Technology · the method before the equipment
Drone inspection technology: the result first, the sensor second.
We start from the decision the material is meant to support: a roof refurbishment, a PV service call, a survey plan. Only then do we choose the method, and when the task needs another sensor or another specialist we say plainly who will take it on.
The platform
DJI Matrice 4T: a tool for specific data.
The reference platform for our method is the DJI Matrice 4T - an industrial inspection drone with high-resolution RGB cameras, a telephoto lens and a radiometric thermal sensor. It delivers precise data for technical audits, low-altitude photogrammetry and infrastructure inspections.
Core operational scope
- RGB documentation of roofs and photovoltaic installations: coverings, flashings, fixings and cable runs visible from the air
- close-ups of details from a safe distance - three cameras, including a telephoto lens
- a radiometric PV thermal camera survey: B2B and partner offer, only within the window of conditions - the rules of the method are here
- repeatable frames for comparison between dates
- a mission log and a record of the conditions with every set of material
Deliverables via partner network
- land surveys, MDCP maps and volume balances for settlement - delivered in cooperation with licensed land surveyors
- specialised sensors (LiDAR, multispectral, OGI gas detection) - executed with certified technology partners
- structural engineering appraisals and energy audits - high-resolution aerial datasets provided to experts or full coordination
- flight safety protocols compliant with European EASA regulations
If your project requires multispectral data, laser scanning or a formal engineer stamp, we coordinate execution with vetted technology and surveying partners.
Sensors and resolutions
Native specifications of sensors and platform.
The resolution that matters is the one written into the source file. Everything above it is processing - it can be easier to read, but it adds no information.
RGB cameras
Three 48 MP cameras: wide, medium tele and a telephoto for details from a distance. An electronic shutter and JPEG capture are enough for inspection documentation; this is not a kit for metric mapping and we do not sell it as one.
Thermal sensor
Natively 640 x 512 px, radiometric. The Super Resolution mode at 1280 x 1024 is image interpolation, and digital zoom does not increase the native resolution. We plan missions around the native pixel size on the building, not around the effect on screen.
Rangefinder and positioning
The laser rangefinder gives a reference value - an indicative distance, not a survey measurement. The RTK module improves the positioning of the imagery and the repeatability of routes; it is not a declaration of accuracy for the finished product.
Data and formats
Source material that can be verified.
The result of an inspection is only as reliable as its source data and the rigour of the work with it. That is why the formats and the flow of files are part of the method, not a detail.
- RGB imagery (JPEG) with mission metadata: time, position, exposure parameters
- thermal: radiometric R-JPEG - a file with temperature data for analysis in thermographic software, not just a coloured image
- the master material read-only; the analysis on a copy, with a log of the software version
- a record of the conditions with every mission: weather, wind, sunlight, limits
Accuracy
Accuracy confirmed by validation.
We state accuracy as the result of validation, not as a declaration. Where a product requires a defined error - for example measurement products - the error comes from validation on control points for the particular site and product. We deliver such scopes today as a pilot or with a partner who takes responsibility for the final product.
The manufacturer of the platform states plainly that RTK does not guarantee the precision of the final mapping. We treat that as the boundary of our offer, not as small print.
Conditions and limits
Flying in the right conditions as part of the method.
We fly within visual line of sight (VLOS), in the open category, up to 120 m above ground. Refusing to fly in bad conditions is not a lack of availability - it is the condition that keeps the material safe and comparable.
- rain: never - the platform has no declared IP protection rating
- strong wind: we move the date; a PV thermal camera survey we carry out in wind up to 4 m/s
- thermal without sun: a thermal inspection requires min. 600 W/m² in the plane of the modules and stable conditions
- night: requires a separate operating procedure and risk assessment - it is not a default offer
- operations over assemblies of people or beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS): subject to bespoke operational approvals under EASA regulations
Beyond the platform
When you need a different method.
Certain specialised scopes require specialized sensors or formal professional licences. We coordinate these projects with vetted partners.
A different sensor
LiDAR, multispectral imaging or gas leak detection are tasks for specialised platforms. We help specify the requirements and deliver the project with the right technology partner.
Geodetic deliverables
Maps for design purposes, as-built cadastral inventories and certified volume balances are delivered in partnership with licensed land surveyors with full statutory legal validity.
Expert interpretation
Drone material consists of observations. The diagnosis belongs to the roofer, the PV service or the surveyor - which is why we prepare the report so that handing it to an expert is straightforward.
Sources: the platform specifications come from the manufacturer's official documentation and specification (DJI), and the requirements of the thermal method from industry guidance for PV inspections (among others IEA PVPS, IEC TS 62446-3). Equipment matching the class of requirements is a necessary condition, not a sufficient one: quality is decided by the conditions, the procedure and the report.
Free quote
Describe the decision you have to make - we will check whether the method fits.
A reply within 1 business day. If this platform is not the right tool for your scope, we will say so plainly and point to an alternative.