Drone Inspection Case Study: Chesterfield County
Find Out How Our Drones Identified Chesterfield County’s Fire Department Roofing Issues
The Problem
Certain roof systems are easily damaged by foot traffic based on the material used, preventing necessary routine inspections and maintenance. These systems include natural quarried slate, clay tile, concrete tile, synthetic slate, and metal roof tiles.
Roof Consulting Services, Inc. employs FAA-certified remote pilots who document conditions with up-close, high-definition drone images. These images are then thoroughly reviewed in house by a senior project manager to identify issues and recommend repairs.
In October of 2017, RCS was contacted by Chesterfield County to assess a synthetic slate roof installed at one of the county’s fire department buildings. The system had been installed upon original construction of the building and had received little to no maintenance since that time.
The Results
RCS performed the visual inspection by use of a DJI Inspire 2 drone with a Zenmuse X5 camera on January 7th, 2017. A total of 268 high-resolution images were taken, recording the entire roof surface. The images were then reviewed in house, and issues were identified on an AutoCAD roof plan. A total of seven deficiencies were noted in a total of 36 locations.
The Solution
The total estimated cost of repairs was around $4,000.00, and by completing said repairs, the owner ensured that the $300,000 roof remained watertight and performed as intended for a minimum of ten additional years.
