Developments in drone technology and techniques for handling large datasets mean that new ways of inspecting and managing assets, based on “digital twins”, are now available. In this presentation we will discuss the capabilities of modern drones and software, and demonstrate how these can be useful in asset management. We will discuss potential cost savings and safety benefits, along with the limitations of drone-based inspections and ways of overcoming some of these limitations.
A major challenge in asset inspection is access. Elevated work platforms or ropes access are often required, and these can make inspections slow and potentially hazardous. Often only part of a structure can be inspected within the available time and budget. In contrast, drone inspections can use pre-planned flight routes around the target asset to take thousands of overlapping images within a short time. Because the exact coordinates of each image are known, the images can be “stitched together” to give a 3-D rendering or “digital twin” of the structure, and assessment of the images (and planning of any further required tests) can take place offsite. Follow-up inspections can use the same flight plan, allowing deterioration and repairs to be accurately assessed. Upwards-facing cameras and robust, fully-caged drones are available for inspecting awkward spaces. Thermal imaging cameras can capture temperature gradients and leaks.
The digital twin provides a powerful way of organizing data. The digital twin of an asset can also be marked up with information about defects, points of interest, test results, and user-designated custom fields. This means that asset managers have a record of exactly what was found and where it was found, and this record is easily accessed by the next inspector working on the asset – projects changing hands and personnel moving on should be much less disruptive when you have all the previous information about your asset stored with your digital twin, and when you can reuse the flight plan from the previous inspection. Data can be exported in various formats, including as a CSV table (which can then be imported to the asset owner’s asset management database). The CSV format also means that you can sort your defects by severity, or suggested repair type, or any other custom field you may have incorporated into your data.
While the focus of this presentation is 3D models of infrastructure (such as water tanks and buildings), 2D models may be more appropriate in some situations (for example when inspecting a roof). The advantages of rapid data acquisition, easier and safer access, and final photographs with accurately-known locations (which can be used as an index for other data) stay the same.