As a company, do you still carry out inspection in an industrial assets using a traditional method such as hanging from a rope, climbing dangerous ladder, setting out scaffold or rigging, or hiring a helicopter in other to carry out inspection? It is certain that this method is less safe, and expensive and can also expose workers to harmful substances.  Today, with technological innovation springing up using drone technology, its use is extremely providing a great advantage for assets inspection. It has continued to produce an outstanding result in a safe and timely manner. The drone asset inspection might sound confusing, but this technology is changing the inspection process in any dangerous environment. Some companies might still be lacking in their inspection process because of its implementation of traditional method while others are continuously taken advantage of this to get the best result in a faster, safer and cheaper way.

The use of drone asset inspection comes with lots of benefits, and I will like to share a few.

Accessibility

Due to its flying capability and portability, it can easily access areas humanly impossible and produce accurate and detailed data when used for Inspection. And collected data can be used for further maintenance purpose.

Reduce Health Risk and Efficient

Using this method, you don’t need to go close to the dangerous environment that requires inspection which can be hazardous to human health. All you require is to control the drone from any comfortable environment close to the inspection site; this drone can be controlled to reach difficult areas to be inspected. And with its powerful sensor and quality cameras, it can detect and capture hidden damages.

Improved Data Collection

The drone comes with the post-processing service software application, image processing tool capable of taking in a large number of photos and also creating accurate data analysis on carrying out inspection.

Save Cost

Climbing robes, hiring an airplane or a helicopter or shutting down a system just to carry out inspection is one disturbing factor when using traditional inspection method in an industrial site. But with the use of drone asset inspection, an inspector can stay at any place and inspect any hazardous environment thereby reducing the cost of insurance that will be paid for personnel involved, and reducing manpower.

The Importance of Drone for Industrial Asset Inspection

Since Assets is described as an economic resource owned and controlled by a corporation, individual or country that can provide continuous and future benefit. It is mandatory for any company or organization that controls or manages a critical asset to carry out a regular inspection in other to detect a defect that can lead to a dangerous outcome. This makes drone asset inspection one great method that is safe, efficient and less expensive.

Here are some critical industrial assets that will certainly need drone asset inspection for continuous productivity which includes

Power Station

To ensure a continuous supply of electricity to our homes, office, companies and other facilities frequent inspection is carried out to produce maximum efficiency and electrical transmission. But in places like this, close contact inspection is known to be dangerous and highly risky due to high voltage involved. Hence, rather than contracting more experts, using drones equipped with a thermal camera will certainly help in scanning the power line, therefore detecting defect like rust, burns, material loss, breaks, abnormal discharge in insulator line, deformation in wires and so much more. Not only that it detects a defect, but it also prevents inspectors from close contact with this dangerous environment.

Dam Spillway

Since spillway is a structure constructed to allow easy flow of water from a dam into a downstream and helps in protecting the dam and foundation from erosion. Carrying out thorough and regular inspection for maximum functionality is mandatory. Well, you ought to know it is difficult to embark on an inspection in spillways due to its sited location. And traditional inspection method may prove to be time consuming and risky. But with use of a drone, the inspection will be done more efficiently because inspection drones come with an advanced sensor that can scan the spillway structure to reveal hidden crack on the concrete, slight movement due to foundation defect, and degradation caused by weeds growing on the concrete structure.

 Wind Energy Farm

The demand for clean energy is increasing every day. And the use of this renewable source of energy is gaining popularity across the world. But one thing is certain about energy farm it is prone to damages caused by the continuous operation.

Furthermore, considering the height of turbine pole, length of turbine shafts and the area of land a wind turbine occupies. It will be time-consuming and difficult to carry out inspection manually. Today, with the application of drone, inspectors can comfortably inspect up to 10-15 turbines daily. The use of drone also cost less and delivers detailed data on turbine condition compared to tradition method.