Efficient and Reliable—Visual Inspection of a Wooden Facade Using Drones
Thanks to the latest drone technology, we can inspect wood facades efficiently, sustainably, and precisely. To do this, we use a drone equipped with high-resolution cameras and specialized sensors to capture aerial images of the building. The aerial imagery captures every part of the facade, including hard-to-reach areas. Implenia Holzbau offers this digital maintenance methodology to its customers.
DRONES MAKE VISUAL INSPECTIONS EASIER
Implenia Holzbau constructed the facade and the terrace decking for the Greencity WOLO residential building in Zurich. The building comprises 57 rental units and 83 condominiums. Upon completion of the project, we entered into a service agreement that includes regular facade inspections. This allows us to identify any damage or weaknesses that may develop over time at an early stage and take targeted action.
A PHOTO EVERY 3 SECONDS
The drone flies along the entire facade, taking a photo every 3 seconds. This ensures an image overlap of approximately 75 percent. The result is a true-to-life representation of the entire facade.
Thanks to the high quality of the images, anomalies can be easily identified and visualized. A point cloud is then generated from the raw data (Fig. 1), which is used to create an overall image of the facade (Fig. 2). The data from this overall image is then imported into the 3D drafting program CadWork (CAD/CAM software).
This design representation (Fig. 3) allows us to analyze the irregularities and assess whether they result from natural deformation (environmental factors affecting wood), a defect that needs to be replaced, or damage that must be repaired.
PRIVACY
To ensure privacy, tenants and owners were informed in advance that the work would be carried out using a drone. Residents were able to close their curtains or blinds. An information sheet explains all rights and guidelines. In addition, this project allowed the drone to take individual photos of balconies without having to step onto them. Implenia Holzbau was also able to provide residents with some recommendations for repairs.
GREATER EFFICIENCY, GREATER SAFETY
Only one person is needed to operate the drone. Thanks to this innovation, not only is the accuracy of inspections improved, but efficiency and safety are also greatly enhanced. The drone can easily reach hard-to-access areas that would normally be difficult or impossible to reach. This allows potential damage or maintenance needs to be quickly identified and precisely documented.
The high-resolution cameras on board the drone deliver crystal-clear images and enable a detailed analysis of the condition of the wooden facade. This allows experts to pinpoint the exact repair and maintenance work needed and calculate the costs precisely. This saves both time and money by avoiding unnecessary work. Furthermore, conducting the visual inspection with the drone cuts labor costs and the expense of renting a lift in half.
Digitalization
Implenia Holzbau is constantly evolving in the area of digitalization and seeking ways to optimize its processes. The drone pilot project was a success. The use of a drone offers a wide range of advantages. It is more sustainable than using aerial work platforms, in part due to the reduced need for round-trip transportation. Drone operations also prevent damage to the landscape. Furthermore, it offers potential for additional applications. For example, drone imagery can be overlaid with geodata. This not only provides a true-to-life representation of a property but also enables the measurement of areas and lengths through geoverification.
Visual inspections using drones offer property owners new ways to efficiently manage their properties. Of course, Implenia Holzbau supports them in this.
