Drones/ Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
While nations grapple how to integrate this emerging technologywithin their respective aviation regulatory requirements which factor taking into account height of operations, line of sight, weight, safety requirements etc., exciting progress continues to develop with this innovative technology.
Some current drone applications are:
Security – While the issue of privacy is real, the benefit and cost effectiveness of “eyes in the sky” are undeniable.
Thermography Scans – Buildings with failing joints in the infrastructure can result in increased heating and cooling costs. UAV’s can scan a facility and send mages to the operator indicating the areas of the building requiring corrective maintenance due to heat loss etc.
Maintenance – Service drones are now able to inspect and clean HVAC ducts, weld, fasten, drill, clean exterior windows, and conduct FM assessments for roof top and as well safety inspections.
Surveying – HD quality video and high resolution images enable Facility Managers to obtain optimal information for Building Information Modelling (BIM) strategies. Also, conducting roof take offs for measurements for roofing estimates.
Safety – In 2014, Abu Dhabi a highrise window cleaner scaffold failed 10 stories above the ground. The UAV was deployed using audio and visual devices and was able to calm the worker down, observe why the scaffold failed, and relay instructions to repair it. While the costs and sizes of drones were at one time prohibitive, they continue to drop in both accounts.
Depending on brand model, and aviation restrictions, UAV’s can travel up to 1000 meters in altitude at 50 KMH, have a flight time of 1 hour, and pay load up to 12 pounds.
Space Utilization
A conference room may have been booked, but was it used the entire time? A desk may be assigned to a staff, but are they out of the office 70% of the time? It is highly common to have an occupancy rate of 85%, but have a utilization rate of 25%-40%. How can we optimize our workplace strategy and increase our utilization rate, while hopefully also increasing productivity of the occupants?
Workplace strategies requiring essential space utilization assessments once regulated to a time consuming walk through with clip board in hand, walking through floor by floor, room by room, can now efficiently be measured via sensors. The walk through process was a static initiative while the occupancy sensors are dynamic i.e. sending continuous information to the CCC for analysis into staffing to floor plate ratios.
