In view of the building collapse in Surfside, FL, and subsequent action by the State legislature (Florida Senate Bill 4D), many stakeholders, namely high-rise building owners, property management companies, building officials, engineers, and insurers, will need to document the existing conditions of structures.
Drones have already proved to be valuable in search and rescue operations, and after hurricanes, earthquakes, and similar natural disasters. They also play a major role in structural evaluation.For consultants, drone surveys help in a detailed and thorough evaluation of structures. They aid in reducing report preparation time, categorizing the type of damage, determining the quantity and location of damage, providing evidence for expert witness testimonials, as well as optimizing project portfolio, marketing, and advertising. For property owners, they can be important in justifying maintenance and repair expenses and supporting insurance claims. Even contractors can benefit, from documenting pre-construction conditions and construction progress to providing as-built documentation (rebar, PT cables, utility piping layout in slab before concrete pour) and defending legal actions.A drone survey of a typical building can generate over 100 GB (Gigabyte) of data including thousands of images and videos. Systematically viewing, sharing, and storing this data is a major challenge.
This paper will discuss the pros and cons of video versus high-definition still images, how to manage a vast amount of collected imagery, and how to view and share images on demand using different platforms (computers, tablets, or phones).