Context: Edison Engineers used handheld technology to collect information on the integrity of the structural envelope as well as a building’s heat signature. This process can be very time consuming, cumbersome, and poses a safety risk to the technicians that are suspended off the side of a building to collect the required data.
Industry Challenge: Edison Engineers considered using drones to collect the data but the cost of starting this process is prohibitive. By
integrating drones into building envelope inspection protocol, they could obtain footage without risking the safety of their employees.
Solution: This project allowed the Mohawk team to integrate drones into their building envelope inspection protocol. On a culminating flight for the proof-of-concept phase, they were able to capture regular and thermal camera imaging for at least 50% of the building quickly by using drones, despite the wind gusts of over 40 km/hr.
Impact of the project: This project has shown the Industry Partner how to incorporate the use of drones in scanning the building envelope instead of the typical process of someone being suspended by means of a boson’s chair to inspect the building. A larger portion of the building can be examined in a shorter time; the gusts in the proof-of-concept flight would have grounded someone from descending down the face of the building.
Mohawk’s role: Mohawk was one of the first Colleges in southern Ontario to integrate surveying into the curriculum. This collaboration has allowed Mohawk to provide their expertise and invaluable assistance in this derisking technology for the industry partner.
FUNDER: Ontario Centres of Excellence
INDUSTRY PARTNER: Edison Engineers Inc.
TIMELINE: November 2017 to October 2018
RESEARCH TEAM: Richard Borger, Matt Shelley
KEY STATS: Using drones allows 100% of a building envelope to be surveyed, and there would be no impediments with wind speeds. This process is much faster and safer than using traditional surveying methods.
This and 20 other applied research projects were supported by the Ontario Centres of Excellence through the College Voucher for Technology Adoption Program.
