Overview:

Green Sky was engaged by one of our national clients to conduct a thermal drone inspection of 3 large residential towers in Brisbane. The client required a dilapidation report for heat load issues around windows and waterproofing issues on the tiled external balconies. The building managers had previously engaged with abseilers who took 4 weeks to conduct their inspection with little to no information. Green Sky was able to provide the required data in a fraction of the time and with highly detailed thermal and RGB inspection images.

Process:

Green Sky conducted a thorough site audit and developed a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) prior to the flight. The Pilot in Command (PIC) was accompanied by a spotter during the flight operations as outlined within the JSA. The onsite team used both the DJI M300 RTK with H20T thermal camera and also trialled the brand new DJI M30T to capture both thermal and RGB photos. Green Sky provided both the thermal and RGB data to the client, who was able to then provide a thorough report to their own client based on the data provided.

During the flight operations, Green Sky connect the drones to RTK through NTRIP and enabled tripod mode to enhance the stability of the drone during flight. Each flight started from the top level of each side of the building, and data folders were manually created for each level's photos, which were immediately filed making the post processing side much faster for everyone.

Results:

Our client was able to provide an extremely detailed analysis of the thermal images and RGB photos, highlighting areas of concern such as heat load issues around windows and waterproofing issues on the tiled external balconies. Many areas that were previously inspected by abseilers were missed and captured by the drone technology of Green Sky. This allowed the client's team to efficiently and accurately identify areas that required remedial work. Green Sky's use of the DJI M300 RTK, DJI M30T and H20T thermal camera allowed for accurate and efficient data capture, while the use of a thorough JSA and SWMS ensured that the operation was conducted safely and within regulatory requirements.

Conclusion:

Green Sky's thermal drone inspection provided the client with the necessary data to conduct a thorough dilapidation report, allowing them to efficiently identify areas that required remedial work. The use of drones allowed for faster and more accurate data capture than traditional inspection methods, and the thorough planning and adherence to safety protocols ensured a safe operation.