The Rise of Drone Technology in Building Inspections: A Game Changer for Real Estate Professionals
Drone technology is revolutionizing various industries, ranging from moviemaking to environmental monitoring. In the realm of real estate, drones have emerged as essential tools, particularly in structural inspections. They outperform human inspectors significantly in both productivity and safety, providing a fresh perspective on how building inspections are conducted.
Recently, CooperatorNews engaged with Jonathan Ehrlich, CEO of T2D2—a cutting-edge AI building inspection company—and Gary P. Mancini, P.E., a managing principal at Thornton Tomasetti, a prominent structural engineering firm, to explore how drones and AI are transforming building inspections, notably in the bustling environment of New York City.
COOPERATORNEWS: What advantages does drone technology offer in building inspections? How does it change the process? Is the human element still necessary?
GARY MANCINI: “New York City’s Façade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP) mandates complete visual inspections combined with a degree of hands-on assessments. Drones excel at capturing high-resolution image data quickly, far surpassing what can be achieved from the ground or a setback roof. Drones improve the visual aspect significantly, but they can’t fully replace the tactile interaction that trained professionals provide. A qualified inspector can glean insights through physical contact that a photographic image simply cannot convey. By using drones to bolster visual inspections, we can potentially minimize the extent of hands-on evaluations; however, their strategic use will guide us in focusing these assessments where they’re needed most.”
CN: Can you explain the technology behind drones in building inspections in simple terms?
JONATHAN EHRLICH: “Drones are now permitted to fly in NYC, regulated by a permit process overseen by the NYPD. The technology is evolving rapidly, becoming more intuitive, safer, and capable of producing high-resolution imagery. Various commercial drone platforms are tailored for façade inspection. Beyond the hardware, there are software tools that enable inspectors to easily review footage, highlight areas needing repair, and compile reports. AI is also advancing, helping engineers and architects expedite the inspection process.”
CN: How will drones impact the time frame and cost associated with building inspections, especially concerning compliance with LL97?
MANCINI: “Initially, using drones may incrementally increase the time and cost of FISP inspections compared to traditional methods. Currently, an engineer can perform a full visual inspection simply by walking around the building’s sidewalk. However, drones provide a wealth of actionable data. When utilized on a regular basis, drone inspections can track facade conditions over time and pinpoint areas requiring proactive maintenance before they escalate into costly repairs. This innovative approach offers building owners accurate, timestamped records of their facades for informed decision-making and planning purposes—akin to having a building management system that monitors conditions continuously.”
CN: Could you share a real-world example?
EHRLICH: “A notable example is the project at 345 Hudson Street in Manhattan. The building owner was in the midst of a renovation while also constructing a new adjacent building at 555 Greenwich Street. They opted for drone imagery to ensure a thorough five-year FISP inspection. The drones provided detailed imagery for both buildings, facilitating precise restoration of the historic structure to match the new one next door. Furthermore, the drone surveys served as baseline condition assessments prior to the adjacent construction, resulting in more accurate cost estimations for the repairs.”
“Thanks to this data, future inspections can be conducted rapidly using AI change detection, establishing a benchmark against which future scans can be automatically compared. This streamlines inspections to a fraction of the time previously required, fundamentally altering the approach to facade analysis. Instead of weeks spent on scaffolding or lifts, a drone can cover extensive areas swiftly, yielding immediate results.”
CN: How widespread is the use of drones in inspections at present, and how fast will it grow?
EHRLICH: “Currently, we estimate that over 30 percent of engineers and architects conducting facade inspections are employing drones. In some global cities like Singapore, drone usage escalates to 80 percent or more. We expect adoption rates in New York City to rise as more practitioners recognize the utility of these tools and as building owners become aware of the benefits derived from having more data for precise cost estimates and fewer financial discrepancies.”
CN: Are there areas where drone inspections fall short compared to traditional human assessments? How should this be compensated?
MANCINI: “When it comes to capturing useful images, drones far surpass what a human inspector can achieve from the ground with binoculars. AI tools, utilizing computer vision, can analyze hundreds or thousands of images swiftly, accurately identifying visible anomalies almost as reliably as human inspectors. The human’s role is crucial in confirming these AI findings.
EHRLICH: “From a visual standpoint, drones can indeed match or exceed the accuracy of human inspectors. It is critical to note that FISP mandates a human inspector to visually assess 100 percent of the building, which often involves using binoculars from a distance—even for high-rise structures. Drones offer close-up imagery previously unattainable. Yet, the tactile component remains vital for determining stability or detecting loose materials through physical contact. We acknowledge that drones can capture the vast majority of conditions of concern visually, leading to in-person follow-ups if necessary. Our current studies aim to quantify this further.
“Moreover, inspections performed by drones should always be reviewed by a human or combined with AI assistance. We firmly believe that AI serves as a fantastic co-pilot, ensuring human inspectors cover all bases. The DOB has issued guidelines promoting the integration of AI into inspection workflows to enhance efficiency and thoroughness.”
CN: We appreciate your insights; this is highly informative!
EHRLICH & MANCINI: “Thank you for having us. Wishing you happy holidays!”