CONSTRUCTION MONITORING

Drone technology continues building on solid foundations in construction.

Managing a construction project is no small task. From tracking site progress and monitoring safety, overseeing subcontractors and, keeping stakeholders informed, there is almost no end to the level of coordination required on any given day.

It’s no wonder project managers on job sites of all sizes are turning to drones for support. The construction industry has been one of the earliest and most enthusiastic adopters of drone technology. In the last year alone, the commercial drone industry has grown 240% and much of that growth is driven by the construction industry.

Aerial photos, maps, and 3D models have the power to transform your workflow.

Not only can drones save your construction projects money and resources, but they also give your team a technical set of data for more informed communication and decision making.

Sites can be monitored at any time interval to allow new data on the progress of the site to maintain an efficient workflow and site monitoring.

MAPPING AND 3D MODELING

Alongside surveys, innovation in drone software systems allows accurate contour maps and 3D models to be produced, based on footage and data gathered.

The process of high-resolution aerial imagery 3D modeling comes in

various formats but essentially enables images of the whole project area to be captured and merged into a comprehensive model of the area.

2D images can also be generated based on mapping technology.

Whilst 3D imagery offers full model benefits, 2D images allow accurate measurements and adjustment.

ONE DATA SET – MULTIPLE OUTPUTS

In most cases a single data set can be used in multiple outputs producing an Orth mosaic 2D image to look at the whole site in minute detail allowing you to assess site progress, safety issues and anything else you need to monitor.

As a 2d data set this is taking imagery in NADIR (camera facing straight down), it is very hard to understand levels and relief on the ground.

Using the same data set a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) can be produced at the same time, allowing site managers and planners to understand the elevation of the site, heights, and levels.

CUT AND FILL AND VOLUMETRIC CALCULATIONS INSTANTLY

During the early stages of the project, drones can play an important role in the levelling of the prospective site. due to the Geo tagged images and onboard sensors the drone can take land level calculations it can then through specific software calculate cut and fill amounts and locations. Stockpiles can also be monitored to ensure safety and compliance.

All this can be converted into a site-specific report for all stakeholders.

PROGRESS MONITORING

Many of the latest drone systems incorporate advanced situational and positional awareness for enhanced security and in-the-moment evaluation, response, and planning. Drones make the production of weekly progress maps far quicker, easier, and less costly than traditional methods. They also facilitate greater and easier information exchanges between construction companies and their clients, boosting overall efficiency, transparency, and communication.

SECURITY, MAINTENANCE, SAFETY

Security must be one of the main contributing factors to site safety using drones can allow site managers and stakeholders to quickly assess the installation and maintenance of security measures such as fencing, on-site cameras, equipment security and storage etc.

Using thermal cameras can give added security to help monitor and detect site activity during silent hours.

Due to the height of operations of the drone, a unique data aspect can be obtained to identify further risks such as proximity issues of waste and storage or other materials which could cause fire hazards and other issues.

Where areas are completely inaccessible, drones can be used and where there’s uncertainty about safety issues, drone technology can be used to save time as well as minimize risk. For example, drones can analyze roof structures from above, and with the use of a specialist internal drone which can be used in internal structures to gather data.

RISK AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Any areas considered too risky for sending in personnel, such as dangerous structures, areas where hazardous materials are leaking or where there’s risk of fire from flammable materials, mean using a drone presents a safer option as the drone operator can remain at a safe distance.

Specialist drones can be employed where access is restricted with onboard thermal, RGB cameras, and high-intensity spotlights all housed in a collision-proof cage to avoid damage.

SUPPLIED OR IN-HOUSE DRONE SOLUTION?

We know that one size never fits all, so we tailor our services to your needs. We can provide a full service of the pilot, equipment, data collection and, delivery.

Or if you want to add drones to your workflow, we can help you manage your drone proposition, source pilots and we’ll take care of all aspects of the drone management down to licensing and provide a white-labeled case management system for the delivery and monitoring of your data.

Contact

For further information, contact info@iprosurv.com

About Iprosurv

Established in 2014, Iprosurv provides companies with the in-house capability of drone and data/media delivery services. Our CAMERA system and optimum drone operator platform provides bespoke services be that an on-demand, fully managed service to independent data/media delivery services.

Iprosurv is a pioneer in the provision of drone technology across a range of industries. Its current network of pilots, covering the entirety of the UK, use a proprietary system to record, store and deliver drone data to clients in a fast and secure way. From building surveys to flood response to assisting emergency services, Iprosurv continues to push the boundaries of how drones can be used in business.

INTRODUCTION

Following on from my announcement as the new Director of training and development, I have decided to start 2022 with a regular blog to keep you updated with my pick of the latest developments and safety information in the drone industry as well as what we are doing in Iprosurv. Carry on reading, “Andrews Inspired Blog, it’s about all drones”.

I know there are lots of blogs out there but hopefully, you will find this one as informative with some ‘standing agenda’ items covered each time. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like me to research and cover. I am working on a few ideas to keep the blogs interesting and topical and will be looking for some engagement from you with any good news stories about drones or things you have done that others could learn from.

IPROSURV NEWS

Iprosurv recently advertised for a new franchise opportunity to come and work with us. If you haven’t seen the full advert then please visit our LinkedIn account at the following link to find out more about this exciting opportunity and the support you will receive.

I have created a couple of online courses which I will be presenting in person. Like some others, I have been very frustrated at some of the questions on various social media accounts where it is clear some remote pilots and operators are not understanding the new regulations. Some of these questions are coming from people who have passed their A2 or GVC qualifications so they either didn’t ask their RAE during their training or were given the wrong advice.

The first course is entitled ‘Drone regulations – Simplifying the jargon’ and is a 2-hour presentation where I use simple language to break down the jargon which seems to be confusing people. These include subjects such as Article 16, flying in Europe, Class of Drone and should I bother renewing my PfCO. The courses are limited to 10 people at a time to allow for some interaction and engagement to maximise the opportunity to learn about the new regs and ask questions. You can find this course at the following link ‘Drone regulations – simplifying the jargon’

The second course is entitled: ‘Learn how to fly your drone safely and within the regulations and is aimed at newcomers to the drone world, maybe those who got a drone as a Christmas present or just starting out. Again a two-hour presentation in person where topics such as airspace, battery care, basic maintenance and so on will be covered. This fills the gap for the Mini 2 and other subs 250g drones where the remote pilot does not legally need to learn the drone code and obtain a Flyer ID, so won’t know what an FRZ is or restricted airspace. You can find this course at the following link ‘Learn how to fly your drone safely and within the regulations’

Finally, I am also giving the opportunity of a one to one session with me to discuss anything drone-related, whether it is about new regulations, business models, initial OSC consultancy to Ops manual content. I have been asked several times to hold these one to one sessions so pleased to be able to announce them. You can find how to apply for the one to one session at the following link insert link to the course

NEW DRONES

I have been flying drones since 2014 and started off with the (at the time) highly capable DJI Phantom 1 with a GoPro 3 Hero black hung underneath, as well as a couple of fixed-wing drones and other DJI models. I don’t confess to being a drone test pilot so will leave that skill to the numerous bloggers, reviewers and youtube accounts where new drones are tested, compared and reported upon. The comparisons are really interesting and can often help with the decision on what drone to purchase. I have flown in a wide variety of scenarios, as a hobbyist, a commercial operator and a Police remote pilot in very demanding situations and using the Emergency Services Exemption.

A number of new drones have recently been released, non so eagerly awaited as the DJI Mavic 3 and what a capable (and expensive) drone it appears to be. Reading through some of the reviews it is a game-changer for some and a long-awaited upgrade to the Mavic 2. I also noticed Sony have now released their Airpeak S1 after initially teasing us with a preview in January 2021.

The sub 250g drones has never been so important since the new EU regs (UK (EU) Reg No 947/2019) that came into force on 31^st December 2020. This weight category allows flights in the A1 subcategory with no training requirement. In fact, all you need to do is read the manufacturer’s instruction manual and register as an Operator (unless under 18 and someone else who is 18 has to register as an operator).

There is not even a requirement for the Flyer ID element of the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Service. I think this may be an oversight and missed opportunity as to how will the new remote pilot know the rules and regulations. When the C class (UK class in the UK) of drones is introduced on 1^st January 2023 then all new drones should have a card inside the box to tell you exactly what you can and can’t do, but no requirement if you buy a second hand from eBay!

POSITIVE DRONE STORIES

The Emergency services continue to deliver excellent results with the use of their drones to support aviation assets. My old force Devon and Cornwall Police, have been finding missing people as well as Lincolnshire Police and West Midlands Police. Some of the Police forces have some really good drone Twitter accounts so I would advise checking them out for any updates and see how they are using their drones.

A nice story you may have missed was the Search and Rescue dog Juno that went missing while out walking and was found by a Norfolk Search and Rescue drone after being missing for 5 days https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-59803073

Both at home and abroad we are seeing drones starting to make an impact on delivering vital supplies. In the UK we have seen hybrid and fixed-wing drones delivering essential items such as medical supplies, samples and post to remote islands or hard to reach surgeries and hospitals. Whilst at the CAA, I was involved in authorising the Operating Safety Cases allowing BVLOS flights to enable these vital deliveries. There was a huge amount of collaboration between stakeholders involved in getting temporary airspace restrictions to enable these operations to be carried out safely.

If you have any positive drone stories then please let me know as I would like to have this as a regular feature for each blog.

NEGATIVE DRONE STORIES

I am not sure if it is me but as drones are becoming more and more popular and talked about, I am seeing less reports of drone misuse being reported in the press. Are they now becoming more acceptable to the public so they are not reporting any misuse? The press seem to be reporting more good use of drones than bad. The anniversary of Gatwick drone incident of December 2019 passed by without incident but it is still be talked about as to whether a drone was sighted or not. The press ran a number of articles with different theories. However, we have not seen a repeat of this incident that has closed an airport for so long.

The only negative story I saw in the press in my local area was a drone being used to scare sea lions that were resting on a rock down off the Cornish coast

Interestingly I have not seen any articles relating to drone crashes, mid-air collisions, or accidents. So are we saying drones are inherently safe, the remote pilots are safe as it can’t be just down to luck that the drone industry has not had any reported fatalities since they started? Actually, should this be a positive drone story?

Again, If you have any negative drone stories then please let me know as I would like to have this as a regular feature for each blog.

CAA UPDATES AND SAFETY NOTICES

Of the 48 current CAA Safety Notice Publications (see link) there is only one applicable to Unmanned Aircraft Systems. SN-2020/010 Unmanned Aircraft – Responses to abnormal operations and in-flight failures. For those who have an Operational authorisation, you should have made reference to this safety notice and recorded when you have carried out your practice of your procedures. If you haven’t read this safety notice then please do so asap as it may help you recover from an emergency situation.

Have you seen the latest CAA makeover? Their website has had an update. I quite like the new look, a lot easier to find the pages you are looking for and some great info about drones. You will see they are using the term Remotely Piloted Aircraft now instead if Unmanned aircraft (one to remember for your Ops manuals!) I can see where they are coming from but they still use both terms so need to be more consistent.

Click on the following link and have a look at the latest pages on drones.

The following link provides a lot of detail for the public who do not fly drones, some good info but again uses the term UAS where they could have used RPA if that is what it is changing to. There are some useful fact sheets there to help explain the regs. They were launched when the new regs came out last year so are not new, but a new webpage gives a good opportunity to launch them again.

CAA SKYWISE PUBLICATIONS

The latest sky wise publication relevant to UAS was the information that the restricted airspace over Windsor Castle was being made permanent from 27^th January 2022. Prior to that, the next UAS relevant Skywise alert was for the publication of the latest version of CAP 1789A, version 5, dated 14^th December 2021 link (make sure you update your ops manual reference table). This document provides readers with a consolidated version of the text within the UAS Implementing Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/947 as retained (and amended in UK domestic law) under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).

AIRPROX ALERTS

Airprox reports can be contentious for some, as they believe that the vague description, lack of detail and corroboration by the reporting person is providing unreliable information in some cases. We are now seeing more unknown objects being classified. The Airprox website if you haven’t already seen it, is well worth a visit. There is a lot of analysis and reports and the Airprox reports of 2021 are an interesting read. Please be aware of the criteria for submitting an Airprox report

AAIB REPORTS

Another good source of information is the AAIB reports where a UAS has been involved. The latest report involved a Prion Mk 3 fixed-wing UAS which crashed due to loss of power on Salisbury Plain in February 2021. The report highlighted some issues with the spark plug cap not being fitted securely which resulted in the UAS manufacturer modifying the fleet of Prion Mk3s and the operator changing their training and operational procedures.

Prior to that the AAIB investigated the crash of a Parrot Anafi USA which was being used in support of a police search operation. The remote pilot took off without acquiring sufficient GPS satellites to enable a ‘Home point’ to be acquired. This resulted in a loss of control and subsequent fly away when the RTH function did not operate as the pilot expected. The operator amended their inflight checklist to ensure a home location is recorded before take off.

These reports are not there to apportion blame, but to investigate what happened and try to prevent a repeat. In some cases the AAIB can recommend a Safety recommendation to the CAA. The safety notice 2020/010 mentioned above is a good example of a safety notice issued by the CAA after an AAIB investigation.

CHIRP REPORTS

Confidential Human –Factors Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP) is an Aviation and Maritime Confidential incident reporting forum whose aim is to contribute to the enhancement of aviation safety in the UK by providing a totally independent confidential (not anonymous) reporting system for all individuals employed in or associated with the aviation industry. https://www.chirp.co.uk/

MOR REPORTS

I am trying to work with the CAA to get an idea of the number and type of MOR reports that are being submitted. Obviously anonymised but it would be good to know how many MOR reports are being submitted and for what reason and what drone.

Remember, even when operating in the Open Category or Article 16  you have to report incidents under ECCAIRS. The Drone an Model Aircraft Code states:

WRAP UP

So that’s for my first blog, I hope you found it informative and interesting. I would like to hear more about some of your drone jobs, experiences, crashes, tips, or tricks that you are willing to share with others through this blog. I see it as information sharing to help others learn from your knowledge and experiences so we can work together as an industry. My next blog will be coming in early March.

I am in the process if setting up a twitter and Instagram account to share further safety information and drone topics so please look out for them and give me a follow when you see them.

Contact

For further information, contact info@iprosurv.com or andrew.hamilton@iprosurv.com

About Iprosurv

Established in 2014, Iprosurv provides companies with the in-house capability of drone and data/media delivery services. Our CAMERA system and optimum drone operator platform provides bespoke services be that an on-demand, fully managed service to independent data/media delivery services.

Iprosurv is a pioneer in the provision of drone technology across a range of industries. Its current network of pilots, covering the entirety of the UK, use a proprietary system to record, store and deliver drone data to clients in a fast and secure way. From building surveys to flood response to assisting emergency services, Iprosurv continues to push the boundaries of how drones can be used in business.

A lack of awareness or willingness to explore the benefits of drone technology in insurance could be holding back the development of the sector, according to new research.

A survey of nearly 100 insurers and brokers across the UK, conducted by Research in Insurance in Evolution of Claims conjunction with Iprosurv, found that despite drone technology being identified as one of the top five pieces of technology insurance practitioners want to see used more, the majority of the market still doesn’t employ them.

When asked what kind of technology they would like to see used more in the industry, drones proved to be the fifth most popular behind automated claims processing, claims portals, greater use of videos and cameras, and the introduction of claims apps, out of a total of 20 choices.

Despite this appetite for adoption, of those surveyed, 60% of insurers and 89% of brokers said they weren’t currently using drones.

Lack Of Awareness

Nearly a third of insurers (32%) and 28% of brokers admitted that they just don’t understand the tech with 11% of insurers and 30% of brokers saying they don’t see a need.

However, it does seem that there is an appetite to use drones within organisations with 29% of insurers and 9% of brokers blaming a lack of appetite in the organisation for their absence. This is highest (30%) among those working at a support level of the business.

However, when asked if they would use drones if they reduced the claims life cycle, not one insurer said that they wouldn’t use them with only 6% of brokers ruling the idea out.

Nearly half of insurers (46%) and 35% of brokers said they definitely would use them but again, there appears to be resistance to drones at certain levels in some organisations with 54% of respondents saying they didn’t have the influence to introduce them to their business.

Rebecca Jones CEO Iprosurv

“It’s remarkable that drones can be one of the most eagerly anticipated pieces of technology in insurance, yet the majority of organisations aren’t currently using them,” said Rebecca Jones, CEO and co-founder of Iprosurv, one of the UK’s leading drone services providers.

“We know from working with a growing number of insurers, brokers and loss adjusters over the last seven years that drones significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to assess a claim and do so at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches.

“The industry is telling us that this is exactly what they want, and these services are available from a number of organisations across the country, yet the industry as a whole just doesn’t seem to be able to properly explore the opportunities presented.”

Drones played a key role in many organisations’ ability to manage claims at the height of the pandemic with loss adjusters and insurers using drones to conduct remote assessments while their people were confined to their homes.

And the benefits of that approach appear in the research with 40% of insurers and 33% of brokers reporting a positive impact of adjusters employing remote technology to manage claims.

Tech in the Pandemic

Conversely, adjusters not embracing remote technology during the pandemic appears to have had an impact on service levels with nearly half of insurers (47%) and brokers alike (49%) saying they had seen a negative impact from adjusters not being able to get out during lockdown.

“Over the last seven years, we have seen more and more insurers, adjusters and now brokers switch on to what drones can do for their businesses and their clients and it appears that these early adopters continue to enjoy a competitive advantage.

“It is clear from the research that the appetite for increased drone use is there – it’s up to us and the rest of the commercial drone sector to keep showcasing what drones can do until the majority of the market is employing them to transform the way we manage claims.”

Contact

For further information, contact martin.friel@iprosurv.com

About Iprosurv

Established in 2014, Iprosurv provides companies with the in-house capability of drone and data/media delivery services. Our CAMERA system and optimum drone operator platform provides bespoke services be that an on-demand, fully managed service to independent data/media delivery services.

Iprosurv is a pioneer in the provision of drone technology across a range of industries. Its current network of pilots, covering the entirety of the UK, use a proprietary system to record, store and deliver drone data to clients in a fast and secure way. From building surveys to flood response to assisting emergency services, Iprosurv continues to push the boundaries of how drones can be used in business.

As more and more providers turn to remote technology to keep the claims process going we asked Waseem Malik, Executive Managing Director of Claims for AXA Insurance to give us his view and why he thinks greater use of tech and increased digital capability is finally here to stay in

It’s hard to find positives in a global pandemic but I’m an optimist so hear me out.

The insurance industry isn’t known for its revolutionary tendencies. We prefer to change things incrementally, safely and surely. We get there eventually, but it often takes time.

And it has been no different with the digitisation of the industry. There isn’t an organisation worth its salt that is not going through some kind of digital transformation but if I’m honest, none of us have done it at any great speed.

But this is where the positive in the pandemic comes in. Of course, insurance isn’t alone in this but by being forced to work remotely, we have all had to find new ways of doing that, from managing claims to conducting risk assessments and everything in between. And we’ve had to do it quickly.

The answer to that problem has, almost every time, been tech and I’m glad to say that we have embraced this wholeheartedly at AXA where we have been accelerating our use and deployment of this.

For example, customers can report and submit their claim, complete with damage and incident details, via their phone allowing the claim handler to get moving as soon as the data is in.

And for large losses, particularly in property, we have been able to use tech such as drones, rather than people, to safely assess the damage and get the claim moving.

Neither of these processes are new. The difference now is that rather than seeing tools like these as an option, they are the first port of call and whenever we emerge out of this pandemic, I think they will remain vitally important.

Because it’s not just the industry that has had to adapt to this – customers are also getting used to a new way of doing things. And the feedback we are getting on these tech-led approaches is extremely positive. The smart use of tech speeds the claims process up, it makes our decision making much more transparent and it makes their experience of dealing with us much easier.

They have seen what is possible and how our use of tech positively impacts their experience, so they’ll expect more of the same and we need to deliver it. But I am acutely aware that the conviction of one insurer isn’t going to give our customers the experience they or we want.

All parties need to understand the value of this tech. I can easily imagine an underwriter offering preferential terms to a broker who comes armed with detailed drone data on a risk. Why wouldn’t they? The data doesn’t lie.

And for adjusters, not only does it allow them to assess a site quickly and safely, it is cost effective too and in a sector of the market where margins are wafer thin, that has got to be a benefit they and insurers want to embrace.

It’s not just about drones – they are simply an example to illustrate my point. The pandemic and subsequent lockdown has forced many of us to adopt tech more broadly and with greater speed than we would perhaps have imagined – just look at all our kids using Microsoft Teams, better than us in many cases, for their online lessons!

But for customers and the industry to get the full benefit, we all need to understand and accept the value it offers. This is an opportunity, driven by tragic events, but an opportunity nonetheless and if we don’t take it, we will have let our customers down.

Not only that. We will have let the next generation of insurance professionals down, those people who are looking to us to create the industry of the future, and we will have let them down badly. I for one don’t want to be here in five or ten years’ time saying “I told you so”. I want to be here saying “I was part of the revolution”.

Fatal falling debris accident prompts push for drone inspections

By Amy Yensi

Just days after Erica Tishman, a renowned architect, was killed by falling debris in midtown, some city officials are proposing a new law they say will help prevent similar accidents.

It would require the department of buildings to conduct a drone inspection within 48 hours of a complaint or violation.

“This is not a toy, but it’s a tool. These tools will save millions of dollars. It would save time, but most importantly it could actually save lives,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

The legislation would also authorize the city housing authority to use drones for its building inspections.

The proposal’s goal is to detect problems and possibly hazardous conditions.

Tishman was walking along 49th Street last Tuesday when a piece of facade came crashing down from a building that had been fined back in April.

City Councilmen Justin Brannan and Robert Cornegy said lawmakers must act because drone use currently is only legal inside state parks.

They point to the lack of manpower at the buildings department to keep up with the thousands of structures that have violations, or in need of repair.

“In speaking to them very recently, one of their ideas is that we’re going to add more inspectors. That’s only one part of this and only one component to what’s necessary,” said Cornegy.

The proposal would authorize private companies to offer the inspection services to building owners who would have to pay the bill — a more cost-effective option, according to the Brooklyn borough president.

City officials say the current laws regulating airspace date back to 1948, long before this drone technology existed. They’re hoping to ease those laws, get them up in the air, and inspect city buildings as soon as possible.

Similar Cases

A maintenance company which admitted breaching health and safety laws after Tahnie Martin was killed by debris blown off a roof by Storm Doris was subsequently fined £1.3 million.

Tahnie Martin, who worked at the University of Wolverhampton, died on February 23 2017 after she was struck by wooden debris while walking past a cafe in Wolverhampton city centre.

The 29-year-old, from Stafford, was walking along Dudley Street with colleagues when a large piece of roofing flew from a building.

Mother-of-two killed by stone gargoyle that fell three stories off historic church in Chicago.

Sara Bean, 34, was walking to lunch with her fiancé when she was hit in the head by the falling stone

The mother of two was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

In May last year the RICS published an insight paper ‘Drones: applications and compliance for surveyors’ providing guidance on the issues relating to varied uses UAVs or unmannned aerial systems (UASs).

As the weather starts to turn and the rain starts to pour older properties and historic buildings certainly start to bear the brunt of the bad weather, pre-existing conditions can become a little more serious as the weather takes its toll.

Historically these types of structures pose several access issues and whilst traditional methods have been timely and expensive whilst considering the business interruption of the business in question and potentially surrounding businesses.

It’s no wonder many businesses are turning to new ways of managing their property portfolio and opting to deploy drone technology as they offer a faster and more efficient way of inspecting inaccessible structures. With data collection on site within a matter of hours and costs savings of up to 55% vs traditional methods the ROI is quite compelling.

Iprosurv have been assisting many of our clients with property risk management, enabling annual maintenance of historic, old and high net worth clients to be completed with lessened challenges, reduced costs whilst assisting with targeted scheduled maintenance. By deploying drone technology with advanced software solutions, we deliver digital inspections models of the asset, with our bespoke 3D interactive estate managers can integrate and investigate the structure and assess the state of repair of their asset.

If your looking to reduce annual property maintenance spend or wish to explore our digital inspection services please get in touch with Iprosurv.