Drone deployment at equipment inspection

High-level judging

With over 60 years of experience, Aboma Inspections is the inspection partner for the construction and vertical transport industry. To guarantee the safety of employees and the environment it is important (and obligatory) that equipment and other work equipment is inspected periodically. The government has laid down this inspection obligation in the Occupational Health and Safety Decree. "My work consists of inspecting machinery in the broadest sense of the word, especially related to construction equipment," begins Jeroen Gerkema, Equipment Coordinator at Aboma Inspections. "Because of the sometimes hefty sizes, great heights and hard-to-reach places, we started a pilot in 2020 to see if a drone could help us perform inspections more efficiently and safely. That quickly turned out to be a hit."

Inspecting at the detail level 

Whereas previously an outside firm was hired to fly a drone, Gerkema is now trained as a drone pilot himself. "I started with the basic drone flying training, but with the European drone regulations going into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, I 'stuck' a continuation training right after." Gerkema is now a certified drone pilot for the Specific Category. "With our professional drone, equipped with camera, we can fly at almost any location where construction equipment is set up. The deployment of the drone allows us to assess a machine at a detailed level at a high altitude. We can zoom in on the construction very precisely, down to bolt and screw level. That way, the broker of a large foundation machine, for example, does not have to be flattened. That saves a lot of time. And should we detect irregularities at a great height, we can always choose to lower the broker for a physical inspection." 

In addition to inspecting equipment on a construction site, Gerkema says the drone also lends itself well to inspecting equipment in factory halls. "We have already performed several indoor flights. In difficult places where it's dusty and dark, we can do well with our drone. Of course a physical inspection is preferred, but if there is no other way, a drone is a perfect alternative." Gerkema also sees opportunities for inspecting (civil) works of art, for example. "From now on we can serve our customers in all facets and that in turn gives another dynamic to our profession."