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How Drone Inspections Can Help Maintain Historic Buildings

New England is a northeastern United States region consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The area is steeped in history, from its early Native American inhabitants to the Pilgrims who famously settled in Plymouth Colony.

old town massachusetts

 

Within New England, Western Massachusetts is, as the name would suggest, the westernmost region of the state of Massachusetts. It includes the city of Springfield, the Berkshires, and the Pioneer Valley. The region was initially inhabited by the Pocomtuc tribe and was later colonized by the English in the 1600s. Western Massachusetts became an important crossroads for trade and transportation during the colonial era thanks to its central location. Today, Western Massachusetts is a trendy tourist destination known for its beautiful landscapes, rich heritage, and must-visit landmarks & buildings such as Union Station, The Fairbanks House, The Lee Library, The Salisbury Mansion, The Congregational Church, and more.

For city government and local municipality officials, maintaining these landmarks & buildings is paramount as it drives tourism that generates business for the local economy. But keeping them as pristine as possible to pull in visitor numbers is a significant challenge. Given the changes in external factors such as weather, climate change, and pollution, not to mention the intricate architectural features that would make conventional inspections a nightmare.

To this end, city government officials are increasingly turning to well-respected drone companies in Western Massachusetts for drone inspections to better understand the condition of these buildings and landmarks.

There are several reasons for this shift, but chief among them is the fact that drones offer a much more comprehensive view of the structures in question quickly and affordably. What used to require a specialized team of individuals, inspectors, and expensive equipment, can now just as easily be achieved by a group of three to four individuals. A drone pilot, a spotter, an inspector, and possibly a city official. Additionally, given that no two buildings are the same, the inherent dangers of building inspections that would typically require innumerable health and safety considerations can easily either add mountains of money to the project or delay it.

Drone Inspections, on the other hand, avoid these issues entirely. They can fly around and over the buildings, getting a closer look at hard-to-reach areas that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for humans to inspect. In addition, drones can be equipped with high-resolution cameras and other sensors that can gather data about the condition of the building, including things like cracks, leaks, and other potential problem areas.

City government officials can then use this data to make informed decisions about repairs and maintenance issues before they become major repair projects that could cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair costs and lost tourism revenue. Similar to what happened in Paris, France, where the renovation works of many popular tourist sites, such as the Cathedral of Notre Dame, dealt a significant blow to businesses that depend on tourists.

If you are a city government official responsible for the upkeep of historic buildings and landmarks, consider drone inspections to better understand their condition. Working with a professional drone company, you can develop a comprehensive inspection plan that will help you save time and money while ensuring that your buildings and landmarks are well-maintained for years to come.