Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are An invaluable aid to the 100% visual inspection required under the periodic facade inspection regime (PFI). They are able to safely and productively capture detailed images of both very tall and short buildings.
However there may be situations where the use of drones may not be possible. These and their solutions are discussed below.
Overview of constraints to using drones:
- GPS interference
- Tree cover / close adjacent buildings
- No fly zones / Persistent windy conditions
GPS interference
Whilst drones can fly without GPS guidance, PFI are generally conducted with GPS guidance to ensure the stability and safety of the drone flight.
In some situations, for example close to sensitive institutions, there is GPS jamming activity used for security purposes. This will not allow the drone to fly above a fixed height. Generally it will be difficult to identify the source of the jamming signal in which case alternative methods of visual inspection have to be used. At ABL we can circumvent this with the use of high end high zoom high resolution cameras to complete the 100% visual inspection.
Where the source is able to be located, ABL will coordinate with the relevant parties to gain a window for the inspection. You can trust that we will complete your inspection to BCAs satisfaction as we have done so on numerous projects
Tree cover / close adjacent buildings
Drones require at least 3 to 5 m of clear space to fly safely. This is also dependent on the skill of the pilot.
In green Singapore, trees are often planted close to buildings to provide shade and comply with Npark’s regulations. In some of these cases, safe operation of drones is not possible.
Similarly in built up situations, the proximity of the adjacent building disallows the use of drones. ABL has experienced numerous such cases and have numerous solutions to ensure your PFI is conducted without and loss in fidelity. Where such concerns are faced, do approach us for cost effective solutions.
No fly zones / persistent windy conditions
Certain zones in Singapore are definitely no fly zones, eg close to military bases. Certain locations example coastal areas, have persistent windy conditions that do not allow stable drone photography. In these cases, the 100% visual inspection needs to be customised via the use of alternative methods. These include photography from vantage points, or additional hands on drops. You can ABL researches each project carefully to factor in any additional costs of inspection and offers you a definitive price at quotation stage. All of our projects completed have never had an overrun in costs to client from the initial quotation.