Drones are being used widely in various work sectors of construction. It is estimated that around a million drones are being used today across the construction industry. They are safer than other traditional methods like swing stages, boom lifts, rope-access, or other similar means where workers have to gain close access to the façade.
Despite the numerous advantages offered by drones, they have not gained widespread acceptance in facade inspection due to some restrictive local ordinances.
This article discusses the newly-implemented facade inspection law, the Local Law of 102 of 2020 (Local Law 102) in New York City, along with its features and considerations.
Contents:
Facade Inspection Safety Program (FSP), New York City
New York City is rich in historic buildings that demand frequent inspection and maintenance.
In late 2019, a New York City architect, Erica Tishman, was killed by a piece of falling facade from a 105-year-old high-rise building in Manhattan.
Based on this incident and related developments, the New York City Council passed the Local Law of 102 of 2020 (Local Law 102). The law requires the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) to study the use of drones for conducting facade inspections in addition to hands-on inspections.
Local Law 102 of NYC mandates an FSP which demands periodic facade inspections of all buildings having more than six stories.
Facade Inspection Using Drones
- Drones or unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) are useful tools for collecting significant amounts of visual data like videos, thermal images, and similar outputs.
- The data collected by the drones is examined to determine defects, damage, etc. However, examining the data is a challenging process that requires qualified professionals to identify and mitigate the hazards as quickly as possible.
- In NYC, licensed design professionals, referred to as Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors (QEWIs), perform facade inspections.
- Drones can provide an enhanced visual inspection to the QEWIs, which helps them easily examine inaccessible locations like window sills, cantilevered appurtenances, balconies, mechanical equipment, etc. These advantages make drones the most beneficial tool in terms of the time they save and their ability to observe the defects.
Key Considerations in Facade Inspection Using Drones
A few factors to consider while conducting facade inspection using drones are:
- GPS availability
- Number of facades
- Drone takeoff locations
1. GPS Availability
Drones work smoothly with a proper GPS signal. When planning to inspect a building in a congested area, the first requirement is to have a good GPS signal during its flight. Buildings can block the GPS signal resulting in interrupted communication.
A good GPS signal strength provides:
- Stable drone flight
- Data collection with a higher level of precision
In situations where GPS signal fails, it is recommended to keep Non-GPS methods for taking control.
2. Number of Facades
The efficiency of a drone facade inspection is also dependent on the number of facades planned to inspect and the flight path the drone is planning to take.
- To inspect a single facade of a building- fly up and down the building to cover its longside first.
- To inspect multiple facades of a building- fly left to right first and then move top to bottom.
When the height and number of flights are more, it is tough to maintain the line of sight. In such situations, it is required to split the flight plan into multiple flights, one for each facade.
3. Drone Takeoff Locations
When conducting the drone flight’s risk assessment, it is necessary to decide the takeoff locations. Try to visit the site to find a feasible takeoff location. Takeoff of drones from the roof is one good option to start facade inspection. When drones take off from a higher altitude, the barometric sensor used for altitude estimation reports negative altitudes.
In many countries, drones are complemented with other methods and technologies to perform facade inspection.
FAQs
Drones or unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) are useful tools for collecting significant amounts of visual data like videos, thermal images, and similar outputs.
The New York City Council passed th Local Law of 102 of 2020 (Local Law 102). The law requires the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) to study the use of drones for conducting facade inspections in addition to hands-on inspections.
Local Law 102 of NYC mandates an FSP which demands periodic facade inspections of all buildings having more than six stories.
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