Drone Inspections for Pipeline Visualisation

LiDAR can be used to provide a photorealistic representation of assets as a 3D model, allowing our clients to inspect safely from their own site and computers rather than putting up scaffold and using cherry pickers – both high-risk actions. Inspection work itself can be done safely from the ground, and from the desktop. We deliver all of the captured data in the client's requested format (i.e. a web-based portal). Data and images can be viewed by all client team members, not only the technical specialists.

Our client was installing above- and below-ground structures that were located over or near below-ground assets, including a borehole and mains sewer. They needed to know exactly where the assets and structures sat in relation to each other, to avoid possible damage and prevent potential sewerage spillage. Our laser scanning created a 3D model of everything above ground and then we connected that to underground laser scanning and LiDAR work to precisely map the relative locations so that the client could then successfully and safely position them.

Clients with large industrial assets use our drone inspection service to cover large areas quickly. We provide them with extremely high-resolution orthomosaic images and 3D models to record broad and detailed imagery. It is particularly useful for recording an asset’s condition over time, revisiting at set intervals to see if suspected problems have developed, such as checking on a rust spot and comparing and contrasting it’s size from one visit to another. This service is also valuable to the client for checking that scheduled repairs have been completed.