Case Study Statutory and LOLER Inspections Waste Water Treatment Plant

Within 24 hours
Inspection data delivered for review

Internal and External Inspections
Internal gantries and external aeration tank cranes

No asset downtime
Drone inspection without taking the asset out of service

The challenge

Inspect lifting equipment without taking valuable assets out of service

Gantry cranes are used to lift heavy motors and pumps inside buildings, and to move equipment above aeration tanks at wastewater treatment works. Inspecting these structures can involve working at height, difficult access and the use of scaffolding or elevated platforms.

When a crane is out of commission for inspection, its workload may need to be transferred to other assets. That can put extra pressure on equipment elsewhere in the operation. Thames Water needed an inspection approach that could reduce work at height, avoid unnecessary downtime and provide useful data quickly.

The aim was to inspect internal and external gantry cranes while keeping the assets available for operational use, with data delivered within 24 hours.
Drone surveys support the inspection programme; they do not replace a thorough examination by a competent person where required.

Case at a glance

Visual inspection support for utility assets

Client: Thames Water

Assets: Internal and external gantry cranes

Internal platform: Flybotix ASIO X

External platform: DJI Matrice 4E

Application: LOLER inspection programme support

Data turnaround: Within 24 hours

The approach

Choose the right platform. Capture the details. Return the data quickly.

Iprosurv uses different drone platforms to inspect gantry cranes in different environments. The Flybotix ASIO X is used for internal inspections, while the DJI Matrice 4E is used for external gantry cranes above aeration tanks. The inspection data is then delivered for review within 24 hours.

Plan around the asset and inspection cycle

Identify the crane, its environment and the components or witness marks that need to be reviewed.

Use a platform suited to the location

Deploy the Flybotix ASIO X for internal gantries and the DJI Matrice 4E for external cranes above aeration tanks.

Capture and return inspection data

Provide visual information for review within 24 hours, helping teams assess the asset and plan any follow-up.

The result

Faster inspection data, with no need to take the asset out of service

Drone inspections allow Iprosurv to capture visual data from internal and external gantry cranes without requiring the asset to be taken out of commission for the inspection method. The data can be delivered within 24 hours, giving the team a timely record to review.

Reducing the need for access equipment and work at height can also help limit disruption to the inspection process. Keeping an asset available avoids transferring its workload to other equipment solely to make access possible for a drone survey.

What the approach supports

Better visibility without unnecessary operational disruption

✓
Reduced need for people to work at height

✓
Internal and external crane inspections using suitable platforms

✓
Inspection data returned within 24 hours

✓
Less need to transfer workload because an asset is unavailable for access work

Why it matters

Every asset kept available helps protect operational capacity

When a crane is unavailable, work may need to be redirected to other assets. Drone surveys can provide timely visual information without requiring the same access arrangements, helping maintenance teams review condition and plan follow-up work with less disruption.

For LOLER, drone inspections can support condition monitoring and an agreed inspection programme. They do not remove the need for a competent person to carry out thorough examinations where required by the equipment’s examination scheme or statutory intervals.

Start with the asset

Could drone inspection reduce disruption to your assets?

Tell us about your lifting equipment, site conditions and inspection requirements. We’ll help you assess whether drone inspection could support your maintenance programme.

Talk to Iprosurv