INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL DRONE SURVEYS
CAA Approved aerial inspections delivering high resolution data for hard to reach assets. A safe, cost-effective alternative to traditional access methods.
Our Core Drone Services
BUILDING & ROOF SURVEYS
High-definition visual inspections of roofs and facades. Safe, rapid data capture without the need for scaffolding or cherry pickers.
LIDAR / MEASURED SURVEYS
Airborne laser scanning to create accurate 3D topographic maps & pointclouds for land development and infrastructure projects.
THERMAL IMAGING
Infrared thermography to detect heat loss, moisture ingress, and insulation defects in buildings and district heating networks.
CONFINED SPACE DRONE
Specialist collision-tolerant drones for inspecting tanks, tunnels, and voids. Removes the risk of human entry into hazardous environments.
Our Specialist Services
PHOTOGRAMMETRY
Transforming aerial imagery into accurate 3D models. Create navigable digital assets for asset management & future planning.
SOLAR PANELS PV SURVEYS
Rapid aerial PV module inspections using thermal imaging to identify defective cells, ensuring optimal efficiency and energy output.
CULVERT & SEWER SURVEYS
Remote internal inspection of drainage infrastructure. Navigating difficult access points to identify blockages and defects safely.
BRIDGE SURVEY & INSPECTION
Close-visual inspection of bridge undersides, arches, and piers. Operate over water and rail with minimal operational disruption.
Our Approach
OPERATIONAL SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE
Safety is the foundation of every flight we undertake. With over 10 years of operational experience, we operate under a rigid safety framework, ensuring that every project, from complex confined spaces to high-rise inspections, is meticulously planned and risk assessed.
🟧CAA Approved: Fully authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority for commercial operations.
🟧Risk Managed: Comprehensive RAMS (Risk Assessment & Method Statements) for every site.
🟧Fully Insured: Carrying complete Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance.
🟧Qualified Pilots: All operators are CSCS & GVC certified for industrial environments.
CASE STUDIES
Digital Twin: High Level Dust Extractor
We generated a high-resolution 3D photogrammetry model of a complex steel dust extractor. This 'Digital Twin' enabled the client to manage the asset remotely, ensuring precise maintenance planning without the need for dangerous physical access.
Culvert Inspection & Mapping
Using collision-tolerant drones and LiDAR, we mapped the route and condition of a confined culvert. This approach eliminated the risk of human entry while delivering comprehensive structural data to inform critical maintenance decisions.
District Heating Leak Detection
Deploying high-sensitivity thermal cameras, we pinpointed a hidden leak within a district heating network. This non-invasive solution prevented further energy loss and eliminated the need for expensive, disruptive exploratory digging on the site.
Common Questions & Technical Details
-
Yes, Vertex Air provides nationwide drone surveying services across the UK. Our mobile teams are equipped to handle projects in urban centres, remote industrial sites, or complex infrastructure environments wherever they are located.
-
Yes. Vertex Air holds a full Operational Authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), allowing us to operate in congested areas and near critical infrastructure. We carry £10 million Public Liability insurance and specific aviation insurance, ensuring full compliance for commercial and industrial projects across the UK.
-
We deliver data in industry-standard formats compatible with all major CAD and BIM software. This includes high-resolution Orthomosaics (GeoTIFF), 3D Point Clouds (.LAS, .RCP), and 3D Mesh models (.OBJ). We can also provide raw imagery for inspection reports or fully processed 3D models ready for integration into Revit or AutoCAD.
-
Drone data is highly effective for rapidly capturing vast amounts of topographic and visual information over large areas. While traditional ground methods may be required for absolute engineering-grade tolerance on specific hard details, drones provide an unbeatable balance of speed, comprehensive coverage, and high relative accuracy, making them ideal for topographic mapping, volumetric analysis, and site monitoring.
-
Yes, we manage the entire pre-flight process. Our team handles all necessary airspace permissions, landowner approvals, and site-specific Risk Assessments & Method Statements (RAMS) before deployment, ensuring a safe and fully compliant operation with minimal input needed from you.
-
We constantly monitor aviation weather forecasts leading up to a deployment. Drone operations are subject to wind and rain limitations for safety and data quality. If conditions are unsuitable, we will reschedule the flight at the earliest possible opportunity, keeping you informed throughout the process.
-
We support a diverse range of sectors including Construction & Infrastructure (progress monitoring, earthworks), Facilities Management (roof & façade inspections), Utilities & Renewables (solar PV, pipelines, district heating), and Heritage Conservation. Our teams are experienced in complex environments, from active rail and highways to hazardous industrial sites and confined spaces.
WE’RE NOT JUST DRONES: THE COMPLETE SOLUTION
Vertex Air is just one part of the picture. As part of the Vertex Access Group, we offer seamless continuity from initial inspection to physical intervention. Once our drones identify a defect, our specialist Working-at-Height divisions are ready to deploy. We don't just show you the problem, we have the skilled teams to reach, test, and repair it.
