A housing provider has used drones to survey 969 residential blocks in four months as part of a programme to identify roof defects before they develop into more serious problems. Stonewater carried out the inspections across blocks more than five years old in partnership with aerial inspection specialist Vantage UAV. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging technology were used to inspect the roofs, avoiding the need for traditional access methods such as scaffolding. The surveys identified issues including missing and broken roof tiles, guttering defects and vegetation growth, allowing Stonewater to prioritise repairs across its portfolio.
The housing provider said the approach had also reduced disruption to customers and health and safety risks associated with traditional inspections. Data collected during the programme will be stored to provide a digital record of building condition that can be revisited to support maintenance planning, investment decisions and longer-term asset management. Robert Panou, director of asset strategy, homes at Stonewater, said: “The surveys have given us detailed insight into the condition of nearly thousand blocks across our portfolio, allowing us to identify issues much earlier than would often be possible through traditional inspection methods. “By taking a proactive approach, we can plan maintenance more effectively, minimise disruption for customers and help prevent smaller issues from developing into more complex repairs. “The data will also help inform future investment decisions, ensuring we’re targeting resources where they’re needed most while continuing to provide safe, well-maintained homes.”
Grace Hammond, head of services – built environment at Vantage UAV, said: “The technology has enabled us to capture high-quality imagery safely and efficiently, identifying a range of maintenance issues that can now be addressed before they become more serious. “Having this level of detailed information gives housing providers greater confidence when planning repairs and maintaining their homes over the long term.” Stonewater plans to repeat the drone survey programme every few years as part of its wider asset management strategy.
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