Drone Technology Can Help Save Money

Whether landlord or tenant, if you’re thinking of entering into a full repairing and insuring lease, you may face a dilapidation claim later down the line.

You will need to know the condition of the roof and high-level elevations and Monssi Limited can help with that.

As a drone company run by RICS property surveyors, we specialise in photographic schedules of condition for buildings, in particular roofs.  We prepare the video footage and analyse the data so that you know the problems as identified.

We use the latest drone technology to capture data, including high-definition cameras that allow defects to be zoomed into without loss of definition. You can see the smallest cracks visible to the naked eye, without having to leave the office.

Monssi can give save you money at the end of the lease as you will know the full detail of the condition of the property on commencement.

If you have a property problem, call Monssi, ask for Stuart (01386 424717/07832 100287) or Tony (07787 125909) and we will talk through your survey requirement and provide you with a cost quote.

Chimneys Fit for Santa

It’s that time of the year again. The Christmas Tree seller is just starting to do a brisk trade, and you regularly see cars where the tree has been strapped to the roof, or crammed into the back of the car with the top sticking out of one of the side windows. People are starting to think about present buying. Children also start to wonder about how and whether Father Christmas will be able to deliver presents down the chimney.

Fireplaces and chimney flues are carefully designed, they are not created by just banging a hole in the wall and stuffing a pipe up through the roof. The fire opening needs to be carefully sculpted to both stop the smoke and fumes from escaping into the room, then persuading it to rush up the flue. The flue also needs to be constructed to speed the passage of smoke out to the top, whilst stopping any rain from dropping onto the fire yet preventing the dreaded ‘down draught’.

Many chimneys, particularly the ones dating back to Edwardian and Victorian times tend to be constructed of very ornate brickwork, demonstrating both the skill of the builder and the architect, who uses the style to make a statement about the owners wealth. The problem is that with acid rain, and the ravages of time, many of these chimneys are reaching the point when they need to be maintained.

We recently were called out to do a survey of a brick chimney and roof structure, where the owner wanted to ascertain the condition of the structure before planning maintenance work. We were able to fly a drone over the roof, and take detailed photographs of the structure without having to erect a scaffold. The detail of the photographs is mind blowing, we can zoom into the building with a lens that can zoom in by a 34 times multiplication. That is, we can blow a normal sized photograph up to about 5 meters square, without loss of clarity.

In this case, we were able to identify a number of hair line cracks in the chimney which will need to be stitched using helical spiro ties, to restore structural integrity. The owner was then able to plan the repair works, and the builder knew exactly what he had to do before even climbing onto the scaffold. The cost of the drone survey is much cheaper than erecting a scaffold or hiring a cherry picker, and the equipment doesn’t have to sit on site for weeks, waiting for the builder to turn up.

So what about our hoped for visitor on Christmas morning? Well hopefully once the planed work was completed, he should be able to use the chimney without disturbing the brickwork, and all will be well again for another year.

Why use Monssi for an Arial Survey

SENIOR MRICS, TONY explains the MAIN benefits of using Monssi…..

  • We have 7 years’ experience of flying drones, both internally and externally, around residential and commercial buildings.

  • We employ trained and experienced surveyors to analyse the film data.

  • We have a working knowledge of how a building is constructed so if we identify a building defect, we will give an indication as to what remedy to use and recommend specialist reports where further in-depth analysis is required.

  • We use the latest analytical software to assist with analysis and remedy solutions.  These programs are easily supplied to other building professionals who handle ongoing management of the building .

  • We can access the really difficult to reach parts of a building, whether it be in the country or in the middle of a city centre.

  • We are, therefore, cost effective when compared to any traditional methods of accessing buildings, particularly the higher elevations and of roofs.

  • We can generate an external view of a building without any obstructions obscuring the view of the building’s components.  This can be achieved without the use of scaffolding or cherry pickers.

  • Underground surveys can be carried out from above ground, removing the need to employ operatives to enter spaces considered dangerous for human life.

Drone Fun Facts

Monssi’s fleet of drones is very special to us.  Providing our specialist survey services not only requires qualified and experienced pilots but also a fleet of well-maintained and up to date drones. We love and look after them as if they were living beings!

Whilst our own drones are used for site surveying, drones can be used for photography, videography, military and police surveillance and even retail delivery services.  Here are fifteen fun facts about drones.   

1)    Drones are also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

2)    Drones are not only used more and more extensively for retail deliveries, they are also used to ship essential supplies such as medication and medical supplies to more remote areas across the world.

3)    The first UAV was developed after the Royal Air Force was established, for training purposes.  A low cost radio-controlled drone was developed for aerial target practice in 1935.

4)    Drones are having a massive impact on many industries, in particular farming.  High tech farmers are now able to use drones to inspect fields of crops and irrigation systems very effectively, saving significant amounts of time and money.

5)    Drone photography is becoming more and more commonplace.  Often used in corporate videos to dramatically show businesses in all their glory, wedding couples are also now regularly using drone photography to great dramatic effect.

6)    The use of drones is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and regulations are tight.  For example, UK drones must comply with rules such as being flown no higher than 120m and horizontally they must always fly within 500m – and sight - of the pilot.

7)    The first country to build drones was Israel.

8)    Police use drones as a much lower cost ‘eye in the sky’ alternative to helicopters.

9)    Drones can fly up to 50 miles per hour.

10) According to a report conducted by Forbes, drone delivery is 90% cheaper than delivery via road transportation.

11) Drones are hugely eco-friendly as without using petrol or fuel, they leave very little in the way of carbon footprint.

12) The first military armed drones created in the USA were used in the fight against terrorism.

13) Disney used ‘anti-drone’ drones to prevent people from spying on the set of the film, Star Wars Episode VIII.

14) Google donated $5 million to a program which used drones to track poachers across the world.

15) A Dutch police force is reported to be training eagles to combat drones.

If you should like a demonstration of our drones or more information about our services, please get in touch – we’d love to show you more!

Exciting news for the Monssi fleet!

Monssi are very excited to announce we have added a new drone to our fleet!

The fabulously compact and portable DJI MAVIC 3E enhances the speed, accuracy and efficiency of all our flights.  This means we can offer our clients the ultimate in drone surveying services – highly ACCURATE data - EFFICIENTLY collected - with a COMPREHENSIVE report delivered SPEEDILY, direct to your desk.

In a constantly changing technological world, the easily deployed DJI Mavic 3E brings a wealth of benefits to the world of surveying, including:

·      Foldable, compact and portable

·      Increased flight time, now with a maximum flight time of 45 minutes

·      Faster battery charging with 100W charging hub

·      20 MP Camera with 4/3 CMOS

·      Up to 1/2000 per second, mechanical shutter speeds means:

  • reduced motion blur; and

  • improved mapping precision

·      0.7-second capture intervals

·      Cameras support powerful 56x hybrid zoom

·      Wide-angle lenses enable highly effective omnidirectional obstacle sensing

·      Powerful and stable remote control

·      Built in microphone

·      Text to speech and high-volume loudspeaker capability

·      Revamped DJI Pilot 2 interface for added safety and efficiency

·      4G Cellular Transmission capability for signal stability

Give us a call if you’d like a demo - we love nothing better than to chat about our tech!

The Importance of Drones in the Quest for Sustainable Energy

With a growing need for clean energy alternatives and reduced climate change, industry is turning to the use of drones to speed up the process.  Here are just four examples of how using drones can help.

Solar Development

The installation of solar panels has for some time, been key in terms of providing sustainable energy.  Whilst the traditional building survey methods behind these installations are efficient, replacing them with surveys conducted by drones brings many benefits.  For example, dispensing with the need for teams of surveyors; the consequential health and safety paraphernalia and associated written reports and replacing them with a UAV survey can only make sense.  A lone drone operator can carry out a rooftop assessment and collect downloadable data with equal accuracy, at multiple times the speed.  As such, solar panels can be designed and fitted at a much quicker rate, resulting in significantly reduced costs.  Equally, solar developers can subsequently rise to the challenge and respond more quickly to the growing demand for clean energy.

Methane Emission Reduction

Methane emissions are 25 times more potent than CO2.  Consequently, monitoring and reducing methane leaks within the oil and gas industry is evidently hugely important.  Until recent times, locating these leaks and measuring the impact has proved tricky, however the use of drones equipped with the necessary sensors has proved fruitful.  Leaks can be detected early, reporting faster and overall, the reduction in the amount of time used in the necessary inspections once again saves money.

Sustainable Land Use

In order to support farmers in the compliance and reporting of conservation projects designed to aid future sustainability, drone services can once again prove invaluable.  Not only do drones cover large areas speedily, they fly at a suitable height so as not to be hampered by terrain or plantation.  Collecting accurate data and covering large areas quickly, the use of drones is a cost-effective way to collect and report the necessary data involved.  Moreover, drones can also detect and monitor the condition and growth pattern of the crops themselves.

Waste and Cost Reduction

Any construction or infrastructure project commissioned with regard to sustainability will benefit by using drone-based services, in terms of both reduced energy and cost. For surveys, inspections and all data capture, the use of a drone means consistency of reporting and the collection of accurate data. Consequently, with accuracy and less of a need for multiple checks, not only will costs be reduced, the likelihood of material waste will be much lower too.

Points to Consider when Hiring Drone Services

If you’ve taken an interest in the many benefits of using drones in business, you may find hiring drone services the right solution. Perfect for those businesses which can substantially benefit but who don’t have the resources for the necessary investment in a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and subsequent training.

Whilst the advantages of using drones is clear, there are many considerations with regard to the rules and regulations involved.  However, it doesn’t mean that it is as complicated as you might think.

Regulations

In the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the governing body for airspace across the country.  They offer a plethora of information on the use of drones for both commercial pilots and the general public.  This information is a great reference point for both recreational and commercial drones.  However, this may prove unnecessary once you’ve taken the decision to hire a CAA compliant commercial drone service provider such as Monssi.

Certification

Although technically drone pilots don’t need CAA permission to fly commercially, without a Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO), any service provider’s drone operations are significantly limited. Whilst an A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC) will allow a pilot to fly in built up areas, perhaps the best testament for any would-be hire is their experience.

Insurance and Know How

Before hiring a commercial drone service provider, make sure you ask about insurances as well as certification.  Furthermore, it’s a useful exercise to ask for details on any compliance-based processes undertaken.  Whatever their specialism, any drone service provider should be able to give you confidence in their due diligence and flight planning.  Risk assessment; checking the weather; alerting the necessary agencies and mapping all form part of the necessary preparations.  Moreover, a process incorporating checks of all equipment is also essential.

Best Practice

It’s sensible to allocate a project manager to work with any commercial pilot.  Operations will run much more smoothly if the project manager representing your company has all the information at his or her fingertips.  Copies of flight plans and schedule will arm them with the necessary detail to successfully manage the relationship.

A full understanding of the responsibilities involved whether they be yours or your suppliers is essential. Good communication and a good relationship with your sub-contractor will ensure you have full confidence in their abilities.  Equally, you can learn from their previous work with other clients.

Another good practice is to develop an operational manual.  It makes sense to include standard operating procedures, roles, responsibilities, reporting methods and a risk management system.

The Right Provider

As with all industries, working with a specialist company will ensure you get the best service.  Whether your drone services provider is carrying out photography and videography on your behalf or building and site surveys, knowing it’s a specialism can allow you full confidence in both their capabilities and equipment.  Not all UAVs have the same capability.  Different shapes and sizes bring major differences to getting the job done as well as possible.  Equally, the cameras and technology available will make a huge difference.

Do your research, build a good rapport with your sub-contractor and hiring drone services may prove the best decision you’ve ever made!

Use of Drones - Aircraft Inspections

With today’s need for regular and rigorous safety checks, aircraft inspections of any sort can be a costly exercise. Not only is there a need for a maintenance crew, it can often mean renting space in an aircraft hangar too. Historically, an out of service aircraft has a serious impact on profit margins, however, in recent times, drones are yet again making a positive difference.

 

Aircraft Inspection Challenges

 

Any aircraft inspection requires a thorough visual assessment. Looking for signs of wear and tear or damage to the aircraft is a necessary and standard practice to ensure its safety. Consequently, one often overlooked challenge in carrying out an inspection of a large aircraft such as a Boeing 747, is that it can often expose engineers to dangerous heights.

 

An aircraft inspection is evidently a painfully slow process. With stringent processes required, the amount of aircraft downtime inspections create impacts heavily on costs. Whilst it’s essential to undertake these inspections, a commercial airline, for example, loses a great deal of money while their planes undergo inspections.

 

These financial implications are serious enough but with the additional recent impact from covid-19 on the aviation industry, both governments and commercial companies alike must seek cost-saving solutions.

 

Benefits of Using Drones

 

Using drones to carry out visual inspections on aircraft is the solution they seek. In recent years, forward thinking companies have looked to drones and their technology as the way forward. As with many drone-based services, the benefits are wide-ranging.

 

Cost Benefits

 

1.     Without the need for the teams of maintenance staff involved, costs are significantly lower.

2.     As the old adage, ‘time is money’ suggests, cost reductions are also brought about by the time saved using drones to perform automated aircraft inspections. Aircraft are back up and running in hugely reduced timeframes.

3.     Any hangar space requirement is, by default, also reduced meaning less rental cost.

4.     The need for safety equipment such as scaffolding, harness and rigging equipment is dispensed with using a nifty drone to inspect aircraft at a height. Additionally, the time saved in the set up and take down of such equipment also takes out cost.

 

Other Benefits

 

1.     With such an intense visual inspection requirement, the use of drones means a substantial drop in the margin for human error.

2.     Safety is the main driver of an aircraft inspection so it makes sense to be seeking improved methods to keep the inspection team themselves safe too.  The use of drones reduces the safety risk to the team carrying out the inspection, taking out the need for anyone to be working at dangerous heights.

3.     As with all uses of drones, the data collected is totally accurate and in the case of aircraft inspections, a drone can capture imagery from every inch of the aircraft involved, however difficult it would be to access by an inspector.

4.     Not only 100% accurate, the data recorded during a drone inspection will be automated, digital, accessible by all and easily stored for future analysis and reference.

 

Benefits of Digitised Building Surveys

Traditionally, the construction industry has always been based on more analogue than digital services. Labour intensive methods can be costly and the potential for human error is high.  Conversely, investing time and money in digital services can improve efficiency, productivity and accuracy.   

For example, the use of drones in building surveys is a prime example of how technological advancement can only improve the end result.  Gone are the days of needing health and safety risk assessments, hiring cumbersome and expensive equipment and requiring a building surveyor to be present on site.

UAV drone survey services such as those offered by Monssi are flexible, quickly reported and backed by RCIS certification.  Whether your survey needs are for roof tops or underground caverns; historic buildings or those with limited access, trained drone pilots with many years’ construction experience and knowledge are very well placed to get the right footage and point out the areas for concern.

Collecting the right sort of data: filtered; tagged and listed in order of severity, together with delivering a comprehensive report straight to your desk is all part of the service.  A service which collects accurate and detailed data and by using bespoke, reporting software, can record and highlight areas of concern, offers not only speedy and precise data capture but also the opportunity for sufficient collaboration and deliberation in deciding next steps. 

Acting as your very own Clerk of Works in the sky, drone survey services allow much more flexibility than the more traditional means of surveying.  Monitoring projects from start to finish is an excellent use of drone data collection.  With minimal effort, drone technology has significantly changed the way in which the construction industry perceives and carries out workflows.  Consequently, project managers have the capacity to make better and more informed decisions on any project management issues.  More visibility and less expensive data capture means projects are much more likely to be delivered on time and on budget.

Consistent reporting and collection of data is yet another massive efficiency which drone survey services deliver.  With more traditional services, personal opinion and interpretation, together with variables such as the weather all contribute to variances in reporting.  However, with digital surveys reported via bespoke software, you can be assured of accurate, speedy and consistent reporting EVERY time.