Aerial Drone Services
Our Drones
- DJI Phantom 4 Pro
- Yuneec H520
- DJI Matrice 210RTK
Key features that enhance flight safety:
- Obstacle detection and avoidance meaning risk of collision is virtually eliminated.
- Return to Home, a safety feature which activates if the data link to the drone is lost and activates when the battery power level reaches a critical level.
- Adjustable low battery and critical battery levels with on-screen and audible warning for the pilot, ensuring that sufficient power is available for a safe return and landing.
- Multiple satellite positioning systems used for enhanced flight accuracy.
- Dual IMU & Compass systems.
- 5 rotor fail safe – on the hexacoptors the drone can continue to fly with a motor failure.
- A collision-resistant carbon-fibre cage, specifically designed for the Phantom 4 range, that allows us to fly safely and with reduced risk in restricted access areas and interior spaces.
Camera and flight-programming:
- Up to 20-megapixel cameras with 1-inch mechanical shutter, producing super-sharp, high resolution images that can be enlarged significantly without suffering pixilation.
- Ability to shoot High-Definition video at up to 120 frames/sec and 4K video at up to 60 frames/sec.
- 30x optical zoom lenses for super closeup images.
- Thermal and low light cameras.
- LiDAR payload with 16 channel scanner capturing up to 300,000 points per second.
- Intelligent Flight Modes, including: point of interest – orbit a selected feature at a radius and speed determined by the pilot; active track – drone will follow a moving object, e.g. person, vehicle; tripod mode – reduces the speed of the drone and the rate of turn to allow smooth and steady shooting of video and photographs; waypoint determined flight path.
- Compatibility with Drone Harmony, allowing flight-path programming for inspections of buildings/structures and producing cinematic shots when recording video.
- Compatibility with Drone Deploy and Pix4D for aerial mapping, surveying and 3D modelling.

AERIAL INSPECTIONS
We have the means to produce reports at a variety of levels, depending upon client requirements, from basic factual to comprehensive interpretive. Our particular strength is working within the rail sector. These capabilities are readily transferable to a broad range of sectors and form the core of our UAV Inspection Services.

STRUCTURES, BUILDINGS, EARTHWORKS & ROCK FACES
UAV only inspections:
- Rapid deployment
- Sufficient batteries for over 2 hours of flight time
- Safer working with significant reduction of risk
- Initial and detailed inspections can be undertaken
- Urgent defects can be quickly identified and reported
- Areas requiring tactile inspections identified at an early stage
- Identification of specific locations requiring rope access inspection teams
- Site risk assessment prior to deployment of rope access teams



- Improved utilisation of rope access teams
- Teams can focus on specific locations identified by UAV
- Efficient planning and execution of tactile examinations
- Safer working and reduction of risk using drone to provide a safety overwatch and monitor teams at work
INTERIOR, RESTRICTED ACCESS & CONFINED SPACES

- Inspecting interior structural steelwork, particularly roof and canopy support
- Inspection of pipework, valves, conduits and cables at height and in restricted access areas
- Inspections of silos and tanks
- Bridge, tunnel and culvert inspections
- Performing safety checks in deep excavations, underground mining and tunnelling operations
- Interior inspections of derelict and dilapidated buildings prior to demolition to ensure personnel can enter safely
2D Mapping & 3D Modelling
- An overview of large roof areas for commercial, industrial and retail premises to aid in inspections
- Reconnaissance of land for site investigation: access points, limited clearance, traffic routes, compound and laydown area selection, waste/fly-tipping, areas of surface contamination, poorly drained ground
- Pre-construction/site set-up stage: access points, limited clearance, traffic routes, locating site offices and parking areas
- Construction: site layout planning, documenting construction progress, materials and waste storage area selection and monitoring, identifying on-site issues such as traffic route degradation, housekeeping, drainage problems
- Demolition: planning and visualisation, access, progress monitoring, recyclable and non-recyclable waste segregation and stockpiling
- Relative measurements of length, area and volume
- Earthwork, slope and rock face failures: determine causes and mechanisms involved; planning of repair/remedial works
- Construction: documenting construction progress, model of the completed build
- Demolition: visualisation of building/structure to aid in planning, methodology and risk assessment
- Visualisation for promotional and marketing purposes
- Generation of dense point clouds for use in CAD software
LiDAR
The main product of a LiDAR survey is a 3D point cloud. The density of the point cloud depends on the sensor characteristics (scan frequency and repetition rate), as well as the flight parameters. Assuming that the scanner is pulsing and oscillating at a fixed rate, the point cloud density depends on the flight altitude and speed of the aircraft.
Unlike photogrammetry, LiDAR surveys have the ability to “see through vegetation” and can produce digital terrain models, as well as digital surface models.
Our state of the art LiDAR sensor can be attached to our UAVs to provide centimetre level accuracy.


THERMAL SURVEYS
- Search and rescue
- Heat loss surveys
- Hotspot inspections
Plant Health Mapping
- Agriculture
- Forestry & woodland management
- Site investigation – surface and shallow contamination affecting plant health (phytotoxic metals and substances)
Flight Safety
In the first instance GeoAccess will undertake an initial discussion with the client to determine if an operation is feasible. As part of the feasibility study process, the following will be utilised to determine the feasibility of the intended tasks:

- A detailed brief of the project – outlining the scope and desired deliverables – will be obtained from the client
- The brief will assist in determining the requirements and resources to undertake the flight safely and successfully, and if it is feasible to do so in the first place
- The majority of considerations relating to the site will be addressed by utilising web-based resources, including: Bing & Google Maps; Drone Safety Map; NATS-AIS and Sky Demon; site-specific information will be provided by the client
- Date and time-frame the client wishes the project to be completed (allows investigation of any additional variables that may affect the project)
- Site location and site access
Once both parties are satisfied that the operation is possible, GeoAccess will request that the client accompany them on the site survey to identify hazards and assess associated risks. The risk control measures required will be discussed with the client to ensure all parties have input and are satisfied with the type and levels of control to be implemented. A Method Statement & Risk Assessment will be prepared and submitted to the client for approval. The Method Statement & Risk Assessment is available to all concerned parties, including stakeholders, site management and supervisors. If required, a briefing sheet for broad distribution (when working on large sites) can be produced to provide contact details of the flight-crew and information on the flight. Tool-box talks can also be given.
Flight crews

PfCO No 6887