The options are expanding as technology evolves. Many owners of multistory buildings regularly inspect their façades, looking for problems that may lead to injury or property damage such as loose masonry at risk of crashing to the sidewalk below.
Facade Inspections by Drone – the How and Why?
These investigations are typically conducted in two stages. In the first, inspectors located on the ground or in adjacent buildings use binoculars to conduct a visual inspection. In the second, they study the façade up close, performing physical tests as needed.
The second stage often requires costly and disruptive work on the building. Since many buildings lack the equipment needed to safely lower inspectors down the façade, owners frequently erect scaffolding that can block signage, views, and pedestrian pathways — sometimes for weeks on end, depending on the building’s size.
Finding a way to improve the first stage of the inspection in order to shorten the duration of the second , it cheaper and less invasive. It could also improve i safety, reducing the need for climbing around scaffolding or abseiling down the side of buildings.
Tethered Drones
Advances in inspection technology are playing an increasing role in minimizing risk in the industrial space. The options for inspections of facilities building and industrial structures require some form of human involvement.
A need for change is inevitable. The rate of workplace injuries increase when a worker is exposed to heights or difficult access sites.
In an effort to minimise the risk , the use of drones and robotic technology are options worth considering.
When using a tethered drone many of those issues will be resolved such as piloting errors. By having the drone tethered to an object, it’s movement will automatically be restricted and eliminates the need for a trained pilot to operate it. The same concept applies to technical errors too. With tethered drones, GPS navigation isn’t required anymore. In a simpler sense the main benefit in using tether drones is that it’s safer. With the chances of crashes decreased and piloting skills kept to a minimum, the odds of having an accident are considerably smaller.
Of course, safety isn’t the only thing tethered drones have to offer. One of the most practical uses of having tethered drones is that drone photography becomes an easier task. Before, drone photography required skill and practice, but teather drones are able to eliminate these factors because of their restricted movement which takes away the need for piloting skills. This allows for stability in movement and in turn a clearer shot of the picture or video being taken. The only downside to this added safety
Robotics and Facade Maintenance
Robotics and rope access – options for building owners to reduce costs and risk
Advances in inspection technology are playing an increasing role in minimizing risk in the industrial space. The options for inspections of facilities building and industrial structures require some form of human involvement.
A need for change is inevitable. The rate of workplace injuries increase when a worker is exposed to heights or difficult access site.
In an effort to minimise the risk , the use of drones and robotic technology are options worth considering.
Robotic devices may not completely eliminate the need for the traditional building maintenance worker but it does make it less likely that rope access, building maintenance units (BMUs) or gantries will be the only means o perform routine maintenance tasks on the facade of a building.
Where human involvement is minimised then the risk of human error is diminished.
The following video is just one recent example of the fusion of robotics and technology = mechatronics.
