our one stop shop approach to inspection, repair and cleaning has grown through our desire to constantly exceed our clients expectations and offer a service that is far superior to our competitors.

Please fill in the form outlining your requirements and our contract team will be able to provide you with a bespoke quotation for your inspection, repair or cleaning needs.

Latest news
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions.

How Do I Arrange A Drone Roof Survey?

To book a drone roof survey simply calls us on 01415709152 or email us on info@essencebuilding.co.uk. Our friendly team will take care of the rest.

What Areas Do You Cover Geographically?

We cover all of Central Scotland including greater Glasgow & Edinburgh.

How Good Is Your Drone?

We use a DGI mavic pro 2 which has 4K camera facilities and takes excellent clear videos and photos.

How Long Does It Take To Do The Survey?

This depends on many factors such as the size of the property. The complexity of the building structure and access issues. Normally a survey will take about 1 hour.  We will then take the footage and compile a report to share with you.

What Kind Of Buildings Can You Do Drone Roof Surveys On?

We can do a drone roof survey for virtually any type of building. Be it a commercial one or residential. Our service is particularly helpful for tenement blocks of flats.

What Does The Report Provide?

The report provides a full technical and diagnostic report of the roof appearance and structure including any obvious weathering, damage and defects.

Does The Report Include Video And Photos?

Yes we include both video capture and photos of your drone survey with report.

How Much Does It Cost?

We don’t offer a one size fits all price. Anyone who does in our experience is either over or under quoting in most cases.

One thing noted by roofers is that a drone survey is generally a very good investment for roof inspections as compared to using access equipment such as IPAF systems or scaffolds to get a look as it is still usually cheaper than hiring above said access equipment.

Various factors influence the cost of a drone survey such as the size of the building, manpower required to do the survey, complexity of the building layout, prevailing weather conditions various other factors. It’s best to call us to get a custom quote.

If you have any more questions regarding our drone roof inspection services then do call us on 01415709152 and we will do our best to assist you.

How much noise do drone surveys produce?

Drone surveys produce a low level of noise compared to traditional surveying methods. However, the noise level can vary depending on the type of drone being used and the altitude at which it is flying. In general, drone surveys are much quieter than surveying methods that require heavy machinery such as bulldozers or excavators.

How much time can drone surveys save compared to traditional surveying methods?

Drone surveys can save a significant amount of time compared to traditional surveying methods. For example, a topographical survey that would take several days using traditional methods can be completed in a matter of hours using a drone. Measured building surveys and area and land measurement surveys can also be completed much more quickly using a drone, allowing construction projects to move forward more quickly.

OUR SERVICES

Working with civil engineers, architects, surveyors, local authorities and many others.

Delivering actionable data, ensuring informed decisions, guaranteeing exceptional service.

Drone surveys have transformed the way surveying is done, making it faster, safer, and more accurate. The different types of drone surveys can be used in various industries such as construction, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. Measured building surveys, scan to point cloud surveys, scan to CAD surveys, topographical surveys, and area and land measurement surveys are just a few examples of the applications of drone surveys. As technology advances, we can expect drone surveys to become even more versatile and play a more important role in construction, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.