Can Site Inspections be Conducted Off-Site?
The question itself is a paradox. Inspecting a site requires that the inspector is there, on-site. Doesn’t it?
But as technology advances, and people discover there are other, often better, ways to do things, new opportunities come to light.
For all of its evils, COVID-19 has also been the catalyst for positive change around the world. We know that any catastrophe also provides opportunities for those awake to them. Here at Yenem, the opportunities for off-site site inspections are opening up due to our strict border closure.
Case 1 – OFF-SITE INSPECTIONS
In April 2021, we couldn’t attend our six-monthly inspection of concrete bins in outback NSW. But our drone pilot and photographer Brad could – he was in the state – and following our system of data gathering, he, or rather his drone and camera, became our site-eyes.
Back at the desk, our engineer reviewed the data in a virtual site consisting of 3D imagery and high-resolution photographs. A 3D Walkthrough, or Virtual Tour that looked like he was there.
CASE 2 – SAVE A SITE TRIP (OR BETTER PREPARE FOR ONE)
Before the expense of deploying structural engineers to your site to conduct in-situ site inspections, consider a 3D walkthrough first. It doesn’t have to be a full plant laser scan either – our access to technology means your own personnel can create a virtual tour for our engineers to review – at least initially.
CASE 3 – REMEDIAL WORKS SUPERVISION
A recent project involved significant remedial works at a mineral processing plant that has suffered from major corrosion. Throughout the process, we’ve worked with existing drawings, photographs and measurements fed from people on site to produce structural design models and a CAD model (Navisworks) to fully document the remedial works.
We want to ensure our designs are constructible. We want to make sure we haven’t missed anything. We really need to go to site. But we can’t. At least not without two lots of 14-day self-quarantine.
A Virtual Tour was created during the execution of the works, allowing us to verify the rectification work was carried out in accordance with the remedial design.