Staying on top of maintenance and assessments for your properties, whether warehouses or body corporate apartments, is vital to protect your investment. A building survey by a professional surveyor will help you identify and understand issues and risks so repairs and preventative maintenance can be managed effectively and efficiently. But while the experienced eye of a knowledgeable building surveyor is critical, the use of drones to carry out aerial inspections can offer huge benefits when used in conjunction with the surveyor’s expertise.
From the biggest picture to the smallest detail
Drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras that can capture aerial photos and video of your entire property. These images and videos provide both an overall view together with detailed perspectives that simply aren’t possible with traditional means alone.
Drone inspection is particularly useful where a building or roof area is either too large for a surveyor to inspect in its entirety on foot, and where safe access is limited or uneconomic. For example, the largest roof Prendos has surveyed by drone covers approximately 10 hectares in area. This area would be unrealistic and inefficient for a surveyor to cover on foot, especially when also factoring in the cost of access requirements such as scaffolding or a cherry picker.
Using a drone, the entire area can be covered in very little time, with every detail captured and plotted with precise GPS coordinates. This allows issues to be pinpointed to a precise location so repairs or maintenance can be carried out efficiently. In the example above, Prendos was able to capture high resolution images of every single rivet on the 10-hectare roof within one day.
Additionally, the data collected by drones can be stored and analysed for future reference, reducing the need for repetitive physical inspections.
Stop the rot before it starts
More often than not, the impetus for a roof inspection is the discovery of a leak. Even a small leak can cause a large amount of damage over time if not addressed, particularly given the increasingly wet climate we seem to be experiencing. In fact, ex-Prendos Director Philip O’Sullivan, known in the industry as “Dr Rot” for his weathertightness expertise, once commented that if you want to destroy a building, even a new one, all you have to do is add water and wait.
Drone surveys can reveal what’s hidden from plain sight at ground level. With advanced sensors and cameras, drones capture detailed imagery that can uncover potential structural issues, leaks or signs of wear and tear that are not yet visible from inside the property.
This is particularly important as part of a technical due diligence exercise completed prior to purchasing a property. Gathering all the facts beforehand ensures informed investment decisions. If purchasing a property, being armed with this information can help you negotiate a fair price considering necessary upcoming works to preserve the state of a property and make sure it stays fit for purpose.
A lasting record provides peace of mind
Documentation plays a vital role in your investment, whether for due diligence or insurance claims. Drones provide visual documentation that serves as concrete evidence of your property’s condition. Geo-tagged and time-stamped images and videos become invaluable when assessing property before purchasing or filing an insurance claim. They provide credibility and transparency throughout all the stages of ownership process, offering you peace of mind and protection.
Putting people first
Where traditional building inspections pose many physical risks, particularly when accessing hard-to-reach areas such as roofs, drones make it safer for everyone involved. Drones easily navigate tricky spots on rooftops or even high-rise exteriors. An initial inspection by drone can eliminate much of the need for surveyors to walk extensively on potentially hazardous areas of a roof. The drone can be used to quickly identify priority areas for further inspection, arming the surveyor with the information they need to best decide how to allocate their time and inspection budget.
While the drone is not a replacement for a professional surveyor, it offers the benefits of speed, safety and a comprehensive documentation record that can save you money and give you peace of mind. With the help of a drone operated by a licensed pilot, an experienced surveyor can efficiently and rapidly spot potential issues, assess the overall condition of your property, and help you prioritise necessary repairs or maintenance.
Find out more about drone building surveys or book a drone inspection of your property today.